It's about this summer. It's about getting in line for Kevin Garnett, Chris Bosh, Jermaine O'Neal or any other big man who might become available, the way Shaquille O'Neal popped free two summers ago.
Mullin, of course, is not alone. The New York Knicks are run by a numbskull in Isiah Thomas, but they are aiming for Garnett and can offer Channing Frye (the athletic forward Mullin missed out on by one slot last June), Steve Francis, Nate Robinson and the lure of Gotham.
The Chicago Bulls are super-sharp, and have Ben Gordon, Luol Deng and a surplus of high draft picks. The Los Angeles Lakers can offer Lamar Odom, Andrew Bynum and courtside seats near Jack Nicholson.
Detroit could get involved. Heck, Indiana could trade O'Neal for Garnett, which would mess up everybody else.
But, starting July 1, when Troy Murphy and Jason Richardson can be traded without base-year complications (don't even get me started), look at what Mullin could put together:
If you're Minnesota, and Garnett is making noises about opting-out and becoming a free agent after the 2007 season, would a package of Murphy, Mickael Pietrus, Derek Fisher and Ike Diogu intrigue you?
How about Andris Biedrins, Richardson, Diogu and a No. 1 pick? Or Murphy, Dunleavy and Diogu? You'd have to add salary here or there to make those deals, but mix and match, Kevin McHale. Mix and match!
If you're Toronto and Bosh lets you know that he's headed out the door soon, wouldn't Murphy, Ellis and Pietrus be an interesting option?
That July 1 date is huge, because, freed of that trade-crippling base-year status, Murphy is a valuable commodity and won't be needed if the Warriors land Garnett or Bosh.
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercu...i/13971367.htm
Mullin aiming for KG/Bosh?
It would be great for Mullin to land these players this offseason
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