Cleveland Buck wrote: I wouldn't want Murphy if they gave him to us for free. Rip would be interesting, but I don't like that too much either. His shooting has gone down the past two seasons (and is awful this season).

jpake1 wrote: Who would the Cavs probably gives up to get both of those players? Trying to figure out what their starting lineup and depth would look like. That would be a pretty damn good team. One that would probably be holding up some bling.

devil1197 wrote:

jpake1 wrote: Who would the Cavs probably gives up to get both of those players? Trying to figure out what their starting lineup and depth would look like. That would be a pretty damn good team. One that would probably be holding up some bling.

What I have been hearing is Murphy for Z with buyout. S/T Wally for Rip.

That means one player must leave the roster.

j_crazy wrote:

devil1197 wrote:

jpake1 wrote: Who would the Cavs probably gives up to get both of those players? Trying to figure out what their starting lineup and depth would look like. That would be a pretty damn good team. One that would probably be holding up some bling.

What I have been hearing is Murphy for Z with buyout. S/T Wally for Rip.

That means one player must leave the roster.

Darnell Jackson gets my vote.

HighRoller74 wrote:

j_crazy wrote:

devil1197 wrote:

jpake1 wrote: Who would the Cavs probably gives up to get both of those players? Trying to figure out what their starting lineup and depth would look like. That would be a pretty damn good team. One that would probably be holding up some bling.

What I have been hearing is Murphy for Z with buyout. S/T Wally for Rip.

That means one player must leave the roster.

Darnell Jackson gets my vote.

What about that player from the Lake Erie Team?

osu45804 wrote:

Take it for what it's worth.... As of right now every trade is a rumor.... I'm just hoping this goes through! lol

osu45804 wrote:

Take it for what it's worth.... As of right now every trade is a rumor.... I'm just hoping this goes through! lol

DALLAS -- Long-running trade talks between the Dallas Mavericks and Washington Wizards have taken a fresh twist now that the teams have discussed the prospect of packaging center Brendan Haywood to Dallas in the same deal with Wizards forward Caron Butler, according to sources close to the discussions.

Talks between the teams had stalled in the past week, partly because of Washington's insistence that the Mavericks take guard DeShawn Stevenson in any Butler deal, but the potential for acquiring two front-line players -- since Butler and Haywood would immediately become key rotation players for the Mavs -- has renewed Dallas' interest.

Sources said that such a deal, which is still in the discussion phase, would send Josh Howard and a handful of cap-friendly contracts to the Wizards and holds appeal for both sides.

It would enable Washington to truly launch its rebuilding efforts, realize significant financial relief in the midst of a disastrous season and achieve those aims without giving up forward Antawn Jamison, which is the Wizards' preference.

The possible acquisitions of Butler and Haywood, meanwhile, would be a welcome spark for the sputtering Mavericks, with Butler moving into the spot vacated by the out-of-favor Howard and Haywood arriving as another rim-protecting defensive anchor in the wake of a knee injury that has compromised the effectiveness of Mavs center Erick Dampier.

Acquiring Haywood and having the chance to re-sign him this summer would likely fill the void Dallas thought it filled last summer, when the Mavs signed Orlando center Marcin Gortat to a lucrative offer sheet, only for the Magic to unexpectedly match the offer to the restricted free agent.

Yet there are undeniable impediments to a Washington-Dallas deal. The Wizards, according to sources, would still rather make the smaller deal with Dallas reported by ESPN.com on Feb. 5: Butler and Stevenson for Howard and a small expiring contract such as James Singleton or Quinton Ross.

One source said that the Wizards, who continue to talk trades with the Houston Rockets, Portland Trail Blazers and other teams, are reluctant to part with Haywood as the deal is currently structured.

In the latest proposals exchanged by the teams, Dallas would send Howard (whose $11.8 million salary next season is a team option) to Washington and also surrender backup center Drew Gooden, along with multiple low-salaried players such as Tim Thomas, Singleton and Ross.

Washington would inevitably want prized Mavericks rookie Rodrigue Beaubois added to the deal, but Mavs owner Mark Cuban said earlier this week that his young point guard is "pretty much untouchable" as Thursday's trade deadline approaches. It is not known whether Washington would accept Mavericks guard J.J. Barea instead.

Speaking to a group of reporters Thursday, Cuban said: "We kind of know the parameters [under] which we would make a deal. If somebody meets our parameters, we'll pull the trigger. But if not, we're not going to do it. I don't see us doing something just to do something because that'll kill our flexibility this summer. But in the event that there's somebody that really upgrades our talent and really makes our team better, then maybe we'll do it."

The Rockets have also been discussing deals for the Wizards for some time and have maintained an interest in Butler and Haywood in a deal featuring Tracy McGrady's $22.5 million expiring contract.

As with the Dallas talks, though, Washington has continued to seek more than mere payroll relief from Houston. The Rockets have balked at including any of the players in their long-term plans -- such as Shane Battier, Carl Landry, Luis Scola or Kyle Lowry -- just as the Mavericks say they won't surrender Beaubois.

The Wizards have likewise repeatedly insisted that Cleveland include young power forward J.J. Hickson in a trade for Jamison, which has dissuaded the Cavs from following through on their longstanding Jamison interest.

Yahoo! Sports reported Friday that the Wizards and Boston Celtics are discussing a trade that would send Butler and Jamison to the Celtics for a package headlined by Ray Allen's $19.7 million expiring contract. Celtics general manager Danny Ainge has subsequently denied such talks, telling The Boston Globe "there is no truth" to the notion of swapping Allen for two players who could dramatically reshape the look of the Celtics.
Although one source warned Friday that it would be a mistake "to sleep on that one," another source close to the situation insisted to ESPN.com that a Boston-Washington swap looks "very doubtful" because of the considerable long-term expense Boston would be taking on -- for players who play the same positions as Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett -- and because of Washington's reluctance to part with Jamison.

"I have no control over trade rumors," Allen said via his Twitter feed. "Let's just focus on being positive. I am a Celtic. Green all day."

j_crazy wrote: I still say I'd rather have JJ than Jamison, if they can do the deals you're mentioning with murphy and rip and keep jj and z, that's the best option IMO.

Hb31187 wrote: So...they refuse to give up JJ and get Jamison and become even MORE of an overwhelming favorite to crush the entire Eastern Conference?

Hb31187 wrote: So...they refuse to give up JJ and get Jamison and become even MORE of an overwhelming favorite to crush the entire Eastern Conference?

Just filed to ESPN.com: Mavs-Wiz trade talks have only gotten more serious this afternoon. Many sources say sides closing in on a deal

Footwedge wrote:

Hb31187 wrote: So...they refuse to give up JJ and get Jamison and become even MORE of an overwhelming favorite to crush the entire Eastern Conference?

The Nuggets were fuggin awesome last night wweren't they?

devil1197 wrote:

Hb31187 wrote: So...they refuse to give up JJ and get Jamison and become even MORE of an overwhelming favorite to crush the entire Eastern Conference?

Why give up JJ when its possible the Wizards are just posturing?

Cleveland has all the power and leverage right now. We are the best team in the NBA and its just our luck we have pieces to make moves without losing our core group now and for the future. Do we need to make moves, probably not but there is no reason not to if it will A) make the team better and deeper B) without giving up anything of value outside a low 1st rounder.

Meanwhile, the Wizards are a terrible team and want to shed cap while rebuilding. Yes, they would want to get young players and picks to make the trades look good.

There is no reason for Ferry to jump and offer Z/JJ/1st. Wait it out until the Feb 18th, if the Wizards are still looking you offer Z/1st and put the pressure on them to see if they truly want to dump salary.

If the Wizards don't pull the trigger, the Cavs are still the best team in the NBA. Its a no lose situation for Cleveland.

Same situation with Murphy and the Pacers. Offer cap relief and a pick, no JJ and wait.

Hb31187 wrote:

devil1197 wrote:

Hb31187 wrote: So...they refuse to give up JJ and get Jamison and become even MORE of an overwhelming favorite to crush the entire Eastern Conference?

Why give up JJ when its possible the Wizards are just posturing?

Cleveland has all the power and leverage right now. We are the best team in the NBA and its just our luck we have pieces to make moves without losing our core group now and for the future. Do we need to make moves, probably not but there is no reason not to if it will A) make the team better and deeper B) without giving up anything of value outside a low 1st rounder.

Meanwhile, the Wizards are a terrible team and want to shed cap while rebuilding. Yes, they would want to get young players and picks to make the trades look good.

There is no reason for Ferry to jump and offer Z/JJ/1st. Wait it out until the Feb 18th, if the Wizards are still looking you offer Z/1st and put the pressure on them to see if they truly want to dump salary.

If the Wizards don't pull the trigger, the Cavs are still the best team in the NBA. Its a no lose situation for Cleveland.

Same situation with Murphy and the Pacers. Offer cap relief and a pick, no JJ and wait.

If you did send Z to them would he be right back to the Cavs in a few weeks or would he be with Washington for the long haul?

And yeah I guess that makes sense, I just dunno why people are so high on JJ(some jokingly and some actually serious)