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John Hollinger

  (12:09 PM)

Greetings everyone. I'm here to chat about hoops for the next hour; I just wish there was something interesting we could discuss.

Garron (Boston)

Why isn't anyone talking about the major risk for the Jamison deal? If Lebron leaves Cleveland has 11 players under contract and still over the cap, with the Telfair / Jamison albatross deals

John Hollinger

  (12:11 PM)

News flash: If LeBron leaves the Cavs are screwed either way. I don't think post-LeBron planning is a major consideration for them at this point.

bullsger (Germany)

So with Salmons traded to Milwaukee, what the next actions from the Bulls? Thomas for Harrington? Or something totally new?

John Hollinger

  (12:12 PM)

Latest on Thomas front has him going to Charlotte for Flip Murray, Acie Law and a protected first-rounder. Good move for Bulls to replenish their shooting guard spot after Salmons trade, and I bet they're shocked to walk away with a first out of this.

Adam (New York)

Will the knicks be able to unload Jeffries contract before the deadline?

John Hollinger

  (12:13 PM)

We'll know in 3 hrs, but I suspect answer will be a yes based on what I'm hearing. Would make it a three-way with Sac and Hou, or a four-way including Nate with Boston.

Desmon Walker (CT)

chances knicks get tmac?

John Hollinger

  (12:14 PM)

"Getting" T-Mac is almost immaterial; despite what Mike D'Antoni may think it's almost mathematically impossible for Knicks to make the playoffs, the sole reason to do this deal is to unload contract of Jeffries and make NY a major player in next summer's FA market.

Jon (NYC)

Why would Sacramento facilitate NYK signing 2 max free agents? Do they want the #25 pick (at best) in 2012 that badly?

John Hollinger

  (12:15 PM)

Sac has nothing to do with it -- as near as I can tell they make the exact same trade whether Houston is in it or New York. It's Houston that would be doing all the lifting, and they want other assets (Hill, right to swap 2011 picks) in addition to the 2012 choice.

Jon (NYC)

Why would any GM be willing to help the Knicks sign 2 max FA's?

John Hollinger

  (12:16 PM)

If you don't have an FA that the Knicks will go after and the ransom is right, why wouldn't you? Rockets and Kings are in other conference and have no chance of losing players to NY this summer.

Tim (ohio)

John, in your opinion if big Z is bought out by the Wizards does he come back to Cleveland or jump on with another title contender??

John Hollinger

  (12:17 PM)

I think he'll survey his options and force Cle to cough up the full biannual exception (i.e., not just prorated for the final 30 games, but the whole thing), but at end of day I'd be shocked if he doesn't return. Drew Gooden, if he isn't traded again in next 3 hrs, is the more interesting one ...

Ben, (Halifax)

Is Martin really worth giving up Landry and taking on extra salary from Houston's perspective? Why not keep Landry on the cheap and make a FA play? Also, hearing anything about the Raps?

John Hollinger

  (12:20 PM)

It's about evening out the roster next year. Houston has no wing scoring right now and lacks a great outside shooter; Martin solves both, and once you pair him with Yao he's going to be deadly. Meanwhile Landry was going to play a lot less next year if Yao was healthy.

Sam (Denver)

Would the Nugs be interested in signing big Z? They should be.

John Hollinger

  (12:21 PM)

They'll have interest in both Z and Gooden. Silent Stan needs to sign off on paying $2 mil in luxury tax to use biannual exception but I suspect he will. Z is a longshot but I think they'd have a good chance at Gooden.

Matt (Waiting for tne next trade )

Why trade House for Robinson?

John Hollinger

  (12:22 PM)

Robinson is a better player and the Celtics need more scoring. Makes sense to me.

ghisletta (Co)

Don't the Kings make out like Bandits on this? The get a 22 mil expiring contract, get rid of Kevin's plus some others and still get Landry?

John Hollinger

  (12:25 PM)

Like bandits is strong, but they'll be pretty happy with what Landry gives them for $3 mil next year and they have enough room to sign a max free agent (they were getting pretty close already).

John Hammond (Milwaukee)

What else am I involved with? Do you like the addition of Salmons?

John Hollinger

  (12:26 PM)

I really like the Salmons pick up; now it appears they're going to thin out the 2 guards by trading Meeks to Philly for a pick and throwing in some flotsam to even out the contracts. I know Philly liked Meeks on draft day and the Sixers certainly need shooting, so this makes sense all around. Just a real solid, practical performance by Milwaukee at the deadline.

Justin (St Paul)

DARKO TIME!.......thoughts?

John Hollinger

  (12:27 PM)

He has to show up first. He supposedly wanted a buyout so he could go back to Serbia. I have no idea why Minnesota agreed to take on extra money just to audition a guy who doesn't want to be there, is certainly leaving the country next year, and can't play anyway.

Nick (Michigan)

What are the odds of the Rockets now moving Sergio Rodriguez, and for what?

John Hollinger

  (12:28 PM)

If they do a 3-way Sergio will end up with Knicks. Kings didn't like Sergio but I don't know why -- he played quite well for them and I think he'll kill in D'Antoni's system.

paolo (philippines)

What would be the impact of house to NY? cant see any relevance. Nate is a better player.

John Hollinger

  (12:29 PM)

Purely financial --- saves Knicks a couple mil in luxury tax [Late edit: actually it doesn't. Gives NY look at Walker, mainly]. Nate and House are both FAs after the season and neither of them will be playing in NY next year.

Tony (Charlotte)

How does the proposed Bobcats/Bulls trade help the Bobcats?

John Hollinger

  (12:30 PM)

Charlotte has been looking for another quality power forward for a long time, since Diaw has struggled this year and playing Wallace at the 4 is hazardous to Gerald's health. I presume they'd make qualifying offer and try to keep him.

Byron (Toledo)

Ah, Darko. Does any team's fan base feel worse right now than Detroit's? We're terrible and have no assets. How did this happen?

John Hollinger

  (12:31 PM)

Basically, Dumars traded the wrong guy and extended the wrong guy. If he'd traded Rip and Tay and extended Billups everything would be fine. Instead, Pistons are a total mess. Doesn't look like they'll get anything done today either.

Steve Kerr (Miami Fl)

Am i gonna trade amare at the last minute since he is leaving anyways?

John Hollinger

  (12:34 PM)

It doesn't look likely, as most of the deals they had to consider were essentially giveaways anyway. It would have been very, very odd for a team 10 games over .500 to a do a salary-dump trade. Suns can deal with fallout over summer; remember, they can still do extend-and-trade type of deal at draft (or any time prior to his opting out) and return some value for Amare.

Nimesh (Orlando)

Everyone is under the assumption that Clev have already locked up the East. Sound familiar????

John Hollinger

  (12:36 PM)

Ouch. A fair reminder. I talked to Stan Van Gundy at All-Star Weekend about whether his team had turned the proverbial corner (a phrase he hates); he basically said they're playing better but they still are really inconsistent and my impression was he doesn't think they're anywhere near last spring's level. That said, they're the only team that can beat Cleveland.

Brenton (Phoenix)

Why are the 76ers so reluctant to blow up a terrible lottery team?

John Hollinger

  (12:37 PM)

Takes two to tango. If they don't get something of value for Iguodala, they're just making a bad team worse.

Curt (Sac)

Why would you say the Kings did not like Sergio? He played well and often. Your thoughts?

John Hollinger

  (12:37 PM)

This is what people told me behind the scenes. Repeatedly.

John (Columbus, OH)

Published reports have Nate and a 2nd players going to Boston for House, Giddens and Bill Walker. Any idea who the 2nd Knicks player might be?

John Hollinger

  (12:40 PM)

If they do the deal this way it's almost certainly Marcus Landry. However if they lump in Nate to a T-Mac deal they can do it without the second player; they'd just have to cut Brian Cardinal to create the roster spot. Boston's three players wouldn't change.

Gary (Simi Valley)

bucks fans are up in arms about giving up a 2nd and meeks for the trash that is royal ivey/primoz brezec. something else involving ridnour in the works? murphy?

John Hollinger

  (12:46 PM)

the second-round pick was coming to the Bucks, not to the Sixers. Feel better?

John Hollinger

  (12:51 PM)

sorry, on phone here....

Joe (San Antonio (TX))

Please tell me we're doing something here in SA!

John Hollinger

  (12:54 PM)

Not hearing much on your end. Spurs are pretty good about keeping quiet until they have a deal, but it doesn't look good.

John Hollinger

  (12:56 PM)

OK, I'm back. Apparently Bucher is hearing of last-minute talks between Heat and Jazz regarding Carlos Boozer. Not sure it leads anywhere, but interesting.

paul (columbus, oh)

How much better are the Blazers w/ the Camby addition? frees up Bayless to be their sparkplug off the bench...

John Hollinger

  (12:57 PM)

Bayless is actually a concern for the 10 minutes or so he'll be at backup PG, but obviously Camby is a major upgrade over Howard and if and when Roy comes back he should help make Portland a tough out in the playoffs.

Jeremy (Mentor OH)

Hey John the Stat master, what's going to happen to LeBron's #'s now that Jamison is on board?

John Hollinger

  (12:58 PM)

Nothing. But Jamison will get fewer shots and a higher FG%.

Chuck (Chicago)

Tell me a Rose-Deng-LeBron-Bosh-Noah team is possible and I may just pass out.

John Hollinger

  (12:59 PM)

It's not -- you have room for one Max FA, not two. But a Rose-Wade-Deng-Noah core is a legit possibility. In fact I wonder if Miami is pursuing Booz to counter possibility of Wade bolting for Windy City.

captain flitzy (somewhere..)

So seems like the Pacers will be quiet huh? Are we going to see this huge rush for Tmac, and Z and the like going on next year for Troy Murphys big expiring deal? What do you see them dong over the next year?

John Hollinger

  (1:00 PM)

Pacers looked at dealing Murph but I don't think their heart was in it -- they didn't really stand to gain that much from it. Unfortunately their hands are tied salary-wise for another year -- kind of like Milwuakee, except the Bucks have better players.

Max (Olney, MD)

With the trade of Tyrus Thomas, how many wins do you think this trade gives my Bobcats and do you think this can solidify a playoff spot?

John Hollinger

  (1:00 PM)

Realistically, one or two wins at most ... but those wins could be crucial in the race for the last three playoff spots. I'm guessing the Bobs end up with 7 seed.

Paul (Indianapolis)

So what happens to the Pacers now that they did not get rid of Murphy of TJ Ford.

John Hollinger

  (1:06 PM)

Same thing that happened before. They'll try to move TJ again this summer, not sure how hard they'll try with Murph.

Casey (Nashville, TN)

Since Rudy Gay will become a restricted free agent this offseason, please tell me the Grizz will have a chance to sign him, and if not are they doing anything to at least get something for him?

John Hollinger

  (1:08 PM)

The entire reason Memphis made the money moves it has made (and didn't make) is to be in position to re-sign Gay after the season without going over the luxury tax. They may not match if somebody offers him crazy money, but short of that they're going to keep him.

TJ (St. Louis, MO)

John, can you envision a scenario where the Wizards do not waive/buy-out Zydrunas Ilgauskas? I'd love to see him go back to Cleveland and have a chance to finally win a championship.

John Hollinger

  (1:09 PM)

put it to you this way: Wiz are 843K over the luxury tax line right now. After 3 PM today, only way they can get under is to buy out Z for less than his current cap #. So the Wiz have about 5 million reasons to work a buyout.

G3 (Colorado Springs, CO)

Do the "Rights to Linus Kleiza" hold any trade value for the nuggets?

John Hollinger

  (1:11 PM)

The restricted free agent rights aren't tradeable; the only tradeable overseas players are ones who have been drafted but not signed.

John Hollinger

  (1:13 PM)

Sorry folks, been dealing with calls and news here. I'll hang out a bit longer to make up for it.

Paul (Fitchburg)

Are there any more celtics deals to come? Or is nate for eddie the only one?

John Hollinger

  (1:15 PM)

Nothing doing from Boston is everything I'm hearing. I don't think there was a real workable Ray deal out there that made sense for them.

Jimbo (MPLS, MN)

Are the Per Diem articles dead?

John Hollinger

  (1:15 PM)

No, it's just on hiatus this week since anything I would have written would have been swamped by the trade news. P.D. will be back at its usual spot come Monday.

Sam Presti (OKC)

Do you see me making any moves today? I was thinking I could maybe use Harpring and a pick to help someone get under the cap and get a better pick or a big in return.

John Hollinger

  (1:17 PM)

My spies in OKC think its highly unlikely they make a deal today unless they're bowled over with an offer .. they'd prefer to keep that $1.8 mil in cap space for draft day, they might be able to combine their picks and move up or do some other interesting things.

Lamont (Milwaukee)

What is going on here in Milwaukee? I am assuming that we will trade Ridnour, since we now have Royal Ivey. Or is Ivey being used in another deal???? Fill us in!!!

John Hollinger

  (1:19 PM)

Ivey deal was pretty minor -- it's basically Meeks for a No. 2, with idea being that Mil needed to clear out a shooting guard and get a No. 3 point guard. No impact at all on Ridnour as far as I can tell.

John Hollinger

  (1:20 PM)

Marc Stein just reported that three-way deal with Knicks is done -- TMac to Knicks, Hughes to Sac, Jeffries to Hou with 2012 first and right to swap in 2011. Landry, Dorsey to Sac, Martin to Hou, no word on Sergio. Looks like Hill stays in NY.

Justin (STL,MO)

Does Martin fit in with the Rockets

John Hollinger

  (1:21 PM)

Like a glove. Great deal for Houston. If Yao is healthy they'll be really dangerous next year.

SteveFitz (Cicero, IL)

Kirk Hinrich, staying or going?

John Hollinger

  (1:22 PM)

Staying. No way you're getting rid of $18 million over next two years for a third guard in this economic environment.

Eddie (Hoboken, NJ)

Instant analysis Mr Hollinger on the 3 way deal please? Especially for the Knicks..

John Hollinger

  (1:27 PM)

Coming shortly ... I'm going to need to exit and post my trade grades. Before I go, two pieces of news to share. First, one tidbit that went unreported in Salmons deal is that Bucks got rights to swap first-round picks with Bulls, top-10 protected. Second, I misspoke on Wizards' tax situation -- it's 483K over, not 843K. Either way, buyout for Z looms as the obvious solution.