NBA, Team News / Analysis, Player News / Analysis, Rumors, Philadelphia 76ers, Jarrett Jack, Eric Gordon, Greivis Vasquez, Dorell Wright, Golden State Warriors, New Orleans Hornets, Austin Rivers
ESPN's Marc Stein has reported that the Philadelphia 76ers, Golden State Warriors, and New Orleans Hornets have orchestrated a three-team trade that will result in SF Dorell Wright going to Philly, PG Jarrett Jack going to Golden State, and the rights to Bosnian PF Edin Bavcic going to New Orleans.This trade has quite a few interesting implications.
First of all, Dorell Wright is a solid, late-blooming swing man who averaged 16.4 points and 5.3 rebounds just two seasons ago. He had a disappointing season last year, but that was in part due to a decrease of 11 minutes per game.
This is strange for Philly because it adds yet another guard/swingman to their squad which is already overpopulated at that position. Already having Holliday, Meeks, Nick Young, Thaddeus Young, Iguodala, Turner, and Harkless, it is strange that the Sixers felt they needed yet another guy who plays at that type of game. Granted, all they gave up was a guy who was drafted in 2006 and has never played a minute in the NBA.
The addition of another swingman, however, could suggest that the Sixers may be closer to executing the rumored trade Andre Iguodala.
As for the Hornets, the trade of their starting point guard could indicate one of two things. First, that may plan on starting both rookie Austin Rivers and restricted free agent Eric Gordon (assuming they match his offer sheet from the Suns, which they will). That would be a disaster. Starting a guy who is almost always looking for his shot (Gordon) alongside a guy who is ALWAYS looking for his shot (Rivers) would simply destroy the flow of the offense.
However, moving Jack could also indicate that the Hornets are ready to give third year guard Greivis Vasquez the starting gig. Vasquez was a big time scorer while playing for Maryland in college, averaging 19.6 points per game his senior year, but he can also distribute well (6.3 assists per game as a senior). As a pro, he's cut down on his shooting and focused more on his playmaking ability, averaging 8.9 points on 7.9 attempts per game with 5.4 assists in only 25.8 minutes.
Starting Vasquez would likely put Rivers in a JR Smith type roll as a spark plug scorer off the bench. This is a much better option than starting two shoot-first guards.
Finally, we come to the Warriors...
Could Golden State be doing what I suggested a week or two ago? I think that Stephen Curry is a good point guard. However, I think he could be one of the league's best scorers. Elite scoring point guards tend not to work as well as elite scoring shooting guards with a solid facilitator running the point. I suggested that the Warriors find a decent facilitating point guard who could allow Curry to reach his full scoring potential by moving to the shooting guard position.Jarrett Jack is a solid facilitator who averaged 6.3 assists just a season ago. Keep in mind, he was on the Hornets and didn't have much talent to work with.
Many speculate that Jack will be a backup point guard in Golden State, with Curry starting at the point alongside second year shooting guard Klay Thompson. Admittedly, Thompson had a very nice rookie year, averaging 12.5 points per game. However, he should be moved to a bench scoring role, especially now that Dorell Wright is gone, allowing Stephen Curry to play his natural position with Jarrett Jack fitting into a role where all he needs to do is move the ball to the scorers (Curry, Harrison Barnes, David Lee).
We'll see how this trade affects the teams later in the summer.
