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December
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Will The Bullets Get On The Trade Bandwagon?
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The Mavs Are Breaking UpThat's a question that's going to start getting on people's minds. When I saw that the Dallas Mavericks had traded away one of their franchise players (IMO, he was THE franchise player), Jason Kidd, to the Phoenix Suns last Friday, I just think of what could have been. I told you that Kidd could be had from the Mavs, but the pieces that could have acquired Kidd (Wallace and Cheaney) aren't together any more. Plus, the Mavs weren't dealing last summer. Hence, the situation washed.
Still, it would have been good to have a young star on this team that could have integrated really well with Webber and Howard. Kidd still hasn't learned to shoot (and now has a commercial making fun of that fact), but the Bullets could have surrounded the perimeter with shooters, if needed. (Of course, I still don't think coach Jim Lynam has learned that subtlety yet, but that's for another time.)
So, the Suns wind up with Jason Kidd, probably for the long-term (although some "sources" continue to rumor that Kidd yet be dealt again, though I don't believe it). And the Bullets seem to be sitting pretty for the moment.
What About "Action Jackson"?
Now there's word that one or both of the remaining "3 Js" may be dealt from the Mavericks. Jamal Mashburn is a forward and wouldn't fit on this team, but what about Jimmy Jackson? It's time to renew that old rumor.
Jackson does play defense, and he's a good outside shooter. But he also wants to shoot, and with players like Webber, Howard and Strickland all demanding the ball, where would the shots for Jackson come from? I think if the Bullets could add Jackson cheap (and that's not likely--the latest rumor has Jackson going to the Clippers for Brent Barry and a re-signed Brian Williams, two solid and talented players), we should do it. Unless the Bullets feel they could part with Muresan (which I don't think I would in this case), this isn't likely to happen.
However, can I start a rumor for Mitch Richmond? He's unhappy in Sacramento, you know...
Where Does Cheaney Fit In?
At the moment, Calbert Cheaney does not. Calbert Cheaney, by virtue of his lack of a jumper outside of 18 feet, is a small forward. Any attempt to play him otherwise is futile and bad for both parties. He can slash to the basket, is a solid to very good defender, and can hit a medium range jumper. (Yeah, don't remind me of his failings this year. I still believe he has it in his arsenal, despite his problems.)
I think everyone now realizes that Cheaney needs to be traded. And that makes life for difficult for general manager Wes Unseld. Teams know the Bullets are trying to trade Cheaney, and Cheaney has not been excelling this year. That makes Cheaney's trade value even lower. But the Bullets shouldn't settle for just any trade.
First off, the Bullets should consider trying to get just draft picks for Cheaney, if possible. That's especially useful with Tim Legler scheduled to come off IR within the next month and no clear roster cut waiting (though Jaren Jackson, who has played well for the most part this season, would probably be the eventual loser in this roster game). However, don't settle for just second-round draft pick(s), even if Cheaney's numbers this year are WAY down. Get a late first-round pick, if possible.
I think Minnesota will always be interested in Cheaney, although they don't have anything of import (draft picks or players) that could get Cheaney from the Bullets. (Cheaney would start over Doug West in an instant.) Vancouver could always use a scoring swingman (although Anthony Peeler has been coming on recently), but they're not bound to be out of the lottery any time soon.
And I still think Utah could use a SF come playoff time. Byron Russell is solid, but Chris Morris? Please! Plus, the Jazz probably have two first round picks next year (obtaining one from Miami in exchange for Martin Muursepp (sp?)), so they could part with one late first-round pick for Cheaney. And Cheaney could work well for the Jazz, IMO.
The other option is to make Cheaney part of a larger deal. A Jim Jackson or Mitch Richmond deal might be useful, but that would also hurt the Bullets in other areas. Meanwhile, we twiddle our thumbs and think about how good Cheaney could have become. Unfortunately, he will be doing it somewhere else.
wtf 30 December 1996
