The rumors abound regarding potential NBA trade as the deadline of February 22 at 3 pm ET is less than one day away. There are major problems involved in any big NBA trade. Salary cap restrictions, exceptions and exemptions help make scenarios extremely complicated, huge salaries don’t help and a paucity of big name talent makes things tight. If you’re looking to do something a lot more simple than trying to understand all of the ramifications of any of the potential team-altering trades then why don’t you do your 2006 taxes (long form) while taking the test for Mensa and studying quantum physics.
Let’s consider the Nets’ Jason Kidd (14.3 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 8.7 APG) to the Lakers trade. Even though it makes sense for the Lakers (30- 24), who are going somewhere, to acquire the healthy veteran Kidd, who can help them get there, from the New Jersey Nets (25- 29), who are going nowhere, it doesn’t look promising for this deal.
The Nets will send Kidd to Los Angeles if the Lakers will include center Andrew Bynum (8.4 PPG, 6.6 RPG), a 7-footer with ties to the Garden State. But the Nets aren’t wild about the deal. Most NBA teams aren’t real excited about dealing players. Why? A team like New Jersey, which is in the very noncompetitive Atlantic Division, has a shot at making the playoffs next year of they keep a core composed of Kidd and center Nenad Krstic, who is currently injured. New Jersey could have a winning team if they resign Vince Carter or trade him with Jefferson for the right player. The question for the Nets is, why give up Kidd if that can’t help you now because you’re out of the playoff hunt and if he may help you next year?
From the Lakers’ point of view, they’re looking at an impressive team that includes Kobe Bryant, Lamar Odom and Bynum. That means that LA offers either future draft choices or back-up players such as Kwame Brown, Luke Walton or Jordan Farmer. That translates into cap relief and a team that’s lacking even more than it is now.
The irony of these potential trades is that they are rarely if ever anything more than a fantasy move. Here’s a trade deal reported on ESPN and ESPN.com.
“One of the more interesting scenarios I heard Tuesday came from my ESPN colleague Ric Bucher, who reported on NBA Coast to Coast and SportsCenter that the Lakers recently had a deal in place to acquire Mike Bibby from Sacramento before Kings owners Joe and Gavin Maloof vetoed it, unable to stomach the thought of helping their playoff rivals of yesteryear.�
My point is simple—if the owners never approved it, then there was no trade going on, simply speculation. Too often NBA trade talks reported by folks writing and talking about sports seem to be nothing more than a “what if� scenario rather than a “this is it� moment.
Trade rumors are more of a post-All Star game ritual than anything else. Jason Kidd isn’t going anywhere this season. Next season, he may be going to the playoffs as a New Jersey Net.
Technorati Tags: New Jersey, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA Basketball
