Yahoo Sports reports that the Memphis Grizzlies and Minnesota Timberwolves are involved in trade talks centered around Minnesota sending forward Chase Budinger and guard J.J. Barea to Memphis in exchange for forward Tayshaun Prince. The big question involves a Memphis favorite:
Memphis wants to include forward Tayshaun Prince into the package and the deal could be expanded to include guard Tony Allen, league sources told Yahoo Sports. Components of a proposed deal are still fluid.
via Sources: Twolves, Grizzlies discuss deal that includes Chase Budinger and Tayshaun Prince - Yahoo Sports.
Moving Allen would likely enrage the Memphis fanbase that loves Allen for his defense, heart and antics. There's a reason they call him "The Grindfather." But moving Prince gets a huge financial burden at $8 million per year over this season and next off the cap while adding a shooter they desperately need and a backup guard in Barea who, while unpredictable and undersized, can provide a spark off the bench.
The Wolves are apparently aiming to pick up defensive acumen, as Prince is still a quality defensive forward. Adding Allen would immediately give them a stellar three-man defensive rotation with Ricky Rubio, Allen and Prince, and would allow them to live a bit more defensively with Kevin Martin on the floor.
Budinger does come with long-term money implications for Memphis as well as a significant injury history having missed most of the past two seasons with knee injuries.
Basketball Hot News
Report: Nets may use disabled player exception to acquire Jordan Hill from Lakers
Jordan Hill has slipped down Mike D’Antoni’s Lakers’ rotations behind even Chris Kaman because… actually I don’t have a good reason for you. Hill is not skilled offensive player, but what he brings is energy and the Lakers could often use that. D’Antoni’s Lakers rotations have been interesting this season. We’ll go with interesting.
The Brooklyn Nets might want to take Hill off the Lakers’ hands, using the disabled player exception they got for Brook Lopez, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports.
The Los Angeles Lakers have had discussions on a deal to send forward Jordan Hill to the Brooklyn Nets, league sources told Yahoo Sports.
The Nets have a $5.25 million disabled player exception that they can use in a trade or free-agent transaction until March 10, and could use a portion to absorb the remaining $3.5 million on Hill’s expiring contract.
But it’s not that simple, Wojnarowski notes. First, the Lakers likely want something coming back their way in addition to the luxury tax savings they get. Maybe just a second round pick, but something. Secondly, the Nets have a full roster of 15 guaranteed players, so they have to cut someone (and still pay him) to make room on the roster.
More importantly, this is a very expensive move for the Nets. Very expensive. They are so far over the luxury tax line that taking on Hill’s $3.5 million salary equals $17 million in taxes, Wojnarowski reports. I know Mikhail Prokhorov is willing to spend, but there is spending smart and then there is spending $17 million to have Jordan Hill come off your bench.
The Lakers are pretty much open to moving anyone not named Kobe Bryant off their roster. Hill is high on the list of guys they want to move. But this is an example of why the trade deadline is tight this year, making any kind of deal has become hard.
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