As the trade deadline approaches Mock GMs must make a choice to either improve their rosters for the playoffs or maneuver them to create flexibility for the NBA draft and upcoming free agency period the summer of 2009. While some Mock GMs are trade savvy others tend to struggle with the complexities of creating deals for other Mock GMs to consider. Part of the problem for GMs, even real NBA executives is the fear of being duped. Now if you trade often enough this is bound to happen sometimes. It’s the nature of the beast so to speak. It’s a simple matter of knowing what you want to improve your roster before you get involved with other GMs in discussions about prospective deals.
The second biggest mistake by Mock GMs is to not be flexible in the deal process. Every Mock GM is guilty of this I am sure. If you really want David Lee in a trade you may quite often have to take Stephon Marbury or Eddy Curry as well to sweeten the deal. It may even be a simple matter of taking the big contracts you don’t want to secure the player you need. You can always buyout such players down the track if it doesn’t quite work out the way you imagined.
Now let’s look at a potential deal in the next couple of weeks, Toronto trading Jermaine O’Neal to Miami for Shawn Marion. Obviously other players would have to be included in the deal for it to go through and to appease both GMs as well. Quite often this is where deals are won and lost, broken or left pending. On face value Toronto is getting the much better player in Marion who also becomes a free agent in the off-season, giving the Raptors much more flexibility to acquire the free agents they really covet. O’Neal has struggled with his much publicized injuries over the last couple of seasons, but he would slot in nicely next to rookie Michael Beasley at center.
As the Heat Gm I would be asking for players the ilk of Anthony Parker to be included in the deal. Parker himself is a free agent next season and would definitely be a much needed boost to the guard rotation and keeping Dwayne Wade legs fresh. Toronto wouldn’t be too forthcoming to let Parker go unless they could get their hands on Daequen Cook or Dorell Wright, which Miami in turn would obviously baulk at.
All Gm’s want the absolute best they can get every time they go to the table to deal. This goes without saying but you have to respect a little what other Gm’s might consider to be fair as well. Players such as Mark Blount, Marcus Banks and Joey Graham are the ones that should seal the deal. I probably would not blink at doing a Marion and Blount for O’Neal and Graham deal. Toronto can always buyout Blount and they don’t have to give up Parker at the same time as getting a productive player alongside Chris Bosh. The Heat gets a true Center, injury prone yes but none the less they can give Beasley max minutes and not hinder his progress any while picking up a swingman who plays defense and could help them down the stretch.
There are always multiple things to consider when dealing players but one truth that Mock GMs have to get over is that there will be a winner and loser in trades. It might not be known straight away. It might take a season or two to say yes Toronto really hammered Miami on that deal. But by that time your organization has made several other deals for the greater good and you can still prosper and flourish regardless. In essence don’t let the fear of losing out on a deal stop you from trying. It might not pan out the way you thought but even the very top NBA executives have made monumental blunders.
Wheeling and Dealing With Michael Redd out for the remainder of the season with an ACL it will be interesting to see if Milwaukee is prepared to deal anyone on it’s roster. I think it might be a case of better the devil you know now.
Word is Chicago wants to shake-up it’s roster and is open to any trade offers. Coach Vinny Del Negro also has been tipped to be the 8th coach sacked this season after his heated run in with Ben Gordon in front of media earlier this week. With Kurt Hinrich returning recently from injury this paves the way for the Bulls to pull the trigger.
Is it just me or does it seem players who have had arguments with their team management often get injured around the time of the trade deadline? Maybe its just a coincidence but these same players are being shopped around quite heavily. Is it also possible players would stall their returns from injury until after the deadline to hinder any potential deal?
Sacramento appears to be one of the main players at the deadline with Brad Miller, John Salmons along with hefty contract Kenny Thomas looking for new homes. The Kings are ranked last in home attendance which is really disappointing as Arco Arena used to be one of the most feared destinations for opposition teams.
Mock GMs need to keep an eye on their players after Devin Harris was benched for the entire second half for no apparent reason in a blow out to the Celtics. Harris was visibly upset and frustrated he could not re-enter the contest and questioned motives of upper management.
The Mock GM trade deadline is February 3rd! Play Mock GM and join a public league today. Take over an NBA team in the middle of the playoff chase or position yourself for the 2009 offseason!
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