Friday, December 16

Rumorville

Here’s the latest from the internet regarding Sonic trade rumors:

1. MARC JACKSON:

“Starting today, players acquired over the summer can be dealt. [Marc] Jackson fits that criterion. The Nets are in the market for an athletic big man. They likely will pursue Stromile Swift, … and Reggie Evans, and perhaps Dan Gadzuric.”

Jackson is a uniquely talented big man who made the 1st team All-Rookie his first year out. Since then he’s bounced around the league a bit, but had arguably his finest season last year in Philly, averaging 12 points and 5 boards a game. In my mind, he’s really not that different from the Potato, except that he makes an extra $1.5 mil a year. I don’t expect the Sonics to pursue him, since the majority of his points come from the outside, and the Sonics already have enough soft big men who can’t score down low.

2. VLADIMIR RADMANOVIC:

“General Manager John Nash said in a perfect world the Blazers would be able to trade one of their small forwards for a power forward who can shoot, a player similar to Seattle's Vladimir Radmanovic.”

When you hear John Nash talk about trading a small forward, that’s code for Ruben Patterson. Obviously, the Sonics aren’t going after Ruben anytime soon, so that would mean the Blazers would be giving up someone along the lines of
Viktor Khryapa. I don’t like that move because, well, his name’s too hard to spell.

12 comments:

  1. Yeah, if Seattle Supersonics GM were to deal Vladimir Radmanovic and Reggie Evans to the New Jersey Nets for Marc Jackson, it would probably cause me to break something; Jackson, as has been mentioned, is the American version of Vitaly Potapenko.

    As it is, though, Radmanovic, Evans, and Ronald Murray should not be traded, for they have expiring contracts.

    At any rate, however, the 'sonics need a tough, team-oriented, talented small forward -- unlike the vastly overrated Rashard lewis -- who can defend any NBA superstar, while simultaneously holding his weight as the number two scoring option alongside Ray Allen—with my top choices being either Ron Artest or, of course, Paul Pierce

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  2. Damnit, I knew I should have put an over/under on the time it would take the words "Paul" and "Pierce" to show up in the comments section. Keep hope alive, ak.

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  3. Yeah, Nuss, I went roughly a month, surprisingly enough, without posting about "he who shall go unnamed" . . .

    Anyhow, in my previous post, I indirectly referred to Ron Artest as "team-oriented," which, obviously, is only true in the sense that he plays good team defense.

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  4. Just to follow up on the Jackson/Potato comparison, I ran their numbers for 2005 (Jackson) and 2004 (Potato) to see how they stack up (I used '04 for Potato since he wasn't that healthy last season).

    The main edges per 48 minutes for Jackson are:

    1. More FTA
    2. More PPG (+8)
    3. Better foul shooter

    For Potato:

    1. More blocks
    2. Fewer turnovers

    Obviously, Jackson got more touches, which led to his higher ppg, although he does get credit for a better PW% (player win %).

    Still, after looking at the numbers more closely, Jackson will only give Seattle a bit more on the offensive end, which will be offset by his slightly inferior defense to Potato (if that's possible). No, there's just no reason for the Sonics to take a flyer on Jackson if they've already got the Ukranian version at a better price.

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  5. And, Lance, no more insulting French soldiers. If you start capping on the Frenchmen, we'll lose our ratings with Johan Petro fans, and we can't afford it.

    Besides, the French did well in WWI. And I hear good things about that Napoleon guy. Hubie Brown says he's got tremendous upside.

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  6. I don't know about Shaun, but I'd sure like to have Stevens at power forward.

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  7. I would like to offer AK free rein to mention Pee-Pee as long as he signs up for a free iPod each time. I'm only 4 referrals away, and those Nanos are dead sexy!

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  8. I'd never expect to see a thread discussing the merits of Marc Jackson. We are a desperate team, indead.

    What is up with Vladi? Professional suicide?

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  9. The only trade involving the Seattle Supersonics and the New York Knicks that would be worth making is the following:

    From New York To Seattle
    SF Anfernee Hardaway ($15,750,000)
    C Channing Frye ($2,162,880)
    2006 NBA First-Round Draft Pick [via the San Antonio Spurs]

    From Seattle To New York
    SF Rashard Lewis ($8,571,429)
    PF Danny Fortson ($6,415,584)

    If this trade were to happen, then Vladimir Radmanovic would start at small forward, with Damien Wilkins as his backup. The only problem with this, however, is that Radmanovic needs to prove himself—which seems like a stretch to me.

    TEAM ROSTER
    Center: Channing Frye (32 m.p.g)
    Center: Vitaly Potapenko (16 m.p.g)
    Center: Mikki Moore (0 m.p.g.)
    Center: Johan Petro (Inactive)
    Center: Robert Swift (Inactive)
    Power Forward: Nick Collison (32 m.p.g.)
    Power Forward: Reggie Evans (16 m.p.g.)
    Small Forward: Vladimir Radmanovic (32 m.p.g.)
    Small Forward: Damien Wilkins (16 m.p.g.)
    Small Forward: Anfernee Hardaway (0 m.p.g.)
    Shooting Guard: Ray Allen (40 m.p.g.)
    Shooting Guard: Ronald Murray (8 m.p.g.)
    Point Guard: Luke Ridnour (32 m.p.g.)
    Point Guard: Mateen Cleaves (16 m.p.g.)
    Point Guard: Rick Brunson (Inactive)

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  10. Rad-man has had one foot out the door since he signed the tender. No need to invest any more time there.

    Frye is untouchable. He's the only good thing the Knicks have going for them. The last thing Larry Brown wants is another shooter who doesn't play defense. Fortson and LB together? At first I laugh, but then realize he got Rasheed working for him, so who knows.

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  11. Yeah, I realize that Channing Frye has supposedly been deemed untouchable by New York Knicks President Isiah Thomas; yet, Seattle Supersonics GM Rick Sund should only trade Rashard Lewis if the team gets either a superstar small forward or a solid center in return for him.

    At any rate, though, I would nix a trade wherein the 'sonics send Lewis and Danny Fortson to the New York Knicks for Anfernee Hardaway, Nate Robinson ($1,102,680), Trevor Ariza ($641,748), and a 2006 NBA first-round draft pick [via the San Antonio Spurs]*, because it doesn't solve any of the team's aforementioned needs; besides, that notwithstanding, I'm not sold on Nate Robinson as a solid NBA point guard.

    *If this trade were to occur, then Rick Brunson would be released to make room on the roster.

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  12. Yeah, Nate is about as much of a point guard as Flip.

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