Please no!

by Mike Prada on Jan 9, 2007 11:44 AM EST in Rumors

We haven't heard much in terms of trade rumors involving the Wizards this season. This is to be expected, considering the Wizards are right around the salary cap level and have few assets to deal.

Despite all this, Sekou Smith of the Atlanta Journal Constitution is "reporting" a rumored three-way deal involving the Wizards, Hawks, and Blazers. (emphasis mine)

The best one sent my way over the weekend: a three-team deal involving the Hawks, Portland and Washington. How does this one grab you. The Blazers send Jamaal Magloire to Washington, the Wizards send Brendan Haywood and Jarvis Hayes to the Hawks and the Hawks send Salim Stoudamire, Esteban Batista and Lorenzen Wright to the Blazers?

Huh? How does this make any sense whatsoever? It's rare that I see a trade that has absolutely no upside, but this is one of them. Brendan Haywood alone is a better center than Magloire, and he's younger, cheaper, and a better fit for the Wizards system. Magloire, at age 30 28, is washed up. Milwaukee thought they were getting toughness inside last year, but they instead got a horrible plodder who slowed down their up-tempo attack. Washington plays at an even faster pace, so why make this move? Magloire's only saving grace is his expiring 8 million dollar contract, but I don't see why the Wizards need to sacrifice this season to clear cap room, especially at this point.

Not to mention that by trading both Haywood and Jarvis Hayes leaves the bench extremely thin. Say what you want about Hayes, but there really is no reason to deal him at this point. His rookie contract runs out after this season, making him an unrestricted free agent. For all his negatives, he's the only real backup the Wizards have on the wing. If the Wizards don't want him, they may as well let the season play out and then let him go and use his salary on a similar player. Trading him doesn't make any sense.

So personally, I'm hoping this is just a rumor and the Wizards aren't considering this move. Ironically, I made a similar trade in my NBA Live Wizards franchise (traded Antonio Daniels and Hayes for Magloire), but that team was 10 games under .500 and 11 million over the cap (thanks to Jared Jeffries and Songaila), so it made more sense. In real life, the Wizards should forget about it.

What's your take? Should the Wizards consider this deal, even if it is a rumor?

[Hat tip: TBJ]

Tweet Comment 8 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Unsilent Majority

According to a friend prominently involved the thing is far from a done deal by any means.

However Magloire is 28 (not 30) and he has an expring contract.

Also Haywood is getting $5 mil for the next three seasons, he was in the '01 draft class so he's not under his rookie contract.

by Unsilent Majority on Jan 9, 2007 2:03 PM EST reply actions

Interesting

I stand corrected on Magloire.

When I said the rookie contract, I was referring to Jarvis Hayes, a member of the 2003 draft class. Hayes is still under his rookie contract.

The only logic I can see in this deal is that the Wizards want to upgrade the center spot at some point, and dealing Haywood, who has 3 years left, for Magloire, who has 1 year left, will let them do that. I'm personally a Haywood fan (I know you aren't), so I don't like it. But it's interesting.

by Mike Prada on Jan 9, 2007 2:17 PM EST up reply actions

Unsilent Majority

"I'm personally a Haywood fan"

I have no idea how to respond...I'm speechless.

Yeah i misread the thing about the contract, now if only we could get Salim in DC I'd be really excited.

by Unsilent Majority on Jan 9, 2007 2:41 PM EST reply actions

I'm an idiot...

...who always puts his name in the subject line.

by Unsilent Majority on Jan 9, 2007 2:43 PM EST up reply actions

This is eventually going to be a longer post

But here's the jist of it re: Haywood.

-He makes me want to scream sometimes, and I wish he had some offensive moves and a nose for the ball on the defensive glass, but for some strange reason, the Wizards are better with him playing heavy minutes. They're 10-2 when he starts this year, and their defensive efficiency (points allowed per 100 possessions) is nearly 10 points better when he's on the court. The defensive efficiency is nothing new; there's been that same discrepancy going all the way back to 2004/05.

-Haywood's ability to grab offensive rebounds adds more possessions to one of the best offenses in the league.

-Considering the going rate for mediocre centers (see Nene, Chris Kaman, Samuel Dalembert, Tyson Chandler), the Wizards are probably better off financially with Haywood and Thomas for 5 million each. I'm guessing Ernie wouldn't want to keep Magloire, but if they make that trade, the money's probably going to be used to sign a mediocre big man anyway. Why do that when Haywood's nearly as good for half the price?

-Haywood's athletic enough to not slow the Wizards down in their up-tempo game.

-Wizznutzz would be robbed of their "Brenda Haywood" nickname

Okay, maybe not the last one.

I guess being a Haywood "fan" is not the right way of putting it...I'm not a fan of him like you're a fan of Salim Stoudamire (who'd be nice to have instead of Roger Mason or Donnell Taylor), but I think he's a good fit for the team and should not be traded, especially for Magloire.

by Mike Prada on Jan 9, 2007 3:20 PM EST up reply actions