Nets-Cavs potential trade

[Next Level Game]

I got this from another forum, couldn't find the link:

Nets dream of Shaq, target Cavs

Wednesday, June 23, 2004

By STEVE ADAMEKSTAFF WRITER

If anyone thinks the Nets can bring Shaquille O'Neal back to his native New Jersey, think a little smaller.

Think about perhaps trading Kerry Kittles - exposed, but not chosen by Charlotte in Tuesday's expansion draft - to Cleveland for two other hometown products, forward Eric Williams and guard Dajuan Wagner.

Think about sending Kittles to Portland in a resurrected deal involving Shareef Abdur-Rahim.

As for Shaq, born in Newark, league sources say the Nets have called the Lakers simply to inquire about what it would take to get him - and it would take a lot.

Kittles. Almost certainly, Kenyon Martin, via a sign-and-trade scenario. Soon-to-arrive Serbian center Nenad Krstic. Possibly even Alonzo Mourning's contract for salary-cap purposes just to match the $28 million Shaq is due to make next season.

Clearly, with Dallas among the many suitors and high-salaried players such as Dirk Nowitzki, Steve Nash (via sign-and-trade), Antawn Jamison, Antoine Walker, and Michael Finley to offer, the Lakers can do better than what the Nets could send them.

Plus, there's this caveat: After next season, Shaq, 32, can opt out of his contract. Thus, if the Nets cleared out a portion of their roster to get him, they might get him for just one season if he departs, leaving only salary-cap room that the post-Michael Jordan Bulls demonstrated isn't necessarily useful.

Thus, sources say the Nets have discussed bringing another Newark native, Williams, and Camden native Wagner, back home.

Williams, 31, is considered both a solid professional and locker room influence. Wagner, 21, picked sixth overall in the 2002 draft, has been hampered by injuries and illness in his two seasons and thus considered a disappointment. He's a shooting guard in a point guard's body at a generously listed 6-foot-3.

Both, however, own contracts that expire after next season, as do Kittles and Abdur-Rahim.

To balance any deal involving Abdur-Rahim and Kittles, however, the Nets would have to include another player such as backup center Aaron Williams for salary-cap purposes.

E-mail:adamek@northjersey.com


I think this would be a good trade, cause Wagner can flat out score. And Kidd is like 6-4, 6-5, big enough to gaurd almost any shooting gaurd in this league. So Wags can function like AI does with Eric Snow. Also, Eric Williams is the conssummate professional. He's a leader and a hard working player that plays very good defense. He also can hit open mid range shots. He'd be great off the bench or even starting till Wags figures himself out.

 

[jbbCavsFan23]

good article, i hope wagner gets traded because he will flourish in New Jersey which is close to home for him. i dont think shaq will go to NJ though

 

[jbbNJNetz]

This doesnt sound that bad but i would like to see sar come to the nets cause kenyon needs help in the low post but then we also need scoring.

 

[Henacy]

I like Eric Williams, he is a good defender. And has alot of character & leadership about him. So I always weclome that type of player to the team. But Wagner poor shooter, undersized, defensive liablity, what does he bring o the table that the Nets need? hmm..absolutely nothing. He can create is own scoring opportunites in the half-court, something the Nets need, but do you want him dominating the ball to do it. No

Wagner with alots of playng time is at best a knock off version of Iverson. The real version of Iverson isnt that effiecent, so the Knock off is much worst. Give me tony Battie to help K-Mart out down low, instead of Wagner & the deal sounds very promising.

 

[N_Nets2004]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Henacy:</div><div class="quote_post">I like Eric Williams, he is a good defender. And has alot of character & leadership about him. So I always weclome that type of player to the team. But Wagner poor shooter, undersized, defensive liablity, what does he bring o the table that the Nets need? hmm..absolutely nothing. He can create is own scoring opportunites in the half-court, something the Nets need, but do you want him dominating the ball to do it. No

Wagner with alots of playng time is at best a knock off version of Iverson. The real version of Iverson isnt that effiecent, so the Knock off is much worst. Give me tony Battie to help K-Mart out down low, instead of Wagner & the deal sounds very promising.</div>


I agree completeley with everything you said...I am a big fan of the Eric William type of players too..I would gladly welcome him if this goes down..And also..I agree with getting T-Battie instead...Hes Tough.Long..and Athletic..He rebounds plays defense..And doesn't carry that huge ass ego that Dajaun has...Give me Battie I really like this trade idea!

 

[Buckets]

Dajuan Wagner could learn a lot from Jason Kidd, Kidd is probably the best pure point gaurd in the game right now and Dajuan is converting his game this summer or atleast trying to learn how to play pointgaurd successfully.

 

[Henacy]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting L.Sooch:</div><div class="quote_post">Dajuan Wagner could learn a lot from Jason Kidd, Kidd is probably the best pure point gaurd in the game right now and Dajuan is converting his game this summer or atleast trying to learn how to play pointgaurd successfully.</div>

Thats all good, he could learn alot from Kidd. But the point guard position takes alot of natural instincts, if Wagner doesnt have those insticts it doesnt matter what he learns from kidd he will still never be a pg. And with Kidd expecting to miss part of the 1st half of the season the Nets need someone who can play the pg position right now. Not a point guard in training, they already have one of those named Zoran Planinc.

If the Nets give up their best shooter(on a team that lacks shooting to begin with) they better get someone that can help their team out in other ways right away. Tony Battie can help the Nets right way because of the Nets weak frontline outside of K-Mart. Tony Battie(outside of any major other offseason moves to the frontline of the Nets) would more than likely start at the Center spot next year. Or if he doesnt start he would still play more minutes than Jason Collins. Battie at center & Martin at PF makes up a pretty decent combo on the frontline, especially from an athletic & defensive stand point.

 

[InNETSweTrust]

^ I agree completely. Give me Williams who can occassionaly shoot the three and consistently defend the post and Battie who's an athletic C who can block shots.

 

[jbbNJNetz]

Exactly Henacy that is exact what KMart needs is some help. That is what stopped us from advancing past the Pistons is because KMart had no help in the low post and he was trying to hold his own but that go him some stupid fouls. Besides that we need to get a shooter in here that can be effective right away. I Would take the Eric Gill and Tony Battie

 

[N_Nets2004]

Yea..Ya'll pretty much summed up what i wanted to say...I really like Eric and Battie and i no they both have valuable expience..And it should help with team chemistry..Because they have been shipped with each other twice..So they know each others games..And we need some tough..Athletic Players..Veteans and these two are that!

 

[throwback]

oh man. i would pull the trigger for eric/tony right away. i think if they said erc/tony instead of eric/wags i think it would almost be a steal for us. i love the professionalism that eric williams has. he is a true team player. he is basically just liek atrain. they know thier role and they work hard to be the best at the role. i would still like to make the e-wills/wags trade eventhough i rather have eric/tony instead. you all mentioned the weaknesses about wags, but i think if he comes into a winning locker room and winning attitude, he will grow as a player on and off the court,hopefully the same thing will happen with eddie. wags is still young and i think with our old and young vets that we will show him how to win and he can workout with rj on his jumper

i would like to do this trade b/c it will show me that we will almost 100% keep kmart. the sar makes me nervous and to get ray allen kmart would have to go. with this trade, you get a very talented vet who is a hard worker and a professional and a young talent in dw. it would be really great if it could be tony instead or maybe 3v3 like kk/train/debo for eric/tony/wags. overall i would give this trade my blessing.

 

[Henacy]

Well, I dont think eric/wag/tony for kk/train/debo works under the cap. Plus I still not high on Wagner becoming a success in this league, so I have a trade I like a little more.

Kerry Kittles/Rodney Rogers for Tony Battie/Eric Williams/Kedrick Brown this deal works under the cap as is, but we would probably have to throw in a 2nd round pick either for this year or in the future just to make Cleveland feel more comfortable about the deal. But either way I still really like this deal.

Then that would set up a deal where the Nets could move Lu Harris & A. Will for Brent Barry in a sign & trade deal with the Sonics, this deal would also most likely work under the cap. I think Barry fits in very well with the Nets especially since Kidd will be out the early in the season, he can do some of the ball handling from the off-guard position.

These two trade would leave us with a probable lineup of

PG:Kidd(or a vetean pg we sign to the minimum to replace kidd until he returns)/Zoran
SG: Brent Barry/Kedrick Brown
SF: Richard Jefferson/Eric Williams
PF: K-Mart(after he resigns)/ Eddie Griffen(who is reportedly joining the team by training camp)
C: Tony Battie/Jason Collins/Nenad Kristic(if he joins the team)

I like our chances of being competive next year with that roster.

 

[Next Level Game]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Henacy:</div><div class="quote_post">
SG: Brent Barry/Kedrick Perkins
</div>

Kedrick Perkins is not a player in the NBA. Kendrick Perkins is a center for the Boston celicks. Kedrick Brown, who I think you meant, does play for the Cavs.

And no, KIttles for Wags and Williams doesn't work. Firstly, Williams is a free agent and would need to sign a near 6 million dollar deal for it to work, and Eric isn't worth that much. Yes, I would also like to see Battie included in the deal, but I think the Cavs are going to keep him because I think Paul Silas likes him. Zydrunas, is on his way out of Cleveland, whether it be free-agency next year or trade. I think more realistically the Nets should target DeSagna Diop. He finally got rid of that weight and looks like on the right direction to be a defensive force in this league. I think he will be a Tony Battie player in the future, with a bit better athleticism. However, he still does make a lot of mistakes and gets stupid fouls.

 

[Henacy]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting nextlevelgame:</div><div class="quote_post">Kedrick Perkins is not a player in the NBA. Kendrick Perkins is a center for the Boston celicks. Kedrick Brown, who I think you meant, does play for the Cavs.
</div>

Yeah , Kedrick Brown. I have so many of these basketball names flowing thru my head sometimes I mixed them up. I meant Kedrick Brown not kedrick Perkins. My bad.

 

[Deadlock]

2 Decent players for Kerry Kittles.. I'm a Cavs fan and you got too be stupid to do that. Kittles is not even good enuf for 1 on 1 trade with Eric Williams.