Two Years and Ticking
Since life got in the way (I wanted to post playoff previews before getting around to this one), my idea popped into someone else's mind. That, in no way, means it is better or worse when I was kicking it around.
Dan Labbe, a sports producer of Cleveland.com, wants the Cavaliers to pull off a big trade since Lebron James has two more years under contract in Cleveland, then the "global icon" can go out and ply his trade anywhere. Who does he want? Ohio native and legitimate sharpshooter Michael Redd.
Like I said, I was thinking about it, too. How would it work out?
Redd has two years at just over $32.8 million plus a player option for another $18.3 million left on his deal. With their earlier trade this year that brought in Ben Wallace, Wally Szczerbiak, Delonte West, and Joe Smith, Cleveland clearly planted themselves in the "win now" category. Milwaukee, on the other hand, is trying to rebuild. Redd turns 29 before next season starts and, by the time Milwaukee could finish their rebuilding process, would be on the downslide of his career, not to mention they get out from under his contract. The Bucks have some young parts to build around (Andrew Bogut, Mo Williams, Charlie Villanueva, and Yi Jianlian will all be 26 or younger when next season starts), as well as the #8 pick in the upcoming draft.
Szczerbiak would pretty much have to be the centerpiece of this deal, simply due to the size of his expiring contract, which is needed to offset Redd's deal. What else comes over? Anderson Varejao and a couple of first-round draft picks. From Milwaukee's point of view, they should be in 2008 and 2010 (NBA rules prevent teams from trading first-round picks in consecutive years). The urgency behind getting the 2008 pick this year is it is #19 overall. With James and Redd together, 19th is as low as the Cavaliers will be picking the next couple years. With Milwaukee being able to deal from the power position in this trade, they can require Eric Snow's expiring contract, as well, and send back Dan Gadzuric, who has three more seasons at over $20 million remaining on his contract. The Bucks would get to clear a ton of cap space and get Varejao and two extra firsts.
Milwaukee can then build around a frontcourt of Bogut, Varejao, and Yi with Mo Williams at the point. That's not a bad foundation to build from, especially with two first-round picks this year (maybe they become Joe Alexander, the athletic West Virginia small forward whose stock is rocketing and either Chris Douglas-Roberts or Brandon Rush). Villanueva then becomes disposable, as well. Some NBA team can be seduced by his combination of height and shooting skill.
Cleveland then has a lineup of Delonte West, Redd, James, Ben Wallace, and Zydrunas Ilgauskas. Their rotation is filled out with Gadzuric and Joe Smith (who must be re-signed to provide offense and toughness for the second unit) up front with Sasha Pavlovic and Damon Jones in the backcourt. Ilgauskas has one year with a player option remaining, Wallace two years, and the Cavs only have to offer West a qualifying offer this offseason. If they pull off this trade and bring back Smith and West, they'll have more than enough ammo to contend in the East and try to keep James in the fold instead of watching him run off to Mike D'Antoni in New York or Jay-Z in Brooklyn.