I don’t think that Houston has enough roster spots to absorb that many players. I would do the deal in a heartbeat financially.

This is also an opportunity to really be a player in the FA market. If Kahn doesn’t feel that Jefferson is a part of the future, this would be an opportunity to move Jefferson and get additional cap space to sign a top flight FA.

Jeff 12M
Gomes 4M
Cardinal 6M

McGrady 22M

Tha’s potentially 30M in cap space. The Bosh/James combo could come into play.

You can’t trade Al Jefferson for cap room only. That’s an incredible roll of the dice for a franchise that hasn’t shown they can attract one marquee free agent, much less two in a single offseason.

I’m not opposed to trading Jefferson, but you have to get talent in return, not cap room.

Andy’s original deal is a no-brainer. I suspect that Houston is hoping to get back more than Gomes for T-Mac’s deal, though.

So T-Mac can play 30 games for us and we win 5 more games than we would have without him? If we want to unload Gomes we just don’t pick-up the option this summer (I do think Gomes has a chance of being traded to contender and actually net us something of value (late first, 2nd round pick) in return). And I certainly wouldn’t give up the Utah pick just to rent T-Mac for 30 games.

It’s a role of the dice—basically risking that they can spend Jefferson’s money more efficiently than on Jefferson going forward; that they can use the money to become a better team than they can be with Jefferson.

The advantage of taking this risk is that it creates movement. It forces action. It requires that they embark on a new course. On the other hand, they might never find talent to replace Jefferson. But, well, Jefferson has presided over some pretty lousy teams the last 3 years, so how much of a risk is it really? That’s that argument for it.

I do not think that TMac would fit in very well with Minn. just as he seems to wear out his welcome wherever he has played. When I see him play, here is what I see: A man who dunks and slashes well, a man who pouts when things go bad, a selfish player who seems to rub teammates the wrong way, and a serious injury risk. I do not like the deal under any circumstances.

When did we get to the point of trading a player of Al’s talent for cap space?

I can’t think of any trade so one sided in terms of talent without some huge issue involved. The infamous Gasol deal (hated moreso at the time) at least brought 2 late firsts and 2 prospects in Crittendon/Marc Gasol. Vince Carter’s onerous contract netted an excellent prospect at the time in Courtney Lee (although the Nets also sent R. Anderson to the Magic). Z. Randolph was dumped for nothing, but he was toxic (attitude and contract) at the time. Camby was scrapped, but the Nuggets had serious tax issues (which the Wolves don’t). Is there an example out there that I’m missing where a team traded a young player of Al’s of talent for essentially no reason (i.e. no luxury tax, character or other big issues)?

At worst I would accept an upper lottery pick and expirings for Al. Guys like Jason Richardson, Antawn Jamison and Antonio Davis netted top 5-8 picks, why not Al? The Foye/Miller deal last year was an aberration IMO in that the Wolves were able to take advantage of a strange situation in Washington. The going rate for a lotto pick is traditionally more than 2 borderline starters.