Trading Season Brings New Opportunity
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As of this past weekend, it’s officially trading season. Rookies and players who were signed to free agent contracts now can be traded, adding a whole new list of players to the rumor mill. Things got off the ground on Friday when Detroit sent Nazr Mohammed to Charlotte for Walter Herrmann and Primoz Brezec.
The list of new trade suspects includes a few locals. The Knickerbockers can now include rookie forward Wilson Chandler, guard Fred Jones, or even post stalwart Zach Randolph in any deals, while the Nets can feel free to use Sean Williams, Jamaal Magloire, or Malik Allen as sweeteners in a swap.
New Jersey, incidentally, also has until January 3 to use a $3.6 million trade exception from last year’s Jeff McInnis trade, though Rod Thorn is unlikely to apply it since it would put the budget-conscious Nets over the luxury tax. (If you’re wondering, it can’t be used in a package — just in a straight-up trade for somebody making $3.6 million or less).
League-wide, free-agent busts like Miami’s Smush Parker, Milwaukee’s Charlie Bell, and the Lakers’ Chris Mihm will be on the tips of many tongues, as will some underachieving vets — Phoenix’s Boris Diaw chief among them.
In the meantime, the landscape hasn’t changed much in the past seven days. We’re still steering straight toward a Spurs-Celtics showdown in the Finals.
1 BOSTON CELTICS (20–2) (LW:1): Watching this juggernaut shut down Toronto’s normally explosive offense on Sunday left me in awe. An underrated aspect is the play of young center Kendrick Perkins, who has solidified what looked to be a soft middle.
2 SAN ANTONIO SPURS (18–5) (2): Sorry, I’m not going to dock them for losing without Tim Duncan, especially with Tony Parker also ailing. Duncan already is back and Parker should be soon, so Spurs should keep rolling.
3 DETROIT PISTONS (17–7) (4): Pistons were so dominant in Sunday’s win over Golden State that Warriors coach Don Nelson waved the white flag and put this scrubs in midway through the third quarter.
4 LOS ANGELES LAKE RS (14–9) (6): With L.A. carving its way through a very difficult early schedule and looking very much like a top-three team out West, suddenly Kobe is acting like a much happier camper. I guess a deal to the Bulls doesn’t seem so appetizing these days.
5 PHOENIX SUNS (17–7) (3): Puzzling home loss to Heat has some Suns-watchers wondering if they can keep their foothold in the West’s top tier. If not, Boris Diaw and Shawn Marion are most likely trade suspects.
6 DALLAS MAVERICKS (16–9) (8): They’ve had some injuries and one doesn’t get the sense they’ve play their best basketball, especially MVP Dirk Nowitzki, yet they’re staying with the West’s upper crust despite it all.
7 ORLANDO MAGIC (17–8) (5): An embarrassing home loss to Memphis caps a rough week that has Magic fading back toward pack. With the dreaded Texas trip coming up, things won’t get any easier.
8 UTAH JAZZ (14–11) (6): The Jazz have lost six straight as Mehmet Okur’s absence exposed a team-wide inability to hit from outside, allowing opponents to collapse on Carlos Boozer. Paging Gordan Giricek … Gordan Giricek, please pick up the white courtesy phone.
9 DENVER NUGGETS (14–10) (7): Yes, they’re a Jekyll-and-Hyde team that’s up and down and all over the place from game to game, but considering they’re missing two starters and ‘Melo isn’t quite on his game, it’s impressive that they’re in first in the Northwest.
10 GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS (13–11) (11): The road has proven a tougher go for Golden State, echoing their struggles of a year ago, but team still is 12–5 since Stephen Jackson returned from suspension.
11 TORONTO RAPTORS (13–10) (12): Raptors are solid regardless, but won’t make the next step unless Andrea Bargnani snaps out of his season-long funk. Dude has looked totally lost and has been demoted to the No. 4 big man in the rotation.
12 NEW ORLEANS HORNETS (15–9) (13): Has Chris Paul surpassed Nash as league’s top point guard? It’s a fair question after CP3 outplayed him in Hornets’ win over Phoenix on Saturday.
13 WASHINGTON WIZARDS (13–10) (16): No, I’m not sure they can keep this up, especially now that Antonio Daniels could be out for up to a month which leaves a gaping hole at the point. But you’ve gotta applaud what they’ve done to date.
14 HOUSTON ROCKETS (12–12) (10): Most disappointing team in the West has received precious little from players not named Yao or Tracy. Wasn’t that supposed to be different this time around?
15 PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS (12–12) (24): Winners of seven straight may not be quite as good as their record, but for a team that was supposed to struggle without Greg Oden to still be in the playoff race, it’s newsworthy. And don’t cringe now, but ex-Knick Channing Frye had a big week.
16 CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (10–14) (14): They won big in their first game with LeBron, Larry Hughes, and Anderson Varejao all back, but did a collective face-plant in the next two. No sweat — I still say these guys will get rolling once everyone is reacquainted.
17 INDIANA PACERS (12–12) (15): I’m still not quite sure how they’re doing it, especially with Jermaine O’Neal contributing little thus far, but shockingly good performances from Jamaal Tinsley and Mike Dunleavy have been major factors.
18 CHICAGO BULLS (8–13) (19): They remain a huge disappointment, but Bulls have shown signs lately of snapping out of their season-long shooting slump. Increasing minutes of productive subs like Joe Smith and Andres Nocioni has helped.
19 ATLANTA HAWKS (11–12) (18): Further evidence that players are becoming targets for assorted low-life thugs: Forward Shelden Williams was carjacked at an Atlanta barbershop this weekend.
20 PHILADELPHIA 76ERS (10–14) (20): I don’t think this is a playoff-caliber team by any stretch, but for now they’re healthy and don’t seem to be going away quietly.
21 MIAMI HEAT (6–17) (17): It’s possible I’m giving this team entirely too much respect, but they’ve lost a ton of close games and Dwyane Wade is just starting to round into form, so I still can’t rule out a second-half run.
22 SACRAMENTO KINGS (9–14) (21): Actually, the 9-14 mark is pretty good considering the extent of their injuries, and the return to life of center Brad Miller means they have a quasi-competent frontcourt again.
23 MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES (7–16) (22): The impressive road win at Orlando can’t offset some other stinkers, nor does it remove the fact that both Pau Gasol and Darko Milicic have been moderately disappointing thus far.
24 MILWAUKEE BUCKS (10–13) (23): Record is far worse than the quality of their play, and that’s with mostly good health. Hate to see what would happen if an injury torrent like last year’s hit.
25 NEW JERSEY NETS (10–14) (29): Gave us a false ray of hope with inspired effort against Cavs on Friday, but the real Nets showed up at the Garden on Saturday night. Get that dynamite out, Rod. You’re gonna need it.
26 L.A. CLIPPERS (9–14) (25): Early favorites for Backhanded Compliment of the Year, as countless folks describe them as “Not as bad as I thought.”
27 SEATTLE SUPERSONICS (7–18) (27): Believe it or not, they’ve won consecutive road games two different times this year, including this past week. Getting the T’wolves and Knicks back-to-back will do that.
28 CHARLOTTE BOBCATS (8–14) (28): Will someone, anyone, please explain to me why Jeff McInnis is still in the league?
29 MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES (3–19) (29): A Timberwolves security person requested an advance scout stop using binoclars to scan the Minnesota bench for play calls this week. Truth is, binocs become a must-have for scouts because teams are seating them (and us media hacks) so much farther from the court.
30 NEW YORK KNICKS (7–16) (30): Isiah on Eddy Curry: “He may not ever be a great defender or great rebounder.” Ya think so, Einstein? What was your first clue? Could you have done us a favor and maybe had that epiphany before you coughed up $60 million and two lottery picks?
jhollinger@nysun.com