Actualyl that would probably draw the Players' Union's ire.
In any case, clearly not worth it. That would create a giant stink ball, agents would be all over your case and steering players away, you'd get a little visit from Mr. Stern...just one of those things that is not done. As mentioned, what is done is that non-somnolent GMs make moves to make the result inevitable. Problem is our GM has been asleep for the last year and a half at least, did nothig over the summer ot fix what were obvious problems,a nd now seems either incapable or forbidden from above to do anything to speed along this process.
This team basically needs 2 trades shipping vets for kids/picks/caproom. Would do the trick, and is within the realm of reason. In a perfect world maybe 4 trades to truly clear things out. But two is something you see sometimes, and is a reasonable goal that should bear at least some fruit. Instead we get vague threats in newspaper stories, minor positioning, and hens oodling.
First let me say in no way was I advocating it...I was just saying there is no actual rule.
Anyways.
I think you are far, far too harsh on Petrie. People act like moving over the hill, overpaid, and underperforming guys like Bibby and Miller is easy. And let's not even speak of guys like Kenny Thomas...that is a tougher contract to move than Webber's ever was.
NBA GMs have learned lessons from the past. They are weary to move young guys with potential or draft picks for big contracts. In the luxury tax era, they just won't do it. Look at how hard it was for the Sixers to move Allen Freaking Iverson. They couldn't get a package from Minnesota that would include Randy Foye! I like Foye's potential (a lot!), but at the time I think he was like a 5 pt 3 reb kind of guy. Allen Iverson is a former MVP who would have fit EXCEPTIONALLY well with a guy like KG (who doesn't like/need the ball, especially in crunch time). Instead the Sixers had to settle for aging contributors in Joe Smith and Andre Miller, and 2 first round picks (which won't be very good picks).
Long gone, it seems, when GMs freely deal valuable contributors like Otis Thorpe for draft picks down the road...lest those picks turn into the opportunity to draft guys like Wade and Melo (see: Pistons heist of Memphis), or the Warriors dealing Parish and McHale to the Celts for Joe Barry Carroll.
That is all a long way of saying...who the hell is going to take guys like Bibby, Miller, Kenny Thomas, etc.? Maybe someone would take Shareef because his deal is reasonable. But the other 3? Heck no. And Artest? No one really wants to take the chance. I know it's a cliche, but you need someone to AGREE to trades with you. I HIGHLY doubt that Petrie has been asleep for a year and a half, as you suggest. I just think he is saddled with an aging roster with bad contracts, and meddling, demanding owners who refuse to let him start over, insisting he make band-aid moves and even running one of the best coaches in basketball out of town for their hand-picked guy, who is pretty awful.
I mean, you could be right. I am not a fly on Petrie's wall. But knowing what I do know of the guy, and looking at our roster, our salaries, and our owners...I can't find much to blame Petrie for.
