A Memphis-Washington trade proposal

I'm noodling here. So don't shoot me, and don't go ballistic (please?). Idea is all it is, and I don't feel like listing a trade that I think could work the Bullets way here. But, who knows? -The trade works like this: Washington's 5th pick and Etan Thomas for Mike Conley Jr.

Here's why Washington does it. They get a talented young PG in Conley who do a lot of good things on the court. He would also cost about 7 million dollars less than the 5th pick and Thomas combined.

Unless Washington thinks Jordan Hill is an upgrade, what positions do they need? Point Guard would be one area of need I would imagine.

PG: Gilbert Arenas, Mike Conley, Javaris Crittenton, Mike James

SG: DeShawn Stevenson, Nick Young

SF: Caron Butler, Dominic McGuire

PF: Antawn Jamison, Darius Songalia

C: Andray Blatche, Brendan Haywood, Oleksiy Pecherov

Mike Conley could be available. Memphis has cap space (And they're going to have to use it on somebody--is their a better idea than acquiring the 5th pick and Thomas?)

The Grizzlies angle is simple. They're likely to have 8 players under contract with the team. With multiple draft picks, and Thomas, they won't have to meet any more payroll. It's a win-win where they don't have to spend any more payroll, and they could improve their team by picking the players they want from the draft.

I would think that players Memphis is very interested in are Tyreke Evans and Hasheem Thabeet. Evans and Mayo both need the ball, true, but Evans is a slasher and Mayo is a jump shooter. It would be just as easy to imagine that working together as the Conley-Mayo combo.

Would Washington want Conley? Well, that's another issue.

Memphis payroll is likely to be 36 million before the draft picks. However, because they aren't far enough under the cap now, they can't make this deal before the July Moratorium is lifted.

Let's assume the salary cap is 57 million. That means that the minimum salary is 42.75 million dollars. This takes them over, but not by much.

There aren't many teams that would be willing to give away a top pick in the draft. Of all the teams out there that can afford to pay the luxury tax, it's the Bullets. Abe Pollin CAN afford it. The question is does this make the Washington Wizards better?

Conley is an up tempo ball pusher who still has a questionable shot. His ability to get to the rim and run the offense are just 2 of his strength's.

I also think that the underlying aspect is Flip Saunders ability to work with young players. He has a pretty good track record there. Would Memphis do this? Maybe, especially if Thabeet and Evans (or any G they want to pair with Mayo) is available.

My question for Washington is what other players can Washington acquire that seems them A) reduce payroll to get under the luxury tax and B) Give depth behind Arenas that Flip Saunders can trust.

Now, according to my calculations, just doing this deal this way would mean that Washington's payroll is nearly 72.69 million dollars.

Even if the salary cap stays the same this year, the luxury tax was at 71.15 million dollars. Ernie Grunfeld would still have work to do. But, 72.69 million is a lot better than 80 million. Isn't it?

Besides this always leaves Washington with the opportunity to dump a player like Pecherov with a future 1st round pick. (Sacramento might be willing to do that for instance.)

Or, Washington can stay pat with their team and take a player at 5th overall. Either way, that's it. Now, tear me to shreds.

UPDATE: I got a different proposal this time: Andres Nocioni for Etan Thomas and Darius Songalia.

I explain it a little below in a comment, but I'll explain it again here. I think the greatest likelihood for the Wizards with regards to their draft pick is to trade down to save some money. There's sentiment that picks higher than lower are worth the same. Whether that means something for Washington or not, I do not know. (Chad Ford mentions that sentiment. I don't know if I buy it. Nor do I buy that Memphis or Rubio's camp is doing anything but postering.)

Here's the reason I suggest that deal for Sacramento and Washington. Washington is over the luxury tax, and that saves them money in that respect. It also could fill a hole that Nocioni can fill (3/4 spot) and give them extra shooting (and toughness). But, mostly, it's the money. And, they're not giving up valuable young talent or pieces to accomplish it.

You can argue that Etan Thomas has value on the trade market, but why? Unless Washington is taking back significant salary, and with Gilbert Arenas, Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison making big bukku dollahz, why bother? If that's your core, what does bringing in a high salary piece really mean?

Doing this deal saves about 4 million dollars for Sacramento. (They are definitely about saving money while they're in rebuilding mode.) This saves about 4,380,500 million in salary alone for Washington this season. Double that, and you're talking about saving 8,741,000 when you factor in the luxury tax. Nearly 8.75 million is a lot of money when you're paying Eddie Jordan and Flip Saunders 6 million dollars. Do you keep Songalia and Thomas at that increased price? Is it worth taking that extra 4 million in contract money to save on luxury tax? And he works in the grand scheme of things!

(This is a real deal that could happen. Likely? Maybe, maybe not. I would guess that the Kings would ask for cash as part of the deal. Or a pick. More likely a pick.)

Note: Thomas can't be traded until after the July Moratorium because of the option on his contract. (The NBA views players in this situation as Free Agent's. You can't trade Free Agent's to be obviously.)