Successful Trade Scenario. Trade ID #5122195
The Charlotte Bobcats trade:
Emeka Okafor
Nazr Mohammed
The Charlotte Bobcats receive:
Tim Thomas
Joakim Noah
CHI 2009 NBA Draft 1st-round draft pick (#16)
1) DJ Augustin - Raymond Felton - Sean Singletary
2) Raja Bell - Gerald Henderson (#16) - xxx
3) Gerald Wallace - Terrence Williams (#12) - xxx
4) Boris Diaw - Vladimir Radmanovic - Tim Thomas
5) Joakim Noah - DeSagna Diop - Alexis Ajinca
Why this might work for the Charlotte Bobcats: Joakim Noah might not be the big bruiser as Okafor, but he's signed for half the MLE over two more years, while developing into an intelligent, athletic passing center, who can anchor a defense. This deal saves their owners a lot of money (approx. 60m$), which is the major reason to do this from Charlotte's POV.
The Washington Wizards trade:
Mike James
Darius Songaila
Oleksiy Pecherov
DeShawn Stevenson
WAS 2009 NBA Draft 1st-round draft pick (#5)
The Washington Wizards receive:
Kirk Hinrich
Jerome James
Why this might work for the Washington Wizards: They get out of the luxury tax land by acquiring Jerome James' non-LT applicable 6.6m$ salary. Moreover, they get the perfect complimentary player for their impressive starting lineup. When completely healthy, this team could cause some serious damage in the post-season. Moreover, they dump their 2010+ salary, which consolidates their budget even further.
1) Gilbert Arenas - Javaris Crittenton
2) Kirk Hinrich - Nick Young
3) Caron Butler - Dominic McGuire
4) Antawn Jamison - Andre Blatche
5) Brendan Haywood - JaVale McGee
The Toronto Raptors trade:
Chris Bosh
Roko Ukic
Marcus Banks
Kris Humphries
The Toronto Raptors receive:
Luol Deng
Brad Miller
Tyrus Thomas
Anthony Roberson
WAS 2009 NBA Draft 1st-round draft pick (#5)
DEN 2009 NBA Draft 1st-round draft pick (#26)
Why this might work for the Toronto Raptors: This trade package provides a youth fundament for the future. Swapping the 2010+ salary for expirings should provide additional assets for Colangelo to work with until the 2010 trading deadline. For instance dealing with New York might become an interesting trade option, as they are desperate to turn Curry and Jeffries into expirings.
1) Jose Calderon - Nick Calathes (BPA @ #26) - Qunicy Douby (FA)
2) James Harden (BPA @ #5) - Anthony Parker (FA) - Anthony Roberson (unguaranteed)
3) Luol Deng - DeMar DeRozan (BPA @ #9) - Joey Graham (FA)
4) Shawn Marion (FA) - Tyrus Thomas - Nathan Jawai / Pops Mensah - Bonsu
5) Andrea Bargnani - Reggie Evans - Brad Miller
*potential follow-up trade with New York: Brad Miller for Eddy Curry / Jared Jeffries, #8 and 3m$ cash.
The Chicago Bulls trade:
Luol Deng
Brad Miller
Tim Thomas
Kirk Hinrich
Joakim Noah
Tyrus Thomas
Jerome James
Anthony Roberson
CHI 2009 NBA Draft 1st-round draft pick (#16)
DEN 2009 NBA Draft 1st-round draft pick (#26)
The Chicago Bulls receive:
From CHA:
C / PF Emeka Okafor
C Nazr Mohammed
From TOR:
PG Roko Ukic
PF / C Chris Bosh
PG / SG Marcus Banks
PF Kris Humphries
From WAS:
PG Mike James
PF Darius Songaila
SG / SF DeShawn Stevenson
PF / C Oleksiy Pecherov
Why this might work for the Chicago Bulls: Reinsdorf decides to go straight for the title. He gives his accordance to invest the necessary money in this year's buyer market.
The reasons for Chicago to do this are:
Okafor and Bosh would form the best frontcourt in the league. Okafor is the needed interior presence, which Chicago has been looking for since trading Antonio Davis. Bosh is a decent defender on his own, but needs someone as muscular as Okafor to share the burden. Both should compliment each other just perfectly.
Re-signing Gordon becomes easier. After Bosh and Okafor, he becomes the third highest paid player on the team (6ys - 54m$) at a salary of 9m$ per year, which should be market value. Gordon and Okafor are said to be best friends, so, besides the chance to win a trophy next season, this becomes a major plus for Gordon. Hopefully he forgets the past negotiations, which are a major con against signing with Chicago.
Salmons gets to keep the starter position. His game perfectly compliments Rose/Gordon/Bosh, as he's capable of creating offense, while playing above-average defense on the bigger wings in this league. Their frontcourt defense should be just fine with Salmons-Bosh-Okafor.
Their bench is quite decent: James, Banks, Stevenson, Humphries, Mohammed and Songaila can play various roles in Chicago's game plans. Everyone brings some facets, which are needed during Chicago's rise to the top.
1) Derrick Rose - Mike James - Roko Ukic
Salmons and Gordon will take care of the PG duties as well. If they don't feel comfortable with their backup situation, they might look for alternative options.
2) Ben Gordon - DeShawn Stevenson - Marcus Banks
Resigning Ben Gordon becomes a must, even if it means paying him 11m$ annualy. Without him, this team lacks the outside threat to spread the floor for their big men. Stevenson is a very decent role-player on a reasonable contract. There should be no problems about sharing PT.
3) John Salmons - MLE (Matt Harpring) - Linton Johnson III
John Salmons has provided almost everything that Chicago wants from a small forward. Unfortunately, he's expiring while already midway in his prime. That Sacramento trade back in february was sensational for their team. Matt Harpring provides defensive intensity and outside shooting, he would be a stellar fit for 20mpg.
4) Chris Bosh - Darius Songaila - Kris Humphries
Chicago not only has a decent backcourt rotation, they finally have some options in the frontcourt as well. Bosh and Songaila are good option for Derrick Rose to play pick 'n' roll, because of their ability to his the outside shot. Kris Humphries can be used in garbage time.
5) Emeka Okafor - Nazr Mohammed - Oleksiy Pecherov
Okafor, Mohammed and Gray are traditional centers, who work underneath the basket to create second chance points. Okafor is the perfect compliment to Bosh, IMO, as he' solid around the basket while the latter prefers the faceup / high-post offense.
By the beginning of the 2011 / 2012 season, Chicago would only have the guaranteed salary of Okafor, Bosh, Gordon, Rose and hopefully Salmons on their books. Finding the necessary role players should become an easy task for Forman.