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Why New York and Charlotte should trade Eddy Curry for Gerald WallaceNovember 09 08  NBA news mixed with analysis ... Their News: Multiple NBA sources have confirmed that Charlotte moving Gerald Wallace is imminent, but Pro Basketball News has yet to learn of a definitive destination at this time. Considering New York has also been tied as a possible destination for Harrington, the fact the Knicks have Eddy Curry collecting dust also makes them a potential partner in a multiple-team deal. (Pro Basketball News, found by HoopsVibe’s news team) Our Quick Analysis: You do it. I do it. Every NBA fan does it. Trade rumours are a guilty pleasure, something to chat about and discuss with friends. Usually, these rumours make no sense –like a bank loaning a person with no job, assets, or credit history hundreds of thousands of dollars to enter a leveraged housing market. Once in a while, there is merit and the teams should actually swap the players involved. For example, it makes perfect sense for New York and Charlotte to exchange Eddy Curry for Gerald Wallace. And both players are available. Curry is out of favour in New York. Of course, his situation has been overshadowed by the ongoing soap opera As Stephon Marbury Turns. New coach Mike D’Antoni wants to run and uses anyone other than Curry at the five-spot. Money drives the thrifty Bobcats. The organization believes Wallace’s nine million dollar per season contract would be better spent on another player –preferably a scoring post to take pressure off Emeka Okafor. How would a swap impact both teams? Wallace has the athleticism and up-and-down style D’Antoni likes. The pogo stick wing could become a poor man’s Shawn Marion in the Knicks’ up-tempo system. And moving Curry would improve locker room chemistry. Meanwhile, something has to give in apathetic Charlotte. New coach Larry Brown is demanding changes, minority owner and executive Michael Jordan wants to buy a majority share in the club, and nobody is sure of current owner Bob Johnson’s long-term intentions. Curry would provide a much-needed inside option. When focused and in-shape, his skill-set commands a double-team, which creates space for others. Also, a Curry-Wallace swap would solve the Bobcats’ logjam at the two-three spots and give a struggling market some publicity. The contracts are close enough to make things work. Wallace has a guaranteed 4 years and 40 million dollars remaining on his pact (he holds the option for 2012-2013 at 11 million dollars), while Curry is owed 30 million dollars over the next three years. The only complication is New York’s future plans. Wallace’s multi-year, big-ticket pact would take up valuable salary space to chase free agents in the summer of 2010. Still, there is enough to justify discussing a Curry-Wallace swap. Perhaps, our guilty pleasure becomes reality. Who wins a Curry-Wallace trade? New York? Charlotte? Both? Get at us in the comment box below and return to HoopsVibe the Blog for more NBA tidbits. Photo courtesy of bucko73us. |
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