Grading The Deal: Magloire Heads To Portland Authored by Aaron Bronsteter - 31st July, 2006 - 1:33 am Desperate times call for desperate measures is a proverb that is easily relatable to the world of sports, especially in a trade scenario where a team unloads a player who they feel carries a burden or is no longer needed at whatever expense necessary. In the latest major NBA trade that sent Jamaal Magloire to Portland for Brian Skinner, Steve Blake and Ha Seung-Jin, Milwaukee makes it appear that they had this proverb in mind. The follow-up question that needs to be asked is why. Toronto native Jamaal Magloire is a one-time NBA All-Star who nearly averaged a double-double in 30 minutes-per-game for the Bucks last season. Before this year’s NBA Draft that saw the Bucks without a first round selection due to trading it for Magloire, general manager Larry Harris did something that bordered on the absurd by declaring Magloire readily available for a starting power forward. Low and behold, the Bucks landed their starting power forward in Charlie Villanueva at the expense of their starting point guard T.J. Ford. The Bucks are now stacked up front with the 2005 first overall pick, Aussie Andrew Bogut paired with Villanueva as starters and Magloire, veteran Joe Smith and Dan Gadzuric off the bench. One of these players was likely to be traded and all signs pointed to Magoire, who they could shop for some backcourt depth. Instead, the Bucks ship him off for spare parts. The Bucks receive Brian Skinner, Steve Blake and Ha-Seung Jin Am I missing something here? Did the Bucks really just trade a former All-Star who averaged nearly a double-double and shot a solid field goal percentage for Steve Blake? Realistically, that’s the trade: Magloire for Blake. Forget Brian Skinner, he ’s likely the best player that the Bucks receive, but with Smith and Gadzuric occupying the bench, Skinner’s lucky to get 15 minutes per game. With a team option after this season, I do not see Skinner as part of the Bucks’ long-term plan. Ha Seung-Jin, he’s a fan favorite, his photoshopped images are a mainstay on our RealGM Portland Trailblazers forum and are beloved by all. But if I had to wager, I would bet that Ha will be sent down to the D-League or be flat out waived by the Bucks. The only player who will get minutes is Blake, who behind Mo Williams and Charlie Bell has the opportunity to challenge for a starting spot. The Bucks will have two second round players and an undrafted player slugging it out for the keys to the car. With Bell likely splitting his backup minutes at the shooting guard and point guard spots, where he averaged over 20 minutes-per-game after a breakout season, Blake will also average around 20 minutes-per-game if he comes off the bench. The striking need for the Bucks was to find a swingman who could backup Simmons and Redd and after trading Magloire, they still come up empty. The Bucks land spare parts for a player who could start for most NBA teams. Long-term Ramifications: None, all three players possess expiring contracts (if the Bucks renounce Skinner’s rights at the end of the season) and are expendable. The Blazers receive Jamaal Magloire If you do not ask, you do not receive and general manager Steve Patterson proves that with this deal, where they essentially land a useful player for some spare parts. One might argue that Blake is a talented player and I will not argue that statement, but with the emergence of Jarrett Jack, Dan Dickau on the bench and Brandon Roy’s ability to run the point, one could argue that he had become redundant. With Zach Randolph, Joel Przybilla, Raef Lafrentz and second overall pick LaMarcus Aldridge, do the Blazers need another front court player? Not really, but to get a player like Magloire, who has an expiring contract, for basically peanuts is a winning situation because not only do they get the best player in this deal, but they free up two roster spots in the process. Another question someone could ask is what exactly the Blazers are trying to do and that answer can best be explained as the team trying to establish a new identity. They have weeded out most of the malcontents, aside from the notable Darius Miles and the often cranky, defensive liability Zach Randolph. With fresh faces like Roy, Aldridge and Martell Webster, the hard-working young sharp shooter with a great attitude, this team can begin turning over a new leaf. The addition of Magloire gives them a solid locker room presence who will hopefully keep Randolph in check. Long-term Ramifications: None, Magloire is an expiring contract and the team loses nothing of long-term value. The only foreseeable problem could be Juan Dixon missing his college running-mate, but that’s speculation on my part. Portland’s Grade: B+ Milwaukee’s Grade: D- http://tinyurl.com/n697w --

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