Grunfeld: not trading our big three

[Reep]

From RealGM:

Wizards GM Ernie Grunfeld has told the Washington Post that he has received calls about possible trades from rival teams, but added that he is not interested in trading stars Antawn Jamison or Caron Butler.

"I've gotten a lot of calls about a lot of our players and that's a good thing," Grunfeld said. "That means our players have value around the league. That means other people around the league value their abilities, but if you take the long view, we have a good nucleus of players and once we have all of our guys back, we feel that we can be a very competitive team. Now, you always have to consider any move that is going to improve your team but we like our group. We just have to get healthy."

If they have to keep Arenas (bad contract), they might as well go all in and keep the other two as well.

 

[maxiep]

I love it when GM's send signals through the press. What he's really saying is, "make a better offer".

 

[hasoos]

I love it when GM's send signals through the press. What he's really saying is, "make a better offer".

Yep but the question is, is he bluffing. He says people are calling about their players..but which ones? He makes a lot of general statements, but no meat to them.

 

[Reep]

Obviously you can't put any value on what he really says. But, you have to wonder if it makes sense to dump salary while you have Arenas locked up for so long. Given the economy and the massive losses his franchise is likely going through (given the limited number of wins), you could also see him dumping as much as possible.

 

[craigehlo]

I love it when GM's send signals through the press. What he's really saying is, "make a better offer".

I agree. You can't tell me he wouldn't dump Jamison or Arenas for an expiring contract. He's a bad GM, but not that terrible.

Butler is probably untouchable, but he's got to keep an open mind with that roster.

 

[maxiep]

I agree. You can't tell me he wouldn't dump Jamison or Arenas for an expiring contract. He's a bad GM, but not that terrible.

Butler is probably untouchable, but he's got to keep an open mind with that roster.

I guarantee you he would take this deal:

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/features/traderesult?players=454~974&teams=27~22&te=&cash=

If he wouldn't, Abe Pollin would.

 

[MickZagger]

Grunfeld needs to realize that he's going to need to make a move of his big 3 to make his team better. Outside of those 3 there isn't much wanted talent on that team. McGee and N. Young are the only real young players that have any bit of intrigue on that team and they aren't going to garner much in return.

 

[Reep]

If you were Grunfeld and wanted to save cash and rebuild, wouldn't you package Arenas with Butler? I don't think anyone would give an expiring contract for Arenas alone. If you want to cut salary big time the only way to trade Arenas is to sweeten the deal with something people do want -- Butler.

 

[MARIS61]

Other GM's see a failing franchise and smell the blood in the water.

The Wheezers will end up on the bad end of a trade simply because they are desperate and everyone nows it.

 

[B-Roy]

If you were Grunfeld and wanted to save cash and rebuild, wouldn't you package Arenas with Butler? I don't think anyone would give an expiring contract for Arenas alone. If you want to cut salary big time the only way to trade Arenas is to sweeten the deal with something people do want -- Butler.

 

[craigehlo]

I guarantee you he would take this deal:

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/features/traderesult?players=454~974&teams=27~22&te=&cash=

If he wouldn't, Abe Pollin would.

They were stupid enough to give Arenas that crazy contract coming off a season where he played a total of 13 games, so logic may not actually apply to that franchise.

Their smart move would be to move Jamison since I have a feeling nobody is going to touch Agent Zero's contract with a 10-foot pole.

 

[Reep]

I don't get it.

I wasn't saying Arenas and Butler for only an expiring contract. I was saying Arenas and Butler for value plus the expiring contract(s).

 

[B-Roy]

I don't get it.

I wasn't saying Arenas and Butler for only an expiring contract. I was saying Arenas and Butler for value plus the expiring contract(s).

Not nearly enough value.

 

[Reep]

Not nearly enough value.

"Value" isn't nearly enough value?

I left "value" open ended--so how could it be not enough?

 

[B-Roy]

"Value" isn't nearly enough value?

I left "value" open ended--so how could it be not enough?

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/featur...25~974~1705&teams=27~27~27~27~22~22&te=&cash=

I'm going off of that^ which you posted.

 

[Reep]

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/featur...25~974~1705&teams=27~27~27~27~22~22&te=&cash=

I'm going off of that^ which you posted.

Ah, cross-thread accountability. Well, either way, I don't see it as a laugher. I don't think too many people would say that you would have to add significant value to Arenas to get an expiring contract for him.

No doubt that Outlaw/Fry/Sergio < Butler, but the Wiz are going to have to give up some value if they want to move Arenas as well. How much is just speculation.

 

[B-Roy]

Ah, cross-thread accountability. Well, either way, I don't see it as a laugher. I don't think too many people would say that you would have to add significant value to Arenas to get an expiring contract for him.

No doubt that Outlaw/Fry/Sergio < Butler, but the Wiz are going to have to give up some value if they want to move Arenas as well. How much is just speculation.

They don't want to move Arenas for one. They've given no indication that they want to.

Secondly, if they were to dump anyone, Jamison would go first.

Thirdly, someone would take Arenas if they wanted to dump him. They don't need to add Butler.

Fourthly, Butler is the last one they'd move. They aren't going to get anyone better than him in free agency, and unless they are content with being crappy for the next 5 years, they need to keep at least some talent.

 

[MARIS61]

No doubt that Outlaw/Fry/Sergio > Butler.

Fixed it for you.

 

[alex42083]

I love it when GM's send signals through the press. What he's really saying is, "make a better offer".

I love it how we can all spot that immediately. It's exactly what I was thinking when I read that quote. This GM talk can be taken with a grain of salt nowadays as it's all posturing in the media. The Wizards have some good players, but they're not contending with Jamison, Butler and Arenas -- even when they're all healthy.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

So would Grunfeld be open to one of thier big three being traded if say they got . . . Amare in return?

 

[MickZagger]

Fixed it for you.

Ahhhh if only you watched a game other than a Blazers game.

 

[Blaze01]

Yeah that is it Mr Grunfeld....IF only all your players were healthy...You'd be a championship contender for sure.....

WAS is an organization that is delusional from management...on down to the players...they are going NOWHERE...

Unfortuantely for POR that likely means no Caron Butler, who would be my #1 acquisition choice.....

 

[B-Roy]

Yeah that is it Mr Grunfeld....IF only all your players were healthy...You'd be a championship contender for sure.....

WAS is an organization that is delusional from management...on down to the players...they are going NOWHERE...

Unfortuantely for POR that likely means no Caron Butler, who would be my #1 acquisition choice.....

Well, they have their big 3 and a high lottery pick this off-season. I could see them making some noise if they got Griffin or Harden or Thabeet etc.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

So would Grunfeld be open to one of thier big three being traded if say they got . . . Amare in return?

They'd probably move Jamison for Amare, but unless you see Jamison playing the 3 here, that wouldn't help us, so who cares?

 

[Reep]

Well, they have their big 3 and a high lottery pick this off-season. I could see them making some noise if they got Griffin or Harden or Thabeet etc.

And they won't mind paying $30M over the cap (including $15M luxury tax)? To a group that has never shown the ability to go deep into the playoffs (and are only getting older)? You may be right, but if they stay put then they can always trade the big three later when their contracts are less (and their pockets are $30M lighter).

Paul Allen lives in Washington, not Washington DC.

 

[B-Roy]

And they won't mind paying $30M over the cap (including $15M luxury tax)? To a group that has never shown the ability to go deep into the playoffs (and are only getting older)? You may be right, but if they stay put then they can always trade the big three later when their contracts are less (and their pockets are $30M lighter).

Paul Allen lives in Washington, not Washington DC.

If they're willing to spend, no one is stopping them. At this point, I think they are, considering they were the ones to give Arenas that huge contract.