7 Deals For Jeffries

[LJ4ptplay]

Let’s Make A Deal: 7 Possible And Not So Possible Deals For Jeffries

Authored by Mark Rowan - January 25, 2010 - 11:33 pm

With the trade deadline approaching, the New York Knicks may once again make a move to clear up cap space for the now infamous 2010 off-season. Jared Jeffries, who is making $6.47M this season and $6.88M next season, was deemed virtually unmovable at the beginning of the season. New York, however, is in position to grab the last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference and the defensive prowess of Jeffries has played a large role in helping the Knicks get to where they are now.

Think back to who the New York Knicks were last year. Granted, they still aren’t anybody’s version of the 2004 Detroit Pistons, but they can actually D up every now and then. They rank 20th in defensive rating at 108.7 points allowed per 100 possessions, a subtle improvement from their 23rd ranked 110.8 points allowed per 100 possessions of 08-09.

Who do you put on Chris Paul? Dirk Nowitzki? The Knicks can actually put Jeffries on Paul one night and Nowitzki the next. He’s a versatile defensive specialist that can guard point guards, wings of various sizes and power forwards; there’s legitimate value in that for a championship contender looking to strengthen their bench. If you’re the Lakers in the playoffs and you’re worried Derek Fisher can’t stay in front of Steve Nash all night, have Jeffries pester him. His box score is far from sexy, but if you’ve had the chance to watch him annoy opponents you know his importance.

Jeffries doesn’t have the shooting abilities of Shane Battier, but his influence defensively is similar. The Knicks give up nearly eight fewer points per 100 possessions when Jeffries is on the floor than when he is sitting.

Now, there’s even a growing sentiment that Jeffries is too valuable for New York to trade away for additional long-coveted cap space. Sticking to the original script for Donnie Walsh, however, let’s take a look at possible trade partners.

The criteria here is simple: New York will be looking for an expiring contract, while the trade partner must be involved in the playoff race. Out of the 19 possible teams, 11 were automatically disqualified based on needs, lack of matching salaries or their own need for cap space next season.

Utah Jazz: Kyle Korver ($5.16M)

Korver has seemed to have lost playing time since his return from a knee injury recently. Mike D’Antoni’s Knicks could also use another 3-point shooter in their ranks. The Knicks take a huge hit defensively of course, and while the Jazz may not love the idea of taking on additional salary next season, the trade has the potential to give them a better pick in this year’s draft as they own New York’s selection. It’s a potential win/win situation for the Jazz.

Los Angeles Lakers: Adam Morrison ($5.26M)

Morrison serves mostly as a pawn in this trade. He rarely sees the court with the Lakers and I can’t see the Knicks working him into their rotation either, but it serves its main purpose and that’s getting Jeffries out of New York. I don’t think you’ll find many LA fans complaining about Jeffries coming off the bench instead of Luke Walton either, especially if he’s the B team defender for someone like Dirk Nowitzki.

Milwaukee Bucks: Luke Ridnour ($6.5M)

A straight-up deal is more of a pipedream than anything else for the Knicks front office. While Brandon Jennings has the starting PG spot locked up for years, don’t expect the Bucks to get rid of their only depth at the position. Ridnour could be the Knicks answer for a legit ball distributor either off the bench or even replacing Chris Duhon as the starter, but I don’t see it happening unless New York added in Nate Robinson. Robinson and Jeffries for Ridnour and Kurt Thomas happens to work financially and would be a good fit for both teams. Robinson, however, would have to approve any deal he’s involved in first.

Ridnour has had an excellent season, perhaps the best of his entire career.

Memphis Grizzles: Steven Hunter ($3.67M)

With just over three million in cap space, the Grizzles have more flexibility than any other team in the league. Memphis is currently a half game out of the 8th playoff spot in the Western Conference. If they think adding Jeffries could help their chances to get in for the first time since the 2005-06 season, then giving up that flexibility may be an option for them. Hunter has been little use to the Grizzles, but D’Antoni could use a shot blocker so perhaps he will find playing time behind David Lee.

San Antonio Spurs: Michael Finley & Matt Bonner ($5.76M)

Bonner is coming back from an injury to his shooting hand and has been struggling as of late, but he was a valuable member of the San Antonio rotation earlier this season. Finley has had more than his fair share of injury problems as well. Jeffries would fit along nicely when the Spurs reserves come in and could spell anyone from Richard Jefferson to Tim Duncan. Bonner, a 3-point threat, would find time in D’Antoni’s system while Finley could be a veteran presence in the Knicks locker room.

Consider everything from here on out a creative stretch to be filed in the unlikely column.

Houston Rockets: Brian Cook & Chuck Hayes ($5,647,750)

Cook is a salary throw in, so we’ll strictly be looking at Hayes and Jeffries. Their games are actually fairly similar and while Jeffries gives you more options on the defensive end, Hayes is a better rebounder. With that said, this is pretty much a wash talent-wise and the Rockets would be foolish to take on the additional salary and years even if one could make the argument that it is a slight upgrade.

Toronto Raptors: Amir Johnson ($3.94M) and Antoine Wright or Rasho Nesterovic

This deal is possible, but more than unlikely. The Raptors are not looking to do the Knicks any favors going into the offseason as they are looking to retain Chris Bosh. Unless they deem that task impossible by the trade deadline, I don’t see them dedicating any more additional dollars to next year now.

http://knicks.realgm.com/articles/43..._for_jeffries/

The only deals I see possible are for Adam Morrison, Kyle Korver and possibly Steven Hunter. If we throw in one of our 2nd round picks, one of these deals should be done.

This statement here really bothers me:
Now, there’s even a growing sentiment that Jeffries is too valuable for New York to trade away for additional long-coveted cap space. Sticking to the original script for Donnie Walsh, however, let’s take a look at possible trade partners.

When Donnie says he won't do a trade unless it improves our chances of getting to the playoffs this year, then I tend to think this might be true.


WTF?!? Is sacrificing the 2010 plan really worth POSSIBLY making the playoffs this year? Donnie (and many people) seem to think Lebron is just going to sign here because it's New York. This is ridiculous and setting us up for major disappointment.

Nobody is going to sign with us if Jeffries is not traded. And lets be realistic, we're not making the playoffs this year. Dump Jeffries and lets continue with the 2010 plan.

[paris401]

good post...


''Jeffries doesn’t have the shooting abilities of Shane Battier"

he doesn't have the shooting abilities of 'Ray Charles"

[TR1LL10N]

I would love to get some value back and dump salary for next year...any trade that does that should be done. If we just dump salary I am fine with that as well.

I would love to go after Rudy Fernandez though....makes peanuts and would easily be our best SG if picked him up.

[johnstarky]

I agree that the Knicks are definitely not making the playoffs this season.As well as they were playing throughout the month of December they don't have the talent nor do they have the ability to win on a consistent basis.The Bobcats,Bulls and Raptors are alot better than the Knicks.Any team that loses to a New Jersey Net team,that has trouble winning games, is a god awful team themselves.

As much as I admire Donnie Walsh he will receive a lot of criticism if he decides not to trade Jeffries and the Knicks still go another season of 50 losses and no playoffs.I really am getting sick and tired of this Lebroncentric thinking that the Knick front office is doing right now.I give King James a very low 10 percent chance of signing with the Knicks and I give Dwayne Wade a 5 percent chance of doing the same.There is a good possibility that Lebron's made his decision already and if that decision is him staying in Cleveland he must not care much about the Knicks clearing cap space for him or about the Knick fans that kiss up to him at MSG.Going back to the main topic of this thread,what do the Knicks have to lose by trading Jeffries? I'm not denying that the subtration of Jeffries will make them weaker at the defensive end but with or without Jeffries on their roster the Knicks are not a playoff team.

[jpz17]

I wouldn't mind dumping him for nothing to be honest

[Knickerbocker201]

Originally Posted by jpz17

I wouldn't mind dumping him for nothing to be honest

no disrespect but i think that's a bad idea... well if you don't mind just throwing away another season... i was watching last nights game and minn. and he was doing his thing.. we need a defensive player like that.. no superstar will want to come to a team that plays no defense...
prime ex. of a good team with 0 defense the Suns... they are a good team but they will never win a championship with that roster...

[paris401]

Originally Posted by Knickerbocker201

no disrespect but i think that's a bad idea... well if you don't mind just throwing away another season... i was watching last nights game and minn. and he was doing his thing.. we need a defensive player like that.. no superstar will want to come to a team that plays no defense...
prime ex. of a good team with 0 defense the Suns... they are a good team but they will never win a championship with that roster...

agree..they weren't winning a couple of years ago, and they had a dyamite roster ....

[New New York]

Originally Posted by Knickerbocker201

no disrespect but i think that's a bad idea... well if you don't mind just throwing away another season... i was watching last nights game and minn. and he was doing his thing.. we need a defensive player like that.. no superstar will want to come to a team that plays no defense...
prime ex. of a good team with 0 defense the Suns... they are a good team but they will never win a championship with that roster...

I hear where you are coming from, but moving Jefferies could make a major difference in how our off season plays out.

As much as improvement Jefferies has shown, he still is not worth us not being able to make moves this off season.


Here are a couple of more scenerios

Trade him and a second rounder to OKC for Etan Thomas' expiring contract

Trade him to Indy for TJ Ford and a 2011 first rounder. Indy is desperate to move Ford but has no takers, they get a sevicable player with less money owed to him. We take a 1.4 million dollar hit our cap, but we would have paid more than that for a starting PG anyway, plus we get a first rounder out of it

[Crazy8s]

Originally Posted by paris401

good post...


''Jeffries doesn’t have the shooting abilities of Shane Battier"

he doesn't have the shooting abilities of 'Ray Charles"

: teeth:

[StreetDreams21]

I LOVE the thought of getting Chuck Hayes (no homo) Him and Lee would make a great scrappy frontcourt. He's doing wonders for Houston this season replacing Yao.


C-Hayes
PF-Lee
SF-Gallo
SG-Ill Will
PG- Rubi....oh yeah, thats right...

Oh, and Hayes free throw shot is pretty sweet too lol.

[Scribbles]

Yes to trade 1.
Yes to trade 2.
Yes to trade 3.
Yes to trade 4.
Yes to trade 5.
Yes to trade 6.
Yes to trade 7.

[CoolClyde]

Originally Posted by Scribbles

Yes to trade 1.
Yes to trade 2.
Yes to trade 3.
Yes to trade 4.
Yes to trade 5.
Yes to trade 6.
Yes to trade 7.

:a greed:

[iSaYughh]

This talk of "the playoffs" and Jeffries' "value"...is indeed EXTREMELY troubling.

Plan 2010 -- which is, until proven otherwise, our best, nay, only plan -- isn't twiddle our thumbs and pray. It's not just a simple We Sign Lebron. It is about taking the necessary steps *to* put us in the *best* position to sign Lebron.

Do Walsh & Co. realize this? Or has the stank of Isiah drenched the executive lounges of MSG to the point that even new blood succumbs to rank retardation?

If Jeffries isn't traded...and for that matter: Harrington and Nate, at the very least....it will show that the circus master may have left the Knicks, but unfortunately for us, the circus is still in town.

[dre48ny]

I honestly see the Spurs making a move for Jefferies. Popovich is a genius and will use Jefferies along side Duncan to help out against big teams like the Lakers and to defend Nowitzki. I see this as the most possible trade.
Curry will be with us til the summer and maybe someone will trade for him if they need to unload salary for 2011.

[Paul1355]

Originally Posted by LJ4ptplay

The only deals I see possible are for Adam Morrison, Kyle Korver and possibly Steven Hunter. If we throw in one of our 2nd round picks, one of these deals should be done.

This statement here really bothers me:
Now, there’s even a growing sentiment that Jeffries is too valuable for New York to trade away for additional long-coveted cap space. Sticking to the original script for Donnie Walsh, however, let’s take a look at possible trade partners.

When Donnie says he won't do a trade unless it improves our chances of getting to the playoffs this year, then I tend to think this might be true.


WTF?!? Is sacrificing the 2010 plan really worth POSSIBLY making the playoffs this year? Donnie (and many people) seem to think Lebron is just going to sign here because it's New York. This is ridiculous and setting us up for major disappointment.

Nobody is going to sign with us if Jeffries is not traded. And lets be realistic, we're not making the playoffs this year. Dump Jeffries and lets continue with the 2010 plan.

I agree with you....the one i like most is Kyle Korver...all we do is jack up shots and he always makes the outside shot so he would be perfect. He can also run as a SG because Larry Hughes never sees playing time anyways, which he should see.

Jeffries sucks so bad that he has been a starter on this team all season and teams still don't think he is worth a penny.