Trade Idea

[Cleveland's Finest]

This deal is a very likely deal that I think could be the best deal the Cavs can make now to improve their team and give LeBron some incentive to return.

 

Cavs Get:

Darren Collison

Emeka Okafor

 

Hornets Get:

Delonte West

Sebastian Telfair

Daniel Gibson

Future Draft Pick

 

This is honestly the perfect move. The Cavs don't have a a starting center right now, and Okafor could come in and fit that role. We take in his contract and the Hornets would love to get rid of that contract. Next, we get a starting point guard to build on the future with LeBron in Darren Collison. He took so many strides last year, leading a mediocre Hornets team and keeping them in some contention for awhile while Chris Paul was injured. We lose three guards, but we can still sign a guard for the MLE also. This move puts Mo Williams on the bench, and I think that's where he could shine and be possible six man of the year. The Hornets would get solid backups in Telfair and Gibson for Thornton and Paul, as well as receive Delonte's expiring contract. Getting Okafor's contract off is the main part of the Hornets wanting this move.

 

Here's where the lineup would be so far:

 

Darren Collison/Mo Williams

Anthony Parker/Mike Miller?

LeBron James/Jamario Moon/Jawad Williams

Antawn Jamison/JJ Hickson/Leon Powe

Emeka Okafor/Anderson Verajao/Z

 

LeBron certainly has no star yet, but Collison, Mo, and Hickson are three pieces that you could build around LeBron for the next five or so years.

 

Once the Cavs make that move and if LBJ decides to stay, I think they can take a chance at getting a Bosh or Stoudemire. The Cavs should make this trade to solidify their needs at Center and bench before free agency begins. Okafor at C and Mo becoming firepower off the bench fills those needs just fine. Whether we trade JJ, Jamison, Parker, and a pick for Bosh, or whether it involves Verajao or not, this Hornets/Cavs trade sets the Cavs up well for the future with or without LeBron because it gives them to youngsters in JJ and Collison to build on. And if LBJ decides to stay in Cleveland, then the Cavs have a solid roster with two great point guards and they are in position to make a huge sign and trade deal.

Edited June 26, 2010 by Cleveland's Finest

[Newman]

Mo as a back-up?

[Cleveland's Finest]

Like Jason Terry, Mo could be the sixth man, but in the fourth quarter if needed, he can play in the final minutes.

[MainEv3nt]

is okafor the center that lbj needs tho? okafor didnt really do [expletive] for hornets an he had to good point guards. even b4 cp3 got hurt he wasnt really doing anything.

[Cleveland's Finest]

Okafor is a solid guy at center though. I'd see Verajao playing the minutes that matter late in the game, but we need a serviceable center. Okafor is strong and a good rebounder.

[Nitro]

That team is solid...but that's it. There's very little draw to that roster as opposed to what he'll certainly have in Chicago and possibly Miami, NJ and NY.

 

The Cavs really screwed themselves over when they traded for Jamison instead of Amare. Jamison is getting up there in age and showed his true colors this post season. On top of that, they have him locked up for another few years with a high price tag. Bad, bad move.

[Cleveland's Finest]

That's the risk you take when you want a championship team. They had the best regular season record two years in a row and went for the jugular in terms of trades and even then it didn't work. LBJ wanted these moves too.

[xx.]

Yeah, you right, it could be the best deal for the Cavs but the Hornets would definitely not do this, no way.

[Nitro]

That's the risk you take when you want a championship team. They had the best regular season record two years in a row and went for the jugular in terms of trades and even then it didn't work. LBJ wanted these moves too.

 

Supposedly LeBron wanted Amare over Jamison, even if he didn't come right out and say that through the media. I think that decision will come back to haunt the Cavs because in no way, shape or form was Jamison ever going to be a consistent 2nd option, and he's already 34 with a pretty big contract.

 

And yes, they were building a championship team, but they were also fighting to keep LeBron for the long-term. They likely failed on both fronts, and the blame should go solely to their roster moves the last season or so.

[Jammin]

Yeah, you right, it could be the best deal for the Cavs but the Hornets would definitely not do this, no way.

This.

 

Why would the Hornets trade away a top 10 defensive center and a potential future all-star guard for a mother [expletive]er, two washed up guards and a pick? Doesn't make sense to the Hornets AT ALL.

[Cleveland's Finest]

Same reason the Bucks traded Mo Williams to the Cavs for Joe Smith and Damon Jones.

 

Same reason the Suns traded 3rd team all NBA at the time Shaq for Ben Wallace and Pavlovic.

 

Money. Okafor's contract compared to his production is a huge disappointment. And Collison needs to go. See how bad they were in the final few games of the season trying to give time to CP3 and Collison. Same type of player. One must go.

Edited June 27, 2010 by Cleveland's Finest

[Newman]

I think that the Hornets are going to try and package Collison with Peja's contract or James Posey's contract before Emeka's. I know its a bad contract, but Okafor is still a productive player and their main priority is package Collison with someone who isn't productive.