"Wattstax" is back!
The Sonics have finally pulled the trigger on the much-debated, never-consumated acquisition of Earl Watson from the Nuggets. (Thanks to Nate for the tip).
Here's how it breaks down:
To Seattle:
Earl Watson
Bryon Russell
Denver's 2nd-round pick
To Denver:
Ruben Patterson
Charles Smith
Reggie Evans
To Portland:
Voshon Lenard
Brian Skinner
To Sacramento:
Vitaly Potapenko
Sergei Monia
My initial reaction? The Sonics could be hoping that Watson pushes Frodo to perform at a higher level, and that he'll pair well with Ray. If that's the case ... it's still a dumb move. Guys like Earl Watson are not rare, and now we've wed ourselves to him for five years. Could not the Sonics have found someone similar in the free agent market/draft this summer, signed them to a cheaper, and shorter-term contract?
I understand the logic in shedding the Potato's contract and moving Reggie Evans, but this still doesn't seem wise to me.
31 comments:
One caveat to my bitching: The trade, in and of itself, is good, by which I mean that giving up Evans and Potato for Watson and a pick is pretty much a steal.
My quibble is that Watson's contract is so stinking long. If he's as good at defense as everyone says, maybe it works; but if he's so good, where does Frodo go?
Just dig out your old Sabonis jokes, Lance, and you'll be fine.
Lance, he was also known as the "Ukraine Train" back when he was able to actually run from one end of the court to the other without stopping for a cigarette.
"...where does Frodo go?"
I could think of a few places I'd like to send him . . . like the fiery pits of Mordor perhaps?
So I am looking at contracts on the ESPN trade machine and it says that Earl and Antonio Daniels have the same contract. Oh, my head!
They have the same contract, but Watson is 4 years younger than AD. Plus, have you seen what AD's been up to this year? His stats are so foul, they make even Redd Foxx blush.
Watson seems to be the best deal on the table at the time. We got a real back-up PG (sorry Brun, you suck) and got rid of two guys that Hill wasn't going to play anyway. Reggie would be gone at the end of the season anyway. Now we just need to dump Danny and Flip & we're set. Maybe through Softy Lew in as well (I can dream, can't I?)
After the game Lewis had last night while injured mind you, he can stay. Honestly I'd rather see Ray go than Lewis, we could argue all day over who is softer. I haven't been on this site long whot the fuck are you guys calling Frodo? Ridnour?? As hard as I am on the kid (I HATE ducks) he had a pretty decent game last night. Wilcox is a fuckin stud, like I knew he would be and his hair is pimp, he reminds me alot of the Reign Man in his younger less portly days. I like the Watson deal, i don't really care that he's got a 5yr contract we'll need a back up for that long won't we?? Who knows he might take Lukes job, I'd still like to see the Supes pick up Conroy on a 10 day deal and pretty much hold an open competition for the PG duties.
Yeah, Wilcox is looking like a good pick up. At least we're not trying to make a non-PF play the PF position anymore. Frodo had a real good game last night. I'd still take Ray over Lew anyday - he shows up more than Lew on a nightly basis. But whatever, I don't think either of them is going anywhere unless D-Wilk turns it up another notch or three. Like what he's doing though.
Well, he was a lot more Frodo-ish his rookie year with the Hobbit-Fro, but the nickname has stuck.
The Nets have moved Marc Jackson and Linton Johnson to the Hornets in exchange for Bostjan Nachbar.
Linton Johnson? Bostjan Nachbar? Seriously, I could have dangled $1,000 out there earlier today and NOBODY would have bitten that those two guys were in the NBA. You've got to love trade deadline day.
Flip to Cavs for Mike Wilks?
Expiring or cheap contract?
I don't know why we need 4 PG on our roster, though it was reported that there was a deal that fell through this morning for Flip.
If Watson is a solid backup for the next four years, this is a great deal. Now that we have a decent backup and Wilcox, will Hill stop making excuses?
Personally, I was hoping to see Hill grab Popovich and do some WWF-style throwdowns in S.A. the other night.
You're right, though, Nate, Hill's run out of reasons why the Sonics can't win, now.
The funny thing about this trade is that the Nugs got Rueben and Reggie. Aren't they kind of the same guy?
It would have been nice if we had the foresight to keep Watson, I liked his hustle and defense the first time around. I'm certainly tired of seeing opposing PG go to the rack at will.
I also liked the idea that Will Conroy was, and is, available and tearing up the NBDL. Conroy netted two triple doubles, while averaging high numbers in the big three catagories, during a stretch of extended playing time when fellow 66'ers guard John Lucas Jr. was called up for a stint in Houston. Wee Willy continues to be among the league leaders in assists and one of the most complete PG in the NBDL. WIth Lucas back his minutes have decreased again but was still able to record 10 assists in 19 min of play.
http://www.nba.com/dleague/statistics/2005/default_regular_season_leaders/LeagueLeadersASTQuery.html?topic=0&stat=16
Any one know Bryon Russell's contract status? I know he's getting up there but he was always a pretty good defender--when he wasn't falling at Jordan's feet.
The second round pick would be a bonus if we didn't waste our picks on garbage like Luke Ridnour and Collison. In all honesty that was probably one of the weakest drafts in history, what a year to have two lottery picks. But there really should be a rule against drafting two white guys if one isn't a Euro player. NO, there should be a rule regardless. Collison will never be anything in this league and Ridnour is too slow to be successful as well.
Russell's in the last year of his contract, just like Reggie. Woo-hoo!
Wow and that wasn't posted by me.
First and foremost, Luke Ridnour's inability to play defense and Earl Watson's contract means that Watson should be starting at point guard and playing 32 minutes per night, while Ridnour comes off of the bench as a change-of-pace reserve at point guard.
Next, there is no reason for Danny Fortson to still be on this team after the deadline. As it was, Seattle Supersonics GM Rick Sund could've probably packaged Fortson with Rashard Lewis, so as to obtain a young, versatilely talented small forward, a player with an expiring contract, and some draft picks. Instead, the 'sonics are on the hook for nearly $7 million in dead weight next season.
All right, with all of that noted, Rashard Lewis has proven that he's a hindrance to the team. At any rate, Lewis' defenisve inadequacies have greatly hurt this franchise -- with that being proven when the 'sonics performed better against the San Antonio Spurs during the playoffs last season without him -- as has his lack of ball-handling ability. Hell, without a doubt, the 'sonics would be better both on and off the court with Luol Deng as a 'sonic rather than Lewis and Fortson.
Lastly, I hate Ronald Murray's game as much as anyone; yet, Sund would've been better off keeping him as an 8 minute per night backup at shooting guard than dumping his ass for garbage such as Mike Wilks (Net Efficiency Rating: -18.4, On-Court/Off-Court +/-: -11.4, & Roland Rating: -16.4), who is one of the worst players in the NBA.
In the end, ultimately, Wally Walker and Rick Sund have never done a damn thing as front office personnel -- with Sund's resume being one of the most putrid of all-time, as he ruined both the Dallas Mavericks and Detroit Pistons prior to being fired from those respective gigs -- so their ineptitude doesn't surprise me.
I don't think Murray's been traded . . . yet.
David Locke has been reporting for the past couple of days (both on-air and on-blog (?)) that Murray's departure is an inevitability. He didn't have any specifics as to where Murray was going, and for whom he would be traded.
At this point, it doesn't really matter. A decent, veteran big man would be nice. I hear Vitaly Potapenko is available ...
AK, your statistical knowledge must make you a way better NBA prognosticator than me. I am continually surprised by the Walker/Sund ineptitude.
"First and foremost, Luke Ridnour's inability to play defense and Earl Watson's contract means that Watson should be starting at point guard and playing 32 minutes per night, while Ridnour comes off of the bench as a change-of-pace reserve at point guard."
Wow ak1984,
I'm so proud of you. You finally got it yes exactly. This 'sniff' is the happiest day 'sniff' in my whole 'sniff' life.
"In the end, ultimately, Wally Walker and Rick Sund have never done a damn thing as front office personnel -- with Sund's resume being one of the most putrid of all-time, as he ruined both the Dallas Mavericks and Detroit Pistons prior to being fired from those respective gigs -- so their ineptitude doesn't surprise me. "
Ok ak1984,
two in one post now I'm suspicious. Have you been in my stash?? You are smoking the good shit today boy, whoooo!!
So can the Sonics put Bryon Russell in some sort of apparatus (like Stocks) and put him in front of Key arena and let fans with Jordan Jersey's on throw tomatos at him??
He sucks like no other.
SUCK TOMATO RUSSELL!!!!!
Fortson's contract will be worth more to them next year when it's expiring.
I agree, anonymous, Fortson will get Seattle something next year. A $6.9 mil expiring deal is always worth at least some sort of decent bench player in exchange.
"Fortson's contract will be worth more to them next year when it's expiring."
Unless they manage to pry Paul Pierce -- who, as it seems, will be a Celtic for a long time -- away from the Boston Celtics on draft day for Rashard Lewis, Danny Fortson, and our first-round draft pick, then Fortson's expiring contract is nothing but a waste of money and salary cap space; Lewis and Fortson could've, perhaps, been used earlier today to cut salary and acquire a young, talented small forward such as Luol Deng. Of course, neither CEO/President Wally Walker or GM Rick Sund had the testicular fortitude to go that route.
Ak1984,
Yeah but Rashard is our only other 3 point threat now (Vlady fooled other teams into thinking he was a threat too). I think we need to keep Rashard, we can deal with his defensive liabilities he's not as bad as Ray and Luke and that's the area of other teams we need to stop. Defensivly we're not that bad now at the forward spots, it's our guard defense that is now a glaring defect, but that too has gotten better with the acquisition of Watson. Package Ray and luke together and try to get a good defensive 2 who can score.
Flip is gone, off to Cleveland for Mike Wilks, a second-round pick, and 500K in cold, hard cash.
Ray Allen (Opponent Efficeny Rating: +12.8) is a more productive on-the-ball and team defender than Rashard Lewis (Opponent Efficeny Rating: +18.8). Moreover, Allen is, for the most part, a better shooter (FG: 44.5%, 3PT: 40.0%, FT: 91.2%) than Lewis (FG: 46.9%, 3PT: 38.7%, & FT: 82.2%).
Anyhow, a package of Allen and Lewis may, perhaps, allow the 'sonics to obtain Kevin Garnett from the Minnesota Timberwolves during the upcoming off-season -- although I highly doubt it -- nevertheless, Garnett is owed $66 million from 2006-2009; thus, despite his talent and productivity, he isn't worth the cost.
In addition, a package of Allen, Danny Fortson, either Earl Watson or Luke Ridnour, and a first-round draft pick may, perhaps, allow the 'sonics to obtain Allen Iverson from the Philadelphia 76ers during the upcoming off-season -- although, again, I highly doubt it -- nonetheless, Iverson is owed approximately $60 millon from 2006-2009; thus, despite his talent and productivity, he isn't worth it.
Lamar Odom is even more overrated and overpaid than Lewis; the only thing that Odom is better than Lewis at is handling, dribbling, and passing the ball.
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