1) Derek Strong is on the CLIPPERS' roster, this trade is a three-way, remember;
2) Lamond Murray's contract lasts for another FOUR YEARS (maybe more)--and he certainly does not fit in with Cleveland's youth movement (assuming these trades happen)--so I think the team should move him. They don't want him for another four years, do they?
Anyway, I have a feeling that the Cavs blew their chance to get the best possible package for Andre. They SHOULD'VE agreed to that trade with the Clips a lot sooner--THEN the Clips would've drafted Caron Butler for them--the Clips THEN were going to trade Butler and Odom (right?) for Miller. It doesn't look like the Clips are willing to include Miles in a package for Miller--but I still think that they'd be willing to include Miles in a package if they could get back Baron Davis instead of Andre Miller! Is Davis better than Miller? I don't know, maybe not--but my guess is that the Clips THINK that Davis is better than Miller, and that Davis will put way more people in the seats than Miller. And they're right about that second part, Davis DOES put more people in the seats than does Miller, and selling tickets is, well, a really big deal, obviously.
ANYWAY, yeah, I don't think the Clips will be dealing with the Pacers, to be honest with you, so here is my revised trade with the Pacers, the one that I am starting to think will happen instead:
Andre, Zydrunas, Lamond, and Bimbo Coles to the Pacers
Jonathan Bender, Ron Artest, Kenny Anderson, and Ron Mercer to the Cavs
The key to this deal for the Cavs is getting rid of Ilgauskus' godawful contract, obviously. And maybe Bender turns into a star, although I REALLY doubt it. Artest is young and is a real gamer, while Mercer's contract is up after a couple of seasons.
THEN, in order to get what they can WHILE they can for Anderson and Tyrone Hill (both veterans who don't need to be taking minutes away from the kiddies, and both free agents after next season), here are a couple more trades:
1) Horace Grant, Jud Buechler, Don Reid, and Sacramento's 2003 #1 pick for Kenny Anderson (don't worry, all three dudes are free agents after next season, and they make a bit less money combined than Anderson does in 2002-03);
2) Roger Mason, Fred Hoiberg, and Michael Ruffin for Tyrone Hill (and again, don't worry, both Hoiberg and Ruffin are free agents after next season, the three players here make about $4 mil less than Hill does next season, and Mason was considered a first-round talent by a lot of people, so again, at least you're getting SOMETHING for Hill, an unwanted veteran)
Here are your 2002-03 Cleveland Cavaliers (and make no mistake about it, this team will SUCK SUCK SUCK, but hopefully a few of these kiddies will emerge as keepers):
PG Dajuan Wagner--Roger Mason
SG Ricky Davis (re-signed)--Ron Mercer
SF Ron Artest--Jonathan Bender
PF Jumaine Jones--Carlos Boozer
C Chris Mihm--DaSagana Diop
All the old folks will ride the pine, or they SHOULD ride the pine (Horace Grant, Jud Buechler, Don Reid, Nick Anderson, Bryant Stith, Fred Hoiberg, Michael Ruffin), while neither Michael Doleac nor Brian Skinner will be re-signed.
And REMEMBER, even if this (or any other) Cavs team goes 0-82, they STILL only have a 25% chance at Lebron James!
