Polling GSoM: Hornets and Thunder Trade

by Atma Brother ONE on Feb 17, 2009 2:07 PM PST in Polling GSoM

Just days after the Shawn Marion for Jermaine O'Neal swap, this season's second big trade has gone down. In what is an obvious cost-cutting move by the Hornets and another robbery by the Thunder (seriously, first the Seattle SuperSonics with Kevin Durant and Jeff Green, then the Dubs mascot Thunder, then a 26 year old athletic center who hasn't even hit his prime?), New Orleans have added Tyson Chandler to their already exciting young core for basically two expiring contracts (Joe Smith and Chris Wilcox) [ESPN].

I know the economy's bad and the Hornets are trying to save some dough, but this move seems incredibly short-sighted. They just went from being a team destined for contention in the West very soon to a team that will be scratching and clawing to even qualify for the West's Elite 8 this year and probably for years to come. Contrary to popular opinion, I don't like this move for the Hornets one bit financially. They don't have much credibility in their local market and don't seem to be generating much interest. The Hornets should be looking to build a stronger brand in their local city and increase ties to the community. Their eyes should be on the long-term. Take a few losses in the short-term if that's what it takes. If the Hornets had trouble selling tickets last season in New Orleans when the team was an exciting team on the rise, just imagine how tough it's going to be now. They just shot themselves in the foot and have only themselves to blame. Bad basketball move and an even worse financial move.

As for the Thunder- well, watch out. I'd be somewhat shocked if they don't make the playoffs in 2010. Kevin Durant is a superstar on the rise, Jeff Green and Russell Westbrook have real All-Star potential, and Chandler when healthy is a very tough big man who can bring the D. That's what you call a real deal core.

This could make things much worse for the bottom of the West in the next 2 years. By next season the West will be 10 teams deep with the Hornets, Thunder, Jazz, Suns, Rockets, Trail Blazers, Mavericks, Nuggets, Spurs, and Lakers. Barring a major injury there's going to be a huge gap between those 10 and the remaining bottom-tier teams in the West, which includes the Warriors, Timberwolves, Grizzlies, Clippers, and Kings. It might be insurmountable for the West's bottom 5 for quite some time, but anything can happen.

Words from the Blogosphere:

Thunder trade Expiring Contracts Wilcox/Smith for Tyson Chandler [Welcome to Loud City]
United States Economy 1, New Orleans Hornets 0 [At the Hive]
YES! Tyson Chandler is back in OKC!!!! [Blue Blitz]
New Orleans Reacts [True Hoop]

More GSoM community discussion about this trade: Report: Tyson Chandler traded to the Thunder (bayareaballa)

Poll

Who got the better end of this trade?

New Orleans Hornets: 2 Expiring Contracts (Joe Smith + Chris Wilcox) and Devon Hardin

178 votes

Oklahoma City Thunder: Tyson Chandler

661 votes

839 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

This is...

…as always, not a trade that can be broken down on its merits immediately. If New Orleans frees up some money and snags a premium FA in two years, then I’d say they win. Otherwise, pretty rough. My instinct is to say that since they didn’t have a shot this year anyways, the dice roll is an OK idea, but it seems kind of out of the blue. As a big man, Chandler seemed more in sync with Chris Paul than most, also. I dunno if Wilcox has the hops for those oops.

by Zack Vank on Feb 17, 2009 2:12 PM PST reply actions

which

other big man his paul played with?

by saintdee on Feb 17, 2009 2:35 PM PST up reply actions

Good trade for OKC...

Man OKC really cleaned up on this trade! They get a nice big man to fill their center woes and they are going to get a nice draft pick this year, that way they could draft a nice SG and then they have a solid team. Their starting 5 could be:

Russel Westbrook
James Harden?? Holiday?? Curry??
Kevin Durant
Jeff Green
Tyson Chandler

That is not a bad lineup. New Orleans saves a lot of money in this deal and they can sign a very good player, but I think they screwed up on this trade. The give and go with Paul and Chandler was un-stoppable, and he fit so well with David West’s game. I hope the warriors pull off a trade soon.

by t3-glaze on Feb 17, 2009 2:42 PM PST reply actions

Killer trade for the Thunder, assuming Chandler can get healthy again.

New Orleans must be hurting for dough. While, there are some reasons why this could work out okay for them, more than anything, you’d think they’d want to keep Chris Paul happy. They’ve got him for at least two more years, but, eccch. You don’t want to bum out your superstar.

by onlxn on Feb 17, 2009 2:45 PM PST reply actions

Maybe there’s more to Chandler’s recent injury than the Hornets let on?

Also it’s odd that they sign James Posey in the offeseason in what looked like a move that they thought could propel them to contender status and now they trade away a key piece of that team. They must really be hurting for cash to do that.

by Fantasy Junkie on Feb 17, 2009 2:58 PM PST reply actions

NO still gonn be contenders now?

by 123707THIZZ on Feb 17, 2009 3:01 PM PST reply actions

Also, I don’t think the prognosis in the West is as bad as Atma makes it out to be. The Thunder are still a ways away, and both the Mavs and Suns will probably look a lot different (and quite possibly worse) a year from how. The Lakers, Spurs, Blazers, Jazz and Nuggets should all still be pretty damn tough next season, and the Houston braintrust seems smart enough to keep them up top, too. But there’ll be a little wiggle room, if the Warriors improve.

by onlxn on Feb 17, 2009 3:01 PM PST reply actions

Plus OKC still has 5 first round picks in the next 2 years

by krazybalr on Feb 17, 2009 3:02 PM PST reply actions

Also, the Celtics traded guard Sam Cassell to the Kings in exchange for a conditional second round pick in 2015.

The Ultimate Opportunist

by Rated-R Superstar on Feb 17, 2009 3:05 PM PST reply actions

Haha

Any requests for a Polling GSoM feature on that trade?

by Atma Brother ONE on Feb 17, 2009 3:07 PM PST up reply actions

We can have a poll on which alien Sam Cassell resembles the most.

The Ultimate Opportunist

by Rated-R Superstar on Feb 17, 2009 3:35 PM PST up reply actions

At least we wont have Wilcox doing his best Shaq inpersonation against us on Saturday

by 123707THIZZ on Feb 17, 2009 3:07 PM PST reply actions

Damn

I may hate the Thunder and Jeff Green, but I gotta respect them now….I can’t see them being bottom feeders for very long with the people they have now.

I’d say that the chances of beating New Orleans in our next 2 games have gone up though. They definitely got the short end of this deal (player wise)…wonder who they’re going to make a run for in 2009/10…

by ryogahibiki on Feb 17, 2009 3:52 PM PST reply actions

hate...Jeff Green (?)

wow—what rival college of his did you attend to hate him?

by Ormolov on Feb 17, 2009 6:14 PM PST up reply actions

Honestly, I'm still in shock.

Tony.psd = Da Man
http://www.blueblitz.net
Check Out My New Blog! (Don't Worry, The Warriors are Still #1)

by Zorgon on Feb 17, 2009 3:53 PM PST reply actions

Atma! You sound like a myopic Raider fan.

A 20 win team will make the playoffs next year because they add Chandler? Hello? He can;t make a shot beyond 2 feet and all his baskets were due to Chris Paul feeding him dunks. Regardless, they were only 1 player away form making the playoffs? Are we talking about OKC? I better go check some things I thought this was a team that was a threat to get the No.1 pick and now they are playoff bound?

by dungeness crabdribble on Feb 17, 2009 3:59 PM PST reply actions

My bad

I can’t count. I meant to say I’d be surprised if they didn’t make the playoffs two years from now which would be the spring of 2011, not 2010.

I think in 2 seasons Durant + Green + Wesetbrook are really going to start tearing up this league. I’m banking on their improvement coupled with a very solid center in Chandler getting them there.

by Atma Brother ONE on Feb 17, 2009 4:11 PM PST up reply actions

I do admit there appaears to be a changing of the guard in the West

With Phoenix, Dallas, and a few other getting older and in turmoil, the Blazers, Warriors, and Thunder will be causing problems for the old guard. Time for some new blood at the top!

by dungeness crabdribble on Feb 17, 2009 4:19 PM PST up reply actions

This trade.......

drops the Hornets out of the playoffs this year, elevating the Warriors to the 8th spot.

“We Believe” has officially started :)

by nuttinbutnet on Feb 17, 2009 4:47 PM PST reply actions

And beat the Lakers

And the dubs past the second round

by mykelala01 on Feb 18, 2009 1:52 PM PST up reply actions

The Hornets got the better deal here's why

tyson chandler sucks. they weren’t going anywhere in the playoffs, that’s for sure. and now they have tons of extra money. the real question is why would OKC do this trade?

by HoLdEmUP on Feb 17, 2009 5:01 PM PST reply actions

why does chandler suck?

by Fantasy Junkie on Feb 17, 2009 6:07 PM PST up reply actions

his game consists of this

im 7’1" and therefor can rebound but i get outmuscled by most players.

i catch alleyoops from chris paul.

he has ZERO offensive game, and his defensive game is below average.

by HoLdEmUP on Feb 17, 2009 10:19 PM PST up reply actions

man this sucks

I like the Chris Paul and Tyson Chandler combo, so fun to watch.

This is good for the Thunder though. They have Durant, Green and now Chandler, also Westbrook is starting to look good.

Also I’ve heard from numerous people, that Bosh is on his way to the Dubs? what?
what I heard is either Beidrins + Turiaf + Belinelli or Beidrins + Randolph + Belinelli For Bosh, however there is no official news so far

I will always be your fan JRich. Good Luck

by chili01 on Feb 17, 2009 5:04 PM PST reply actions

what people?

I call shenanigans!

by warriOs on Feb 17, 2009 5:54 PM PST up reply actions

Scoreboard watching

Man, the suns are up by 44 with 2 min left in the 3rd! Think they’re fired up about the coaching change???

by IQofaWarrior on Feb 17, 2009 7:54 PM PST reply actions

Therefore, no Amare trade.

"Monta is the MAN." -Bob Fitzgerald

by WarriorForLife on Feb 17, 2009 10:41 PM PST up reply actions

Tyson Chandler is way overrated, by everyone.

But now the Hornets have a big gaping hole at center and they’re still hovering somewhere over the salary cap and barely below the luxury tax level.

by YaHeard on Feb 17, 2009 9:02 PM PST reply actions

+1

i was just gonna post that chandler is extremely overrated. don’t forget that he did absolutely nothing in his career until he was put on a team with an elite point guard who was able to toss him alley oops all game

by AJC3317 on Feb 17, 2009 9:36 PM PST up reply actions