<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (infinet @ Jul 2 2008, 05:56 PM)
<{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ghoti @ Jul 2 2008, 01:51 PM)
<{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I've been as critical of this contract as anyone, but at this point it doesn't really matter.
1. Carter.is now the player who will be traded for LeBron (or whatever major FA the Nets trade for). Before they foolishly signed him, it could have just been RJ.
2. Carter is a better player than RJ.
3. RJ brought back more in return than Carter would have.
They had the option to keep one. I think they chose wisely.</div>
I would HIGHLY disagree. We got robbed by the Bucks
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I kind of think it was relatively fair. You're just used to the Nets getting the better end of things.
I think of it this way: Yi's stats were relatively similar to RJ's when he was a rookie, from the minutes to the PPG to the FG attempts and percentage. The Nets traded KVH for a guy they later bought out to allow RJ to become a starter. The next year, of course, RJ blossomed, while KVH was soon done.
The same could happen here. With a year under his belt, and more minutes, Yi could conceivably become a 16-8 guy. RJ was at his peak value, is injury prone, and is reaching the age when he should be expected to decline. Similar? Maybe.
Here's another way. Seattle traded Ray Allen for a #5 pick and expiring contracts. The Nets traded RJ for a #6 pick and a rotation-quality player whiile reducing the team salary. Better than the Allen deal? Yes. Is RJ better than Allen? No way. Did Seattle get market value for Allen, or did they get ripped off? Who is to say?
Here's a final way: RJ wasn't playing defense, and a one-dimentional scorer at SF is a dime a dozen. Is RJ any better than James Jones? Pietrus? Matt Barnes? Or is the only difference between them opportunity and role in the team offense? Let's see what those guys command as free agents.
I like RJ; I know nothing about Yi; and I'm a little disgusted at what is going on; but that doesn't necessarily imply that it was a bad trade. Let's wait and see what Yi can do as a soph.
I'd rather the Nets traded RJ a year too early than a year too late, if you get me.