Sonics / Hornets Blockbuster of a Deal

[SonicsGM]

Seattle Supersonics Trade:

Shaquille O'Neal
2009 Seattle Supersonics Second Round Selection
2010 Seattle Supersonics Second Round Selection

New Orleans Hornets Trade:

Jamal Magloire
Luol Deng
Gordon Giricek
2010 New Orleans Hornets First Round Selection

Supersonics Accept - So Long Big Daddy

[HornetsGM]

Accept.

Let the flaming begin.

[SonicsGM]

Sonics do this deal for a few reasons.

First, Shaq's contract was a little too big for a player who seemed to get hurt every year.

Second, Luol Deng brings in another young stud to this team that is full of young players with tremendous potential (English, Dickau, Kundla, Stockton, Geiger, Hoiberg, Lenard, Baly, etc.)

Third, I still bring back a big man who will run with Hoiberg and Smith for the remainder of the year, keeping me in contention for the playoffs.

Fourth, I have the ability again to offer a big-time contract either this year or next year if I decide to let Smith and/or Magloire go in FA.

Fifth, I get another trading peice in the 2010 first rounder.  You can't have too many of them.

This is a bit of a gamble..it's tough to lose a player like Shaq.  However, this team could be amazing in a year or two.

[HornetsGM]

Magloire-
--> Expiring with low loyalty and will likely ask for a huge deal.
--> He dropped a rating in defense a TC ago

Deng-
--> Future all-star, but still a few seasons away, and I am not that patient

Shaq-
--> top 1 or 2 Cs in the league, no question. He puts me in a solid title run for at least another 2-3 years


Yes, I gave up youth and a pick for a 33 yo with a massive contract. But I have two guys now who are tops at their positions.

Flame away though, just watch out for me when you have to face me  

[CelticsGM]

This is really depressing - no, not me NOT getting Luol, that too, but getting rid of a Shaq contract that will be REALLY, REALLY bad by next season for the 2nd coming of Marion.

This trade is great for the Sonics even if they can't resign Magloire, and I think that says it all ...


It will be interesting to see if the rest of the Hornets have something left for a title run as anything less will make that deal horrible ...

Just my 2 cents.

[KingsGM-old]

same with me, i was one millimetar away from magloire...

[PacersGM]

welcome to the reunion of shaq and marion with no real help anyway..
hmm let me remember didn´t someone else try to win a title with marion and shaq..
i really hope for the hornets that no one else will be hurt before the season ends. with some real old man walking now the court up an down the hornets managed to destroy a very prommising team in one trade.

great trade for the sonics but i can´t see how they will find mins for every young guy on their roster. maybe there are more trades ?

[GoldenStateGM]

For the Hornets :
That someone actually won the title with Marion and Shaq, so that is a combination that works.  With Christie able to step in for Deng immediately, and James at the PF spot, with Livingston at PG, the Hornets are really, really good.  probably better then the Miami team that won the championship.
Now the Hornets have no future.  They can win now, but 2 years from now, look for both Christie and Shaq to retire.  This a win now trade.

For the Supersonics, Magloire is a nice Shaq fill in, and Deng is a very good young player.  For a team that was built around youth, this is a nice trade.
But expect Dickau, Deng, or Kundla to be moved, because there are really not enough minutes for the 3 of them.

[MagicGM]

if a player reitres, would his salary still be part of your cap?

[NetsGM]

retired players do not count against the cap.

A bit of a risk for the Hornets, Livingston and Deng provided a nice young core.  

But both Marion's and Deng's defense dropped when moved to SG.  And they are both really sf's at heart.  Livingston, Christie, Marion, Jerome James (who's been great) and Shaq make them instant contenders.

Makes sense for the sonics, although they are a little overcrowded now at sf/sg.

[RaptorsGM]

Like this alot for the Hornets. Magloire is good, no doubt, and so is Deng, but Shaq is dominant.

However, I don't think Shaq is the top 1 or 2 C in the League. I rank Yao and Emeka ahead of him, Araujo very close behind.

[CavsGM]

But expect Dickau, Deng, or Kundla to be moved, because there are really not enough minutes for the 3 of them

Don't forget Antonio Lenard and Shawn Geiger.

Seattle has an unbelievable amount of young talent now, it's just insane. If NO can do some damage in the next year or two with Shaq on board, and maybe even win it all, then it would be worth it, obviously. But if not, it's gonna hurt...

[HornetsGM]

This trade is great for the Sonics even if they can't resign Magloire, and I think that says it all ...

So you are saying, essentially, Deng + 2010 1st > Shaq?

By the way, the only category that Deng improved in was his scouted potential last TC. Let's see if he turns into Marion.

welcome to the reunion of shaq and marion with no real help anyway..
hmm let me remember didn´t someone else try to win a title with marion and shaq..

Yeah, and it worked, look at Marion and Shaq with a ring on their fingers

i really hope for the hornets that no one else will be hurt before the season ends. with some real old man walking now the court up an down the hornets managed to destroy a very prommising team in one trade...

I guess getting Shaq destroys a team  

I am still relatively young at three positions: PG, SF, C (Pavel has had two very solid TCs, and I believe he'll be able to step in nicely.)

I was at the point where I could trade depth for talent, and I pulled the trigger.

[HornetsGM]

Like this alot for the Hornets. Magloire is good, no doubt, and so is Deng, but Shaq is dominant.

However, I don't think Shaq is the top 1 or 2 C in the League. I rank Yao and Emeka ahead of him, Araujo very close behind.

I just looked at the two recent rankings that came out, and both had Shaq #2. It's not just my individual opinion.

[RaptorsGM]

Like this alot for the Hornets. Magloire is good, no doubt, and so is Deng, but Shaq is dominant.

However, I don't think Shaq is the top 1 or 2 C in the League. I rank Yao and Emeka ahead of him, Araujo very close behind.

I just looked at the two recent rankings that came out, and both had Shaq #2. It's not just my individual opinion.

Understandable then.

Especially since both of those rankings had  Yao #1