Garnett to ATL?

[wilkins21]

Trade winds blow through Milwaukee

BY GERY WOELFEL

To keep the sixth overall pick in Thursday night’s NBA draft or to trade it, that undoubtedly is the question weighing heavily on the mind of Milwaukee Bucks general manager Larry Harris.

Based on conversations with several officials, in and out of the Bucks’ organization, the Bucks are quite receptive to moving their top pick. And that could happen if neither of their primary targets is still on the board when they select.

According to several people in the know, the Bucks have their sights set on Florida power forward Al Horford and Ohio State point guard Michael Conley II.

It’s virtually a slam-dunk Horford won’t be available to the Bucks at six. Most NBA officials believe Horford will be the third player chosen – after Portland takes Ohio State center Greg Oden and Seattle takes Texas small forward Kevin Durant – by the Atlanta Hawks.

And, even if the Hawks should trade the pick, something that isn’t being dismissed in NBA circles, Horford is unlikely to slip past Memphis, which has the fourth pick.

Conley is also expected to be gone before the Bucks pick as well. Memphis has keen interest in the exceptionally-athletic Conley and would probably snap him up, if the Grizzlies are convinced they can’t secure another veteran point guard like Milwaukee’s Mo Williams via free agency.

If Conley and Horford are both off the board when it’s the Bucks turn to pick, Harris and Co. may seriously consider their many trade possibilities. That’s because, while the Bucks have an affinity for Chinese power forward Yi Jianlian and Georgetown small forward Jeff Green, a degree of uncertainty surrounds both of them.

With Yi, it’s a question of whether he’s willing to play in Milwaukee. Or more accurately, whether the Chinese government and his agent, Dan Fegan, would allow him to play in Milwaukee.

It’s not out of the realm of possibilities that Yi could return to China and play in his homeland. Something similar happened two years ago, when the Orlando Magic used the 11th overall pick in the draft on forward Fran Vazquez of Spain. He has yet to don a Magic uniform.

With Green, there are questions about his potential. Some NBA observers believe he has already maximized his talents and have concerns about his consistency.

The Bucks have two other players on the draft radar screen: North Carolina power forward Brandan Wright, an outstanding athlete whom some contend is still a couple years away from becoming a significant contributor, and Florida State small forward Al Thornton, who, at 23, could help immediately but doesn’t have one distinct skill. Thornton is expected to work out for the Bucks Tuesday morning at their practice facility in St. Francis.

If Harris determines none of the aforementioned draft prospects can impact his club next season, he could pull the trigger on a trade for an established veteran.

It was noted in this space last week the Golden State Warriors would be more than delighted to have the Bucks’ pick, especially if they could draft Yi.

But the Warriors are only one of a spate of teams that have contacted the Bucks about their pick. Philadelphia, Portland, Chicago and Phoenix are all actively trying to move into one of the top seven spots in the draft.

GARNETT SWEEPSTAKES: A blockbuster, four-team trade involving several All-Stars, including Minnesota’s Kevin Garnett, is definitely alive.

The deal would go like this: Minnesota sends Garnett to the Los Angeles Lakers, who would send young center Andrew Bynum and veteran forward Lamar Odom to Indiana. Indiana would send power forward Jermaine O’Neal to Boston, and Boston would send its top pick – the fifth overall selection – and center Al Jefferson to Minnesota.

Boston is understandably reluctant to unload Jefferson and is trying to convince the T-Wolves to take Gerald Green and Sebastian Telfair.

* The Atlanta Hawks are also making a concerted pitch for Garnett. The Hawks, who are in desperate need a franchise-type player, are dangling their two lottery picks – Nos. 3 and 11 – and other considerations for Garnett.

* Yet, another potential trade, one that’s been bandied about for weeks now, is Phoenix sending veteran forward Shawn Marion to Boston for the No. 5 pick and veteran center/power forward Theo Ratliff.

MUSINGS: There has been considerable speculation the Bucks would make a big-time run at Charlotte small forward Gerald Wallace, but all indications are the Bobcats will re-sign him. Furthermore, Wallace wants to stay in Charlotte. … The Bucks have found some gems overseas the last couple of years in Charlie Bell and Lynn Greer. The scuttlebutt is they may go that route one more time if they’re unsuccessful in a) re-signing Williams, or b) drafting Conley. … Bucks free-agent in-waiting Ersan Ilyasova figures to draw interest from several NBA teams, but his best offers could come from overseas. Several of Europe’s top teams have already explored the possibility of signing the young forward.

[Atlantaholic]

Interesting.

I'll tell you what. I'd rather have Garnett than Gasole. hands down.

[DavidSomerset]

And Garnett better sign an extension before hand.

What on earth would we do about PG, though?

Trade for Ridnour would be nice.

[Atlantaholic]

I'd give up either chillz or Marvin along with the picks... and I'd add Shelden or Pachulia without a moments hesitation if Minnesota asks for it.

[Nicholasp27]

so lakers get garnett for odom/bynum; nice

indiana gets odom/bynum for o'neal; nice

boston gets o'neal for jefferson/5; risky

minny gets jefferson/5 for garnett; not bad if garnett is gonna leave soon anyway

[Dragitoff]

Would you rather have Gasol and Smoove or Garnett because Garnett is making almost twice what JJ is making so there's no way we can keep Smoove if he isn't involved in this trade. Look at the financial aspects of this trade. To make it work, we'd have to send something like this to get it done under the CBA.....

Speedy/ZaZa/Marvin/AJ/Lo/#3/#11 pick for Garnett

That would leave us with....

Lue

JJ/Salim

Chillz

Smoove/Shelden

Garnett/Jones

Not a bad starting 5, but no depth and very little money left to do anything else with. Next year when Smoove and Chillz contracts are up, you can probably kiss both of them goodbye because you wouldn't have much room to spend anything on and you'd also have no draft picks to replenish your team. Garnett is an amazing talent and I think he still will be for years to come, but is he really worth jeapordizing this team now and in the future just to get him? I don't see it personally. You can get as many teams involved as you want, but I don't see it happening. If we could trade all that and still keep our picks, then yeah, go do it right now, but not all that and our picks.

[DawsonsCreek]

I would NOT do it. You basically have to gut your whole team for Garnett because of his perceived value and you also have to match money. By the time ATL has time to get more talent in here Garnett will be done. Forget it and put this one to rest.

[Atlantaholic]

I would ONLY do the trade if we could somehow be able to keep Smoove. If this isn't possible then I agree that the trade is not worth it.

[Nicholasp27]

in any 'blockbuster' trade for any of these guys, i want to keep:

a) smoove AND jj

b) at least one of marvin/chill

c) at least one of shelden/zaza

d) a top-15 pick so we can pick one of conley/law/critt/stuckey

that way we have our 3 stars, smoove can stay at pf, we get a pg, and we have some depth