Flip for Watson?

[Kings113]

The News Tribune - The SuperSonics and Denver Nuggets are discussing a trade that would send Ronald “Flip” Murray to Denver and bring former Sonics guard Earl Watson to Seattle, sources said Wednesday.

It is unclear if a trade will be consummated because the Nuggets (14-15) are talking with other teams in an attempt to upgrade a roster that many – including coach George Karl – predicted would win the Northwest Division.

Sonics general manager Rick Sund could not be reached for comment.

The Sonics would have to include several other players to complete a deal because Murray earns $895,000. Under terms of the collective bargaining agreement, the salaries of players traded must be within 15 percent of each another. Watson, who signed a five-year, $29 million deal this summer, earns $5 million this season.

If the Sonics put together an offer of Murray, Mikki Moore, Rick Brunson and Mateen Cleaves or Reggie Evans, they could get close to the total needed to complete a deal for Watson, who left the Sonics via free agency in 2002.

http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/38477/20051229/murray_for_watson/

This does make sense Nuggets-wise, since they were chasing Flip over the summer. But they already have a scoring guard in Earl Boykins, unless Flip would play SG mostly. Then that pushes solid swingman Greg Buckner out of the rotation. I bet they'd get Mikki Moore and Brunson with Flip. For the Sonics, I guess they want to re-gain Watson.

 

[Bricklayer]

Flip is a SG. Pure really. Not a lick of PG in him. Not the shooter they need, but at least a prolific, if messy, scorer if they get him.

 

[funkykingston]

He was a PG in college, albeit a scoring PG.

He's not a great playmaker, but he certainly has the ballhandling skills to swing to the point on occasion.

On the other hand, he's a terrible defender at either spot.

 

[¿¿¿]

Flip for Watson sounds like a reasonable trade...but do the Nuggs need another guard? Their front court is garbage right now.

 

[Kings113]

Well, as they'd get at least 2 other players with Flip because of his contract, and Watson's wild contract of 5-years 29 mill.

 

[Kings113]

Heh, almost forgot that the two teams involved were playing eachother tonight

 

[BMiller52]

Denver should go after Darko. He's not getting much PT on DET anyways and they need shooting and another big body who can block shots while camby's out. He needs playing time. Ideal match imo, if he went there we'd finally find out if he's a bust or not.

 

[Kings113]

Denver should just get Boumjte-Boumjte for shot-blocking . For shooting go get Person (who proved he still has it last year) or trade for Radmanovic, Carmelo having an actual back-up then.

 

[AleksandarN]

Denver should go after Darko. He's not getting much PT on DET anyways and they need shooting and another big body who can block shots while camby's out. He needs playing time. Ideal match imo, if he went there we'd finally find out if he's a bust or not.

I would love for us to take a shot at Darko. We need to find a interior defender. I actually think Darko is a better defender than any bigs we have

 

[BMiller52]

I would love for us to take a shot at Darko. We need to find a interior defender. I actually think Darko is a better defender than any bigs we have

Detroit doesn't want anything from us though. They'd probably want Reef or Bonzi and I know that'd be a bad deal for us. Denver can just give em Watson or something.

 

[Kings113]

Would have to involve like 2 or 3 players then from Detroit, since Watson's deal is 5-years 30 mil.

 

[gocmen]

I was browsing our message board and after reading some posts over there, I think this trade is very unlikely to happen. Since salaries do not match, we need to include several players for this trade. Also, Flip, Rad and Evans are signed a one year contract. According to new CBA rules, these players should approve any trade that includes them.

 

[Kings113]

Tacoma News-Tribune - In the wake of reports that the Seattle SuperSonics and Denver Nuggets are discussing a possible trade, Sonics All-Star guard Ray Allen said he thinks it may be time for general manager Rick Sund to alter the team’s chemistry a bit.

“You don’t always make a change just to be making a change,” Allen said. “But I think based on just us going up and down, the team is put in a situation where they have to consider an opportunity to shake things up and make it better. Or if it doesn’t make it better, at least try.”

The Sonics have discussed a trade with the Nuggets that would send Ronald Murray to Denver in exchange for Earl Watson. Other players on the Sonics’ roster would be involved to make the exchanged salaries balance.

Before the game Thursday, Murray warmed up on the court and was unavailable for comment.

Both Allen and co-captain Rashard Lewis acknowledged that Watson would be a better fit than Murray at reserve point guard. Allen cited the 14 assists the team had in its loss to Minnesota on Wednesday, a game Murray started in place of the injured Luke Ridnour.

“Bob (Weiss) has to make it a mandate to (Murray) that he has to start out (games) getting everybody involved,” Allen said. “That has to be made a mandate. If a (trade) is made, if something happens, they have to come in here, learn who we have and distribute the ball.”

Lewis said Watson may be a better fit as the backup point guard.

“I like Flip as a player and as a person,” Lewis said. “He is a great scorer. But I don’t know if the organization is looking for a scorer or a guy to run the point and play defense. It depends on what they are looking for. Earl is probably a better defender, more of a point guard.”

http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/38497/20051230/both_allen_lewis_favor_swapping_murray/

Seattle Times - News circulating that Ronald Murray could join the Denver Nuggets ' lineup was surprising to the Sonics guard.

He sat atop the scorer's table at the Pepsi Center with a stunned look as he was told he could be traded for Nuggets guard Earl Watson, a former Sonic. The Sonics need a solid backup point guard, and the Nuggets could use Murray's scoring.

There are several problems with the rumor, however. The NBA's collective-bargaining agreement states the salaries of players being traded under this scenario must be within 25 percent of one another. Watson, who played for the Sonics in the 2001-02 season, will make $5 million this season, Murray $895,248. So more Sonics players would have to be lumped into the deal to make it work.

And Murray, who signed a one-year deal to test the free-agent market this summer, has the power to veto any trade.

"I don't know nothing about that," he said. "Denver is a nice organization. And I have a lot of respect for George Karl, him being my first coach in the NBA [with Milwaukee], but I don't know."

Murray said he wants to remain in Seattle.

http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/38495/20051230/murray_surprised_by_trade_talk/

 

[Kings113]

Denver Post - The Nuggets do not appear on the verge of pulling the trigger on a deal, yet. But there was plenty of talk around the Pepsi Center on Thursday involving possible destinations for guard Earl Watson.

The Tacoma (Wash.) News- Tribune reported Thursday that Watson would go to Seattle for guard Ronald "Flip" Murray and other players. Though it remains a possibility, sources close to the situation said no such deal is imminent. To make the deal work, Murray must first OK it, since his $895,000 contract allows him to veto trades.

Murray would not say Thursday if he would exercise that veto, though he did say of Denver, "It's a nice organization. A lot of respect for George Karl, him being my first coach in the NBA (at Milwaukee)."

Seattle would probably have to include forward Vitaly Potapenko, whose $3,325,000 salary would combine with Murray's to approach the $5 million deal of Watson, who declined comment. The Nuggets also would have to trim another player from their roster to accommodate two incoming players.

Denver general manager Kiki Vandeweghe said he did not feel pressure to trade for a big man despite his team's injuries, "because Kenyon (Martin) is coming back shortly at full strength. Marcus (Camby) will be back within a reasonable period of time, I'm sure."

http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/38494/20051230/vandeweghe_no_hurry_to_trade/

 

[outsider62]

Can we somehow get Watson? GP, please do something!