Something to Ponder...

I guess I'll post this here since Greg seems to be a little busy to update The Trade Journal.  I've been thinking, there are various teams that have players they don't really need anymore, and so, there has to be a way to alleviate that, the easiest way would be to trade.  I post this in light of the Clippers' recently puzzling acquisition of Zach Randolph, a potent low-block offensive threat, that doesn't fit anywhere on the roster.  If we look at the pre-Randolph Clippers roster, it looked something like this:

PG- Baron Davis, Jason Hart, Mike Taylor

SG- Cuttino Mobley, Eric Gordon

SF- Al Thornton, Ricky Davis, Steve Novak

PF- Marcus Camby, Tim Thomas

C- Chris Kaman, Brian Skinner

That would be something of my guess as to what the rotation ends up looking like for Mike Dunleavy Sr. on a night to night basis, barring injuries of course.  Now that Zach Randolph has been acquired (with Mardy Collins of course, the rotation becomes convoluted.  I don't believe that Kaman or Camby would be willing to come off the bench, so I'm not so certain that's a solution...  However, one of them has to, unless you decide to start Zach Randolph at SF and bench Tim Thomas.  From what I hear, the rotation will likely be:

PG- Baron Davis, Jason Hart, Mike Taylor

SG- Ricky Davis, Eric Gordon

SF- Al Thornton, Steve Novak

PF- Zach Randolph, Brian Skinner

C- Chris Kaman, Marcus Camby, Paul Davis

Or something along those lines, with likely Eric Gordon getting a lot more playing time and Ricky Davis platooning time as SG and backup SF.  It sure beats having a B. Davis, R. Davis, Randolph, Camby, Kaman starting 5.  As leery as I was about a Camby/Kaman frontcourt, I can cede that yes, it can actually work.  Not ideal, but workable.  Now that I'm given the option of a Randolph/Kaman frontcourt, I think the Camby/Kaman front court looks that much more desireable.  Think about the player that Kaman is, he didn't breakout until Elton Brand was sidelined for the entire season with a ruptured Achille's tendon, meaning, he thrives in the low block.  When I think about it Chris Kaman = Eddy Curry+defense+FT%, maybe give or a take a couple of rebounds and a couple of points here and there.  We all saw how well Eddy Curry played next to Zach Randolph.  Now, a Zach Randolph/Marcus Camby frontcourt tandem, might work, as moving Camby back to center will enable him to roam and be a stop plug like in Denver, and while Randolph is apathetic at best on defense, he's still a bigger body up against the bigger post players.  I'm not saying it'll be top notch, but it will be a heck of a lot better than a Randolph/Kaman tandem.  

So what do we do with Kaman?  Trade him of course.  Let the speculating begin!

Firstly, if we look at the Clippers they don't really have much to offer other than just Kaman, which is a 4 year contract making $9.5 million this year.  Incidentally Gerald Wallace of the Bobcats has the same exact contract (light bulb).  However, if I'm the Bobcats' GM, I should recognize, that a Kaman/Okafor tandem might not be the best solution, actually, it'd be pretty ugly (then again, I could be wrong).  Honestly, if Okafor were to play PF next to any center it'd have to be someone a little more versatile and able to get out of the lane, say like Mehmet Okur.  We've been hearing Wallace's name banging around for a while on the trade blocks though, and he'd definitely bolster a really weak wing position in the Clippers' offense, yes, it might mean we bench Al Thornton again, but he can be instant offense off the bench.

Now, if we look at teams that are looking for a kind of traditional, bang-it-in-the-middle kind of center, the two glaring teams that have said need would be Miami or Dallas.  Dallas's need has been quite obvious for the past couple of years, Erick Dampier is no Tim Duncan.  He can't really hold down the middle, and while he's a decent rebounder, that's the extent of his skillset.  There's no true post player to play next to a plethora of wing players (Josh Howard, Jason Terry, Dirk Nowitzki) and Jason Kidd.  Enter Kaman, that would solve that problem, right?  However, the only thing that I think the Clippers would want out of Dallas would be either Jason Terry or Josh Howard, and more likely the latter than the former.  I don't know if Dallas would be willing to part with either one, and if I were LA I would not be looking for some Jerry Stackhouse + Shawne Williams package either.

So Miami, well, Miami doesn't have much to offer, except for the expiring contract of Shawn Marion.  Marion just doesn't fit.  He's kind of stifling Beasley's development, as well as forcing Haslem to play center, though, Mark Blount and Joel Anthony aren't exactly much better prospects.  The problem is, Shawn Marion makes $17 million, that's a hefty sum that Kaman won't match straight up, and Clippers really don't have the assets to match.  Additionally, Marion at the 3 in Clipperland, isn't exactly a significant improvement from Al Thornton, seriously.  Marion can't shoot.  He's like Lamar Odom with defense.  One of those weird guys who you can't draw a play for.

That simply means: three-way trade!  It took me a while to get here, but I think this needed a little prefacing, and I'm hoping that maybe this will get Greg's attention so I can get some feedback, especially since it has to do with getting rid of Marion.

LA Clippers send Chris Kaman to Miami Heat

Miami Heat send Shawn Marion to Charlotte Bobcats

Charlotte Bobcats send Gerald Wallace to LA Clippers and Raymond Felton and Adam Morrison to Miami Heat

For the Clippers:

As discussed above, Kaman is somewhat expendable now.  While Thornton is a prolific scorer, perhaps it would be better for him to come off the bench since he and Randolph are something of black holes on the offense.  Wallace on the other hand, provides stronger wing play, and a little bit of perimeter defensive legitimacy to the Clippers.  This creates depth on the wing positions and slides Camby back to the center position where he did so well (relatively speaking) for the Nuggets. 

Projected Lineup:

PG-Baron Davis, Jason Hart, Mike Taylor

SG- Ricky Davis, Eric Gordon, Mardy Collins

SF- Gerald Wallace, Al Thornton

PF- Zach Randolph, Brian Skinner

C- Marcus Camby, Paul Davis

For the Heat:

They're looking for a PG and a center.  Kaman gives you the big man, and Felton, while by no means an all-star name, is a viable starting caliber PG.  While Chalmers is starting to bring it, he's not done so consistenty, and thus, I think would be better suited developing in a backup role until he's ready, additionally, Marcus Banks has not really brought it since preseason.  Felton on the other hand, has not been extended beyond this year, so if Chalmers becomes a stud, Felton just walks.  Furthermore, Larry Brown doesn't like Felton very much, then again, Larry Brown doesn't like most of his team.  I think Felton at the very least, can be as good as championship edition Jason Williams.  With Marion gone, the Heat can further develop Beasley's already solid offensive game and slide Haslem back to a more comfortable PF position.

Projected Lineup:

PG- Raymond Felton, Mario Chalmers, Chris Quinn

SG- Dwayne Wade, Daequan Cook

SF- Michael Beasley, Yakhouba Diawara, Adam Morrison

PF- Udonis Haslem

C- Chris Kaman, Mark Blount, Joel Anthony

or something like that

For the Bobcats:

Finally, someone legitimate to start next to Okafor.  Okafor doesn't really need to play at PF, but it would help if he had someone on the blocks that would help him out with rebounding.  Enter, Shawn Marion.  Marion thrives as an undersized PF, and is a very good rebounder.  He'll more than pick up the slack in that aspect and fills a position that Larry Brown desperately needed filled since Sean May is out of shape, seriously, he's gone to starting a Jared Dudley/Gerald Wallace forward tandem.  Additionally, should the need arise, Marion is also a legitimate perimeter defender and really can pick up the assignments that Wallace had should the need arise.  This will further allow the Bobcats to develop DJ Augustin and Jared Dudley, and Marion just needs to fill in the gaps when necessary, and that's when he (Marion) plays his best.  Of course, Bobcats have been trying to get rid of Morrison, and I think they can get away with it since they're also giving away a lot of talent (and Miami is filling its needs and definitely needs some depth at the SF position).

Projected Lineup:

PG- DJ Augustin

SG- Jason Richardson, Shannon Brown

SF- Jared Dudley, Matt Carroll

PF- Shawn Marion, Sean May

C- Emeka Okafor, Nazr Mohammed, Ryan Hollins

I'm sure the Bobcats can pick up a backup point somewhere out there.

UPDATE: Rumors have Jason Richardson's name milling around, which might work better for the Clippers anyways.  In which case Bobcats can just give up Adam Morrison to the Heat who need wing depth, Clippers get Richardson, Bobcats get Marion still, and Clippers would probably have to give up someone else, maybe Jason Hart to bolster the backcourt.  This enables Miami to better develop Mario Chalmers and the Clippers to continue to work Al Thornton in.  Here are projected lineups:

Clippers:

PG- Baron Davis, Mike Taylor

SG- Jason Richardson, Eric Gordon

SF- Al Thornton, Ricky Davis, Steve Novak

PF- Zach Randolph, Brian Skinner

C- Marcus Camby, Paul Davis, DeAndre Jordan

Heat:

PG- Mario Chalmers, Jason Hart, Marcus Banks

SG- Dwayne Wade, Chris Quinn, Daequan Cook

SF- Michael Beasley, Yakhouba Diawara, Adam Morrison

PF- Udonis Haslem

C- Chris Kaman, Mark Blount

Bobcats:

PG- Raymond Felton, DJ Augustin

SG- Matt Carroll, Shannon Brown

SF- Gerald Wallace, Jared Dudley

PF- Shawn Marion, Sean May, Ryan Hollins

C- Emeka Okafor, Alexis Ajinca, Nazr Mohammed