Michael Jordan defends deadline trade

[PapaG]

Jalen Rose said it was a steal for Charlotte, though.

Also of note is that it appears that Charlotte has every intention of playing Przy as a Bobber for the rest of the season, and Przy also gives hints that he's not ready to retire.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Charlotte Bobcats owner Michael Jordan was busy Saturday defending his decision to trade Gerald Wallace, as well as playing a major role in getting a reluctant Joel Przybilla comfortable with his new boss.

In a brief interview with The Associated Press, Jordan said "I love the trade" that sent the former All-Star Wallace to Portland. While the backup center Przybilla was the only likely rotation player Charlotte got in return, Jordan says it gives his club "flexibility" to make future moves because it acquired two first-round picks and cleared salary-cap space.

"I think it's one of the best trades," Jordan said.

Jordan said he's not content with jockeying for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. He believes the deal puts the franchise in better shape ahead of perhaps a lower payroll ceiling in the next labor deal as he tries to build a contender.

"We're all right," Jordan said as he left the practice floor. "I like where we are."

In the short term, the Bobcats must replace Wallace, who was their second-leading scorer, and backup center Nazr Mohammed, who was traded to Oklahoma City in a separate deal Thursday.

That's where the 7-foot-1 Przybilla comes in. He took a red-eye flight from Portland early Saturday, unsure if he'd be in Charlotte long. He thought he might be bought or released.

"They traded away an All-Star, and I'm an expiring contract," Przybilla said. "I didn't know what to expect."

...continued at link...

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=6161698

 

[Public Defender]

If Rose really said that (not saying he didn't), then he must be secretly on Charlotte's payroll. The deal makes sense from a financial standpoint, but talent-wise, it's a landslide in Portland's favor.

Bill Simmons at ESPN did an interesting breakdown of past trades of multiple role players for stars, and found that they always favor the team getting the "star." I think he might've been a little selective in the trades he chose (didn't mention the Blazers' trades for Pippen or Steve Smith, nor the draft trade involving Richard Jefferson and Eddie Griffin), but I think the point is accurate.

Blazers win. Bobcats live to spend another day.

 

[handiman]

We traded a guy with a busted up knee, a guy with a busted up eye socket, and a guy with a busted up career, plus two likely inconsequential draft picks, all for a near-star. I can't imagine how the Charlotte perspective can be defended other than by financial motivations.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

Memo to Jalen Rose:

Dear Jalen, you have a good gig at ESPN. MJ is out of the game and no longer successful. It's OK to not suck up to him anymore. Really, it's OK.

 

[MickZagger]

[video=youtube;GtfZbj4J71A]

 

[Nikolokolus]

I don't think it's a bad trade for Charlotte at all. They were going nowhere, they were over the tax line and they were/are old. This trade at least clears the way for an honest to goodness rebuild ... now of course he somehow has to turn those picks into viable players which I'd say his record is pretty uneven on, but it's better to have a small chance to improve and pay out less money than have no chance at all and pay through the nose.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

I don't think it's a bad trade for Charlotte at all. They were going nowhere, they were over the tax line and they were/are old. This trade at least clears the way for an honest to goodness rebuild ... now of course he somehow has to turn those picks into viable players which I'd say his record is pretty uneven on, but it's better to have a small chance to improve and pay out less money than have no chance at all and pay through the nose.

It's part of the never ending debate (since we'll never know the truth) about whether a team could get more for their star player (The Zach trade debate will return, you watch!).

I firmly believe they could have gotten more (maybe even a lot more) if they had chosen the timing of the trade more judiciously.

edit: btw, MJ sucks, and he doesn't want to admit it. He may not even be smart enough to know it. His logic is very flawed in the above quote.

 

[handiman]

edit: btw, MJ sucks...

Jordan's front office success has bordered on inversely proportional to his on-court success.

 

[HailBlazers]

Przybilla, who passed his physical despite concerns about his surgically repaired right knee, met with Jordan and coach Paul Silas.


"They were honest with me and told me they wanted me here," the 31-year-old Przybilla said. "That means a lot, especially coming from Michael Jordan. He looked me in the eye and told me this. I've never, to be honest, had a general manager tell me that."

A cool lil silver lining for Przy. Jordan is the greatest after all, even if he's not the best GM.

 

[MARIS61]

We traded a guy with a busted up knee, a guy with a busted up eye socket, and a guy with a busted up career, plus two likely inconsequential draft picks, all for a guy who's been busted up every year since he was drafted..

Fixed by objectivity.

 

[MARIS61]

"They were honest with me and told me they wanted me here," the 31-year-old Przybilla said. "That means a lot, especially coming from Michael Jordan. He looked me in the eye and told me this. I've never, to be honest, had a general manager tell me that."

Every time I think my opinion of PA's business style cannot fall any lower, I'm mistaken.

 

[Rhal]

"They were honest with me and told me they wanted me here," the 31-year-old Przybilla said. "That means a lot, especially coming from Michael Jordan. He looked me in the eye and told me this. I've never, to be honest, had a general manager tell me that."

Every time I think my opinion of PA's business style cannot fall any lower, I'm mistaken.

So I take it you do not like the trade Maris.