NBA Tickets - Four-Team Deal Works for All Parties Involved
August 29, 2010 by Stub_Hub
The Hornets, Rockets, Pacers and Nets have completed a four-team deal that will send Trevor Ariza to New Orleans, Courtney Lee to Houston, Darren Collison and James Posey to Indiana and Troy Murphy to New Jersey. This trade made a lot of sense for each team involved. Let's take a look at how it will affect each club.
New Orleans Hornets: The Hornets are committed to surrounding Chris Paul with a better supporting cast and keeping him in the Big Easy for the foreseeable future. The organization reassured Paul that they had plans to improve the roster earlier this offseason when Paul was itching for a trade. Trading Collison is a big statement of commitment to keeping Paul, and in turn improving the team's short-term and long-term prospects; the Ariza acquisition did just that.
Ariza was a pretty big name on the free agent market last offseason and Houston scored a solid bargain in signing him. The Hornets didn't need Collison with a healthy Paul and were able to rid themselves of James Posey's contract in bringing in a player that should thrive next to CP3. Ariza is an athletic three that runs the floor very well, which will give him a lot of easy scoring opportunities playing with a distributor like Paul. He's also a very good defender and has a developing perimeter game. It seems like a good fit.
Houston Rockets: The Rockets went on a bit of a spending spree this offseason, re-inking Luis Scola, matching Kyle Lowry's offer sheet and signing Brad Miller. Trading Ariza allows the team to shed some salary while landing a solid young talent. Lee has shown flashes of major potential and should be in line for significant minutes from the get-go in Houston. With both Shane Battier and Chase Budinger in place at the three, the Rockets could afford to move Ariza, while Lee will give the team a solid backup two behind Kevin Martin. Losing a talented player like Ariza was less than ideal, but the monetary implications and landing Lee make it a solid move.
Indiana Pacers: The Pacers desperately needed a point guard and they've finally got one. Collison shined in his rookie season while Chris Paul nursed an injury, showing himself as a more than capable starting point guard. He'll presumably be the starter from day one in Indiana, and the organization definitely has him in their long-term plans. Losing Murphy could hurt the team down low, especially from a rebounding standpoint, but the Pacers are hoping that Tyler Hansbrough can stay healthy in 2010-11 and pick up the available minutes. Murphy was in the final year of his deal anyway, and the team was highly unlikely to re-sign him at the end of the season.
New Jersey Nets: While the Nets drafted Derrick Favors with the third overall pick in the 2010 draft, the Georgia Tech product is going to need time to develop. Avery Johnson coveted a veteran four to fill the starting role this season and he got one in Murphy.
Murphy isn't a name that will necessarily sell a lot of NBA tickets, but he's a beast on the boards and has an excellent perimeter shot. Next to Brook Lopez, Murphy should provide New Jersey with solid production while the team grooms Favors and brings him along slowly. Murphy could also turn into a nice trading chip come deadline time, as his expiring contract could be an attractive asset for teams looking to shed salary.
