Major Deal. The Seattle SuperSonics have traded Gary Payton and Desmond Mason to the Milwaukee Bucks for Ray Allen, Kevin Ollie and Ronald Murray.
I think both sides win in this trade. Sonics were losing Payton in the offseason anyway, and they add Ray Allen to a young nucleus. Brenty Barry will probably run the point for now, though the Sonics will be looking for a PG this summer. George Karl gets to coach his favorite point guard at least for the remainder of the season and if he bolts at the end of the season, the Bucks will get his cap space. Ray Allen is a fine player but the Bucks won't miss him that much as Michael Redd is ready to step in and Desmond Mason will get more opportunities in Milwaukee than in Seattle. Also today: New Orleans Hornets get Kenny Anderson from the Sonics for Elden Campbell. This will be Anderson's 2nd go-around with the Hornets. Good news for Hornets: More PT for Jamaal Magloire Bad news: They now have David Wesley, Baron Davis, Anderson and Courtney Alexander fighting for the two guard spots. Boston Celtics get Mark Blount and Mark Bryant from the Nuggets for Shammond Williams. Celtics essentially got some size and only gave up a 3rd string PG and some cash.
And yesterday's trade: Magic get: Drew Gooden Gordan Giricek Grizzlies get: Mike Miller Ryan Humphries 1st Round pick 2nd Round pick (2004) Cash In terms of pure talent, it looks like Grizzlies got the better end of this deal, but I think Magic filled their needs better. Orlando clearly needed to get bigger, while the Griz added Miller to the logjam of Battier, Dickerson and Person at SG and SF. But at least they only have Swift and Gasol playing PF.
But Davis is chronically missing games because of his bad back and Wesley can play the point but works better as the SG. I don't think it will much of a problem even when Davis is healthy because Anderson will be a good veteran back-up.
That Sonics - Bucs deal is huge as it completly changes the complexion of both teams. Who will Sam Cassell and Gary Payton co-exist in the same back-court? For that matter they have to many good perimeter players now. Michael Redd and Tim Thomas at the 2, and Sam Cassell and The Glove at the 1