NBA: 5 teams deal in the works

[Phlegm]

From Associated Press:

MIAMI -- Antoine Walker, Jason Williams and James Posey could soon be coming to the Miami Heat in a proposed five-team trade that was nearing completion Tuesday, according to a lawyer and league official both familiar with terms of the complicated deal.

"Unless something strange happens, it's going to happen," said the lawyer, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Miami -- which signed Shaquille O'Neal to a $100 million, five-year deal earlier Tuesday -- would obtain Walker in a sign-and-trade from the Boston Celtics, then add Williams, Posey and rookie Andre Emmett from the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for veteran swingman Eddie Jones.

The trade -- which has been submitted to the league for approval -- was first reported by the Miami Herald. League and team officials generally do not openly discuss proposed trades until they become finalized.

Walker, Williams and Jones are the headliners in the proposed deal, one that also includes the aftereffects of a three-team deal agreed to earlier Tuesday by Sacramento, Memphis and Utah.

As part of the Walker deal, Boston would obtain Qyntel Woods, the rights to Spanish center Albert Miralles and the Heat's $1.9 million trade exception.

Walker, a three-time All-Star who averaged 19.1 points and nine rebounds last season for the Atlanta Hawks and Boston Celtics, would be a welcome addition to the Heat, said forward Udonis Haslem -- who formally signed his $30.7 million, five-year deal Tuesday.

"We're two different players and we can bring two different things to the table," Haslem said. "If we put that together, we should have a pretty good tandem."

The Celtics would get Borchardt from Memphis; Borchardt was part of Tuesday's earlier trade in which Sacramento acquired guard Bonzi Wells from Memphis for guard Bobby Jackson and center Greg Ostertag.

Memphis was then expected to send Ostertag to the Utah Jazz for guard Raul Lopez, forward Kirk Snyder and Borchardt. Snyder would be sent to New Orleans, along with the Heat's Rasual Butler, and Borchardt would head to Boston.

It's a deal that represents a major shakeup for Miami, which reached Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals this past season -- even though O'Neal and Dwyane Wade were both hurt at the time.

Jones, a career 16.4-point-per-game scorer, averaged 12.7 in the regular season and 13.7 in the playoffs as Miami's third option. Williams averaged 10.1 points and 5.6 assists for the Grizzlies last season.

"He's one of the best playmakers in the game," Haslem said of Williams.

Posey was limited to 50 games this past season because of injuries, and only 18 starts. He averaged 8.1 points and 4.4 rebounds.

[Zanchief]

5 way deal! Is that an NBA record?

[Lyion]

Wow, nice upgrade for the Heat. Given Detroits new coaching, this could put them over the top.

[Zanchief]

Wow, nice upgrade for the Heat. Given Detroits new coaching, this could put them over the top.

Agreed, Posey is the steal of this trade.

[Susvain]

It is an NBA record!

Take toine! He does great during regular season games, but during the playoffs, he can't hit anything by the hoop. Plus, toine wants the ball, Shaq complained last year in playoffs he didnt get the ball as much as he liked, so this just means less touches for Shaq.

Hope Miami is happy when they see Antoine throw up those haymakers from 3-point line.

[xaoshaen]

It is an NBA record!

Take toine! He does great during regular season games, but during the playoffs, he can't hit anything by the hoop. Plus, toine wants the ball, Shaq complained last year in playoffs he didnt get the ball as much as he liked, so this just means less touches for Shaq.

Hope Miami is happy when they see Antoine throw up those haymakers from 3-point line.

Walker is playing on a team with Shaq now, not Pierce. If you think he'll be able to repeat his Boston stunts, you're downright delusional. In addition to the upgrade in floor leadership, his coach (whomever it may be) will always have the option of tossing him on the end of the bench: Miami doesn't need his offensive efforts the way Boston did.

[Zanchief]

Shaq's offensive contributions are going to get smaller and smaller. Walker is gonna get so many crazy wide-open 3s next year I may just consider drafting him in my fantasy league, even though I hate him. If Shaq can make Damon Jones a top 20 fantasy player imagine someone with skill?

[Susvain]

Toine has skill?

[Lyion]

Given that Walker will now be able to do what he wants, and shoot from the outside with Shaq underneath, I think he'll be happy. Miami most certainly needs him offensively as an additional good player to alleviate the pressure on Shaq and Flash.

I bet he fits in perfectly with Miami.

[Susvain]

Antoine shoots a three! airball
Shaq grabs the board, dishes it out to Antoine
Antoine shoots a three! miss
Shaq grabs the board, dishes it out to Antoine
Antoine shoots a three! airball

Shaq cant get his every miss, which is every shot

[xaoshaen]

Given that Walker will now be able to do what he wants, and shoot from the outside with Shaq underneath, I think he'll be happy. Miami most certainly needs him offensively as an additional good player to alleviate the pressure on Shaq and Flash.

I bet he fits in perfectly with Miami.

I don't think Miami wants Walker shooting from the perimeter: his TSP is terrible. If they can't resign Jones or a replacement, they may have no choice but to spot him up, but they'd prefer to use him as an offensive facilitator. He's still an excellent rebounder and passer. With Shaq to enforce court discipline he could become a very valuable offensive cog.

[Zanchief]

Toine has skill?

Compared to Damon Jones, yes.

[Rotj]

HUGE move by the heat. yup the posey bit was awesome. can't believe jerry west threw him out that easy.

[Zanchief]

Heat starting lineup.

PG Jason Williams
SG Wade
SF Walker
PF Haslem
C Shaq

That leaves Posey and Mourning on the bench?

That's pretty damn good.

[xaoshaen]

Heat starting lineup.

PG Jason Williams
SG Wade
SF Walker
PF Haslem
C Shaq

That leaves Posey and Mourning on the bench?

That's pretty damn good.

Yep, with New Jersey retooling, Cleveland adding pieces, Indiana getting Artest and a healthy O'Neal back, and Detroit returning it's starting five, the top of the east looks to be much more competitive this year.

[Tacks]

Next year Miami will get what they should have gotten this year..and I can't wait.

[xaoshaen]

Next year Miami will get what they should have gotten this year..and I can't wait.

Beat down in the finals? As a San Antonio fan, I would much rather have seen Miami than Detroit represent the East.

[Zanchief]

As a Basketball fan, I would much rather have seen Miami than Detroit represent the East

[Zanchief]

I truly think this will be the year that the east becomes the power conferance.

Teams like Memphis, Dallas, Sacremento, Seattle taking steps back and all the moves the east made this year, it would be hard to argue agaisnt it.

[xaoshaen]

I truly think this will be the year that the east becomes the power conferance.

Teams like Memphis, Dallas, Sacremento, Seattle taking steps back and all the moves the east made this year, it would be hard to argue agaisnt it.

Phoenix, San Antonio, Houston, and Denver might accept that argument. I'm not convinced that Dallas will fall that far yet either. I'm not sure that I'd call either conference the power conference just yet: that title could easily come down to injuries over the course of the year.

[Arlos]

ESPN's Mark Stein's take on the trade: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/s ... id=2123211

-Arlos

[Zanchief]

Marc Stein is almost as reputable as Chad Ford.

[Emongmai]

What I find Hilarious is that Jason Williams is now the second highest player on the Heat. Hopefully he will be able to finally find himself and accept his role with a leader like Shaq to put him in his place. But Jason is as much of a locker room cancer as Bonzi Wells. The Grizzlies were dying to get rid of Jason but weren't sure they could because of his inflated contract and attitude problems. Regretfully we had to give up Posey in order to get rid of J Will.

On another amazing note the Heat are still $7 million under the cap and are looking to add another guard to the roster. They will wait til the August 15 amnesty deadline to pick up a player that has been released. Available names include Nick Van Exel, Alan Houston, Michael Finley, Earl Watson, and Dan Dikaeu. The Heat are having a powerhouse off season for the second straight time.