Trading Out of the Double Team
The trade to end all trades…
I just want you to think about this for a minute: Zach Randolph and Darius Miles for Chris Webber. The Blazers eat a large percentage of the outgoing salaries.
Webber’s deal is expiring at the end of the season while Randolph and D Miles have 4 and 3 years remaining, respectively. Considering the guys that Philly would be importing, the trade wouldn’t be fair straight up because the Sixers would be saddled with excess financial and emotional baggage. That said, the teams would have to come with some sort of agreement. For the sake of this discussion, let’s say the Blazers still pick up 60-65% of the contracts after Webber’s deal expires.
Why it would be good for the Sixers: The Sixers have no chance of winning right now with C-Webb, AI and Samuel Dalembert clogging up their cap. AI only has so much time left, and he needs all the help he can get. It won’t hurt D-Miles’ game that there will be no shots leftover in the offense for him to take. In theory, he’ll just have to run the floor and fight for his scraps. Randolph would give the Sixers a tough interior scoring presence for the first time since, um…Charles Barkley? With AI’s monopolization of the ball, Randolph’s inability to find the open man wouldn’t be so much of an issue because he would be the one needing to get open—when open, he would shoot. And, yes, eventually he’d learn to find Kyle Korver open on the wing.
Worst case scenario: The Sixers end up having the worst team chemistry in the history of basketball. This would finally lead them to deal a disgruntled AI and cut one of the other two malcontents. (The Blazers absorbing the majority of the contracts would make it plausible for Philly to cut somebody if disaster struck–I think). In short, the Philadelphia 76ers get to start anew in the relatively near future with cap space and potential for a new identity.
Why it would be good for the Blazers: Webber provides a bit of leadership during his short stay in Portland and makes his last ditch effort at salvaging the twilight of his career. C-Webb might even find the fountain of youth at the contract year country club. Portland is finally able to nurture its young talent without Randolph and Miles around and Lamarcus Aldridge gets a tutor for a year. The Blazers also have the time to absorb some of the contracts because their most important players are still in their rookie deals. And who knows, Webber’s knees might feel better in a town that’s more like Sacto than Philly.
Worst case scenario: They continue to suck and continue stockpiling draftpicks while using their extra finances to try and right the ship immediately.
19 Responses to “Trading Out of the Double Team”
Sep.22 at 4:52 pm
Brian says:
I think C-Webb has three years left on his deal, though. This season and two more.
Sep.22 at 5:00 pm
Jake Appleman says:
RealGM.com says he has 1 remaining. And HoopsHype says 2. I based the column on RealGM.
Sep.22 at 5:05 pm
jappleman says:
Being the idiot that I am, I didn’t see this: TRANSACTIONS
06/30/06: Chris Webber of the Philadelphia 76ers has decided to not exercise his early termination option on his contract keeping him under contract for the 2006-2007 season as well as the 2007-2008 season. I think the idea still works though. Where did you hear 3?
Sep.22 at 5:05 pm
Sam Rubenstein says:
What did Iverson ever do to deserve this fate?
Sep.22 at 6:42 pm
Jake Appleman says:
Well, eventually he’d be on a better team or be traded to get another start somewhere else. It might not be that terrible…
Sep.22 at 7:21 pm
Sam Rubenstein says:
hmmm… I see. And as for the D Miles-Mo Cheeks reunion?
Sep.22 at 7:35 pm
Jake Appleman says:
A BIG HUG!
Sep.22 at 10:38 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
If this really happened, Khalid would go on a tri-state killing spree.
Sep.22 at 11:13 pm
Mike says:
This would kill my perverse dream of Darius Miles to the Knicks, so that NY could field an entire team of headcases and talent-free swingmen.
It sucks being a Knicks fan. No realistic playoff dreams. Just hopes that if it gets worse, maybe it’ll get funny too.
Anyone think JR Rider might want to play in NY?
He’s a headcase, AND a swingman. Two birds…
Sep.23 at 7:40 am
Boing Dynasty says:
If this really happened, Khalid and Mo Cheeks would team up and go on a tri-state killing spree.
Sep.25 at 9:05 am
Young C says:
This might be the worst trade scenario i’ve heard all offseason. First of all, what makes you think C-Webb wants to go to Portland and babysit all those young players.Hes getting up there in age,but he still contributes and im sure he wants to at least compete if not win a championship. He is not in a contract year yet. That is going to be in 07-08.Secondly,why would Philly want to take Portlands headcases, especially if they plan on keeping Iverson. There are other teams(most notalby the Knicks) that would be interested in Webber that have expiring contracts that would not have the sixers over the cap for the next 4-5 years. This trade sucks. Thank goodness for us Philly fans Jake isnt the GM.
Sep.25 at 12:27 pm
Khalid Salaam says:
This is quite possibly the worst idea in the history of modern civilization. Well this and yet another season of E.R.
Jake i don’t know if you’re working for the Blazers but i would never condone this trade. I’d rather root for a middle of the pack team with a bloated salary cap then a half-way good team with baggage galore anyday. I’ve never liked Miles’ game nevermind his temperament. And randolph (sidebar: when ever i hear the name randolph i always think of the movie coming to america. where akeem gives two bums a bag of cash. the guys turn out to be the rich guys from trading places. so mortimer starts screaming “randpolph! randolph!. we’re back!” one of the greatest moments in cincematic history. done) is a solid post player but just seems like an idiot and i don’t want to root for that kinda team. people always talk about character and winning isn’t everything but mainly that’s bs. winning counts, don’t kid yourself. but hell no, this is where the line must be drawn. if the sixers acquire either of this guys i will officially disown the team. even if for the short term they play well. because i know in the long-term the issues will soon dominate any and everything else. i hate losing yes but i hate losers even more.
Sep.25 at 1:45 pm
chris says:
As an avid Portland Fan, you did not do your homework. 1st of all, Portland would get worse not better. I have seen Webber play, and Nate MacMillan would not stand for his lack of effort on the defensive end. 2nd of all, and this is the most important, Mo Cheeks and dmiles/zebo are not best friends by any means. Unless Mo leaves Philly, this deal is dead! Before you do an article on a trade, do your homework…
Sep.25 at 3:12 pm
Eli says:
I like this idea, but it needs tweeking. A third team like New York should be included, send Miles to the Knicks, Mo Taylor and Randolph to Philly and Webber to Portland. The Blazers would probably add second rounders to get it done. This gives Philly a legitamate long-term replacement for Webber (Cheeks and Randolph got along very well, it was Cheeks and Miles that clashed) at a much more reasonable price while dropping $9.5 million off their salary next year. New York gets the starting 3 they need and Portland gets 2 years of high-quality mentorship for Aldridge without giving anything up in production at the 4. Chris, Portland doesn’t need to get better in this trade, it needs to shed players that don’t want to be there. Perhaps Webber would prefer another team, but he can always decline the player option on his last year. He also seems a bit out of place in Philly and might appreciate a change of pace.
Sep.25 at 5:08 pm
Marinman says:
worst trade idea ever
Sep.26 at 1:24 am
chris says:
Eli,
What are you talking about? Cheeks and Zbo getting along? They may be on friendly terms, but that is more Cheeks being a class guy. CWebb would be a horrible (High quality mentorship?) mentor for a young Blazer team. How many championships has he won? No offense to CWebb, but he won’t all of sudden get better coming to PDX. Portland is better off sticking with ZBO, and getting rid of Miles. Portland is already waaaaay deep on the front line, portland doesn’t need a slow aging power forward!!!! If portland was wanting to make a playoff run this year, than maybe CWebb would make sense. Portland has a plan to develop their young players, and especially the ones that want to be here. If you listen to K. Pritchard all he talks about is wanting people that want to be in Portland. I doubt that at the phase of CWebb’s career that he would want to be in Portland. Again, this trade sucks for everyone.
Sep.27 at 12:56 am
Ekam says:
Man im The sixers need me Iverson tell ur sixers to draft me ill get u a ring or go to garnett can get one. Stop ball hogging iverson ur never gonna win a ring onli kobe can do that u no wat im saying
Sep.28 at 3:20 am
DVLb0y613 says:
why not randolpd and webber straight up..both of them need to salvage their careers, and need a fresh start..
Sep.28 at 2:04 pm
JG says:
If I’m an NBA GM, I’m NOT!!!! giving up Zack Randolph for C-Webb. Period. Webber is immobile, yeah he’s a better passer than Z, but dude’s gunna get better boards and points, AND he’s younger, AND not as expensive