If anyone read Bill Simmons article today, I'm sure you are writing him hate mail right now telling him how bogus any of the Chris Paul trades were.  I felt as if you got nothing in return for him other than Cap relief.  You'd need another superstar coming back to New Orleans.  And while Derrick Rose isn't Chris Paul yet.  He is one of the more exciting young PGs in the league.  You'd know this if you caught any of the epic Boston-Chicago playoff series last year.  Basically this trade guts your team and allows you to build around Rose the way you should of built around Paul.  Call it a do-over.

Bulls Trade - Derrick Rose, Tyrus Thomas, Brad Miller, Jerome James and John Salmons plus a first round pick unprotected for 2010.

Hornets Trade - Chris Paul, David West, James Posey and Peja.

Hornets get 10 million in cap relief this year.  38 million in cap relief next year.  And become the major players in FA in 2011.  To sign a big time FA to pair with Rose and Okafur.  Is it the best trade in the world?  No.  But I think it is the best possible Chris Paul trade IF he were to get traded.  There is no way to get equal value for him.

But we get Chris Paul.

For those of you that are Bill Simmons fans on ESPN.com  He wrote a fun article today explaining how a lot of teams are bleeding money and we will see a lot of lopsided trades in the next few months.  Get ready for more Pau Gasol for Kwame Brown trades! (though the Grizz did get Marc Gasol out of that).  He suggested some horrible trades for Chris Paul.  And his main point was that the Hornets are overpaying for many years for a team that will never be good enough to win the championship.  And if they trade away anybody for cap relief.....like David West....then Chris Paul will get unhappy and want to leave.  But what if they could get a future superstar in return and get cap relief for now and the future?  What if the Bulls could get an allstar player? The top PG in the league? An Olympic gold medalist.  Guaranteed. No waiting for FA.  Here is the trade

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine

Bulls Trade - Derrick Rose, Tyrus Thomas, Brad Miller, John Salmons, and Jerome James' EC

Hornets Trade - Chris Paul, David West, Peja, and James Posey.

Why the Hornets do it - They shed 7 million dollars this year saving them 14 million total when you account for luxury tax dollar for dollar.  They get a future all-star to appease the fans in Derrick Rose, and he is still on his rookie contract.  They get rid of Posey's 3 year deal so that in two years when Rose is up for an extension, they have a lot of cap room to play with and can go after a big FA to pair with Rose and Okafur.  They also have two good young guards in Collinson and Thornton so they could probably flip one of them for even more help.

Why the Bulls do it - A starting five of Paul, Deng, Peja, West and Noah is enough to compete for a title.  Or slide Peja to the bench as a spark plug and put in Hinrich (oh god) as your two guard.   The Bulls will be thin on the bench, but they already have no bench.  Peja and Taj can come of the bench with James Johnson filling in as well.  Only two problems I see with this trade is we might have to play Aaron Gray and VDN is still their coach.

If we all agree this season is a lost cause, and everyone wants to make a deal.  I think I have one that makes sense.  Keeping in mind that it won't make us better this year.

Boston Gets Salmons

Chicago gets Tony Allen and Scalabrine

While the Boston faithful love Scalabrine, Salmons is certainly an upgrade for them over Tony Allen.   Hollinger even mentioned in his chat today that the Celtics could improve with a Posey type of player.  Ideally a 3/4, but I think a solid 3 would help.  Salmons plays better at the 3 and plays better when he doesn't have to be burdened with the scoring load.  I'm sure he would also do better playing against 2nd teams then starters.  And in the trade machine the Celtics get +2 wins with John Fish.

 It would be nice to Trade Captain Kirk, actually it would've been nice to do that last year.  But I can't think of any logical destination for him that would include only expirings.  So that's why I think it makes more sense to unload Salmons because his contract is more appealing.  And the teams we need to be targeting in trades are the contenders.  Because they are the only ones who will want our role players for expring contracts.

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine

Blazers give up...

Frye, Bayless, Batum, Lafrentz

Get...

Butler, Malik Allen, Darius Songalia

Wizards give up....

Songalia, Butler

Wizards get....

Jefferson, Batum, Bayless

Bucks give up...

Jefferson, Malik Allen

Bucks Get...

Lafrentz, Frye

Why the blazers would do it....

This is an allstar caliber player they are getting, you aren't going to land him with Travis outlaw. Sure you are giving up some young prospects like Bayless and Batum.  But aren't Oden, Roy, and Aldridge the core?  Adding Butler to that would for sure make them better.  In fact, it increases their projected win total by 5 games.  Don't make the mistake the Bulls did and fall in love with your draft picks.  Win now.

Why the Wizards would do it.....

They get Jefferson, so they get a remake of their big 3.  Not as solid as Butler, but that's why they also get Bayless and Batum.. Two young prospects that could help them on the cheap.  And with Arenas out for the year.  They can give Bayless plenty of minutes.

Why the Bucks would do it....

Money, money money. Bucks are in financial trouble.  So maybe a draft pick by the Blazers would also have to be given up. But they also get cap relief to resign Ramon Sessions this off season.  And can trade Luke Ridnours expiring contract this offseason for some help in other areas.  And I think that Channing Frye would cost less to resign than Charlie V, and would produce just as well with Redd and Bogut.  GIves more touches to Bogut.  Inside-outisde presence with him and Redd.

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine

Blazers give up...

Frye, Bayless, Batum, Lafrentz

Get...

Butler, Malik Allen, Darius Songalia

Wizards give up....

Songalia, Butler

Wizards get....

Jefferson, Batum, Bayless

Bucks give up...

Jefferson, Malik Allen

Bucks Get...

Lafrentz, Frye

Why the blazers would do it....

This is an allstar caliber player they are getting, you aren't going to land him with Travis outlaw. Sure you are giving up some young prospects like Bayless and Batum.  But aren't Oden, Roy, and Aldridge the core?  Adding Butler to that would for sure make them better.  In fact, it increases their projected win total by 5 games.  Don't make the mistake the Bulls did and fall in love with your draft picks.  Win now.

Why the Wizards would do it.....

They get Jefferson, so they get a remake of their big 3.  Not as solid as Butler, but that's why they also get Bayless and Batum.. Two young prospects that could help them on the cheap.  And with Arenas out for the year.  They can give Bayless plenty of minutes.

Why the Bucks would do it....

Money, money money. Bucks are in financial trouble.  So maybe a draft pick by the Blazers would also have to be given up. But they also get cap relief to resign Ramon Sessions this off season.  And can trade Luke Ridnours expiring contract this offseason for some help in other areas.

I'm an NBA fan.  I like going to all the blogs and seeing what the fans think their team needs, and then I like to play imaginary GM.  So know that I have no agenda for any particular team here.  So here goes....

Bulls Trade - Larry Hughes, Nocioni

Rockets Trade - Tracy Mcgrady

Why the Rockets would do it.....

Defense, and keeping guys on the court seem to be the problem.  Along with a week bench and no backup C.  This doesn't address the later, but it does provide solid D.  Hughes isn't Mcgrady, but neither is McGrady anymore.  Playing only 20 minutes for the Bulls, he was only averaging 3 points, and 1 rebound less than current McGrady.  Plus he can actually stay on the court, and provides some nice steals.  Nocioni has  a long contract, but it is reasonable.  Plus he has his buddy Scola.

Second Trade

Raptors Trade - Jermaine O'Neal, Anthony Parker

Rockets Trade- You guessed it, McGrady.

Jermaine O'Neal isn't any healthier than McGrady, but Parker is a nice SG, that actually has fit in well as a backup PG to Calderon.  There was a stretch where he was averaging 7 assists in January.  Bosh going down has obviously affected his numbers since.  Also, Parker can knock down the 3 ball.   O'Neal would come off the bench for Yao, wouldn't have to play as many minutes, therefore, would save his legs.  Doesn't mess with the 2010 plan.  Also thinking that this frees up more shots for Yao.  Why he doesn't take 20 shots a game is beyond me.

Why the Bulls and Raptors would do it....

Bulls have had enough of Larry Hughes because they have too many guards and he doesn't fit into their long term plans, and has to be a starter.  T-Mac would probably appease the Bulls fans who want a star in their town.  Even though Rose is a star in the making.  Would give the Bulls a chance at a playoff push, which they seem to be happy settling for.

Raptors need to make a major shakeup to show Bosh that they want to win now.  Bargnani has blossomed nicely into the starting Center role and is an outside threat that Bosh can pass out to.  Where they like strength is on the wing.  Insert McGrady, although, McGrady did already leave them for Sunny Orlando, once.  Maybe he has matured since then, and maybe Toronto fans and the organization can forgive him.

I find that most of the experts "rumors" that they hear never actually turn out exactly how they explain it.  So while I don't have any news reports on this trade, I do feel that it is realistic.  Wondering a Suns fan perspective...I'm a Bulls fan, but also an NBA fan.  And I think this trade would be great for the league.

This trade couldn't happen till February 12th, because that is when J-Rich is eligible to be traded again with multiple players involved.

Detroit Gets

Barbosa - Stoudemire - J-Rich

Phoenix gets

Sheed - Tayshaun - Rip

Why it makes sense for Phoenix...

If this trade is about saving money, this saves them 1 million this year.  Sheed's contract comes off the books at the end of the season.  While Rip and Tayshaun have longer contracts, it would cost as much for both of them as it would to keep Amare around long term.  But for less years. (Tayshaun's contract runs the same length as J-Rich, but is 2.5 million less.)

It also makes them a contender this year.  Sheed spreads the floor, so it's okay if Shaq clogs the lane.  Also, Sheed needs veterans he respects in order to reach his potential and play hard.  Nash and Shaq could do that.  Rip is a guard who thrives playing with a PG who can get him the ball exactly where he needs it coming off the screens.  Much better with Chauncey at point than he is now.  Tayshaun is the selfless Marion lite.  Can defend multiple positions.  Score, and rebound.  Without the Marion ego.  He can even play a little Point Forward.  If you want D in phoenix.  This gets that done.

Why it makes sense for Detroit....

You don't build a team around Rip Hamilton and Tayshaun Prince.  The Pistons were created as a bunch of misfits.  Castaways from other teams that were okay players, but not all stars.  They worked great as a team.  Chauncey was the glue.  They can build around Amare, Stuckey, and J-Rich....at least....they can try.  Amare is the type of All-Star player that Dumars was looking for this off-season but wasn't available.  Plus this deal still keeps them far enough under the salary cap for next year, once Iverson's contract comes off the books.  They will be 7 million under the cap.  That with a mid-level exception gets the Pistons back on the right track, with a younger team.

Your thoughts?  Better than anything the Bulls can offer (Thomas, Sefolosha, Gooden's contract, A Draft pick)