Trade-rumor season _ plus Houston in Phoenix?

All you have to do to tell the draft and free-agent signing period are approaching is to check the walls to see how many rumors have been thrown at them.

And less than a year after Isiah Thomas acquired him (and sent His Stephness off on one of his crazy summer of 2007 rants), Zach Randolph could call himself Benjamin Moore or Sherwin Williams for as many times he's been flung against a wall.

Bucks, Nuggets, Nets during last season. Now it's the rumor that won't go away, Zach to Philadelphia.

Take all of the below for what it's worth this time of year, but DraftExpress.com reports that the scenario making the rounds is Zach and the Knicks' No. 6 pick to the Sixers for Reggie Evans and Philly's No. 16.

Even though the salaries don't match, the deal works because Philly has the cap space to absorb  Randolph's $14.7 million next season (the start of $48 million over the next three seasons). Evans, meanwhile, is due just $4.6 million next season and less than $15 million over the next three.

Cap space acquired by the Knicks for the summer of 2010 at which Donnie Walsh is aiming: more than $12 million.

The rest of the deal then becomes addition by subtraction, in a way.

Walsh would get a useful player 10 picks lower in a draft where the difference between No. 6 and 16 isn't considered that great, he'd open a starting job for David Lee and have Evans to do that energy thing off the bench he did so well for the Sixers in their first-round playoff loss to Detroit.

Maybe he could even throw Philly native Malik Rose into the mix to play out the final year of his contract.

The appeal for the Sixers: The No. 6 pick would enable them to draft the shooting guard they desperately need (unless you're fond of Willie Green). Zach gets the freedom to double-double on almost a nightly basis for a coach who's fond of him and vice versa (Maurice Cheeks). Plus the cap space they lose this off-season in the bargain (an estimated $8-9 million) isn't of much use in this middling free-agent market , while Randolph's deal would still leave them with plenty in 2010.

The biggest caveat: Sixers' GM Ed Stefanski (who turned down the same job with the Blazers a few years back when part of his job would've been unloading Randolph) is no fool and it may take one to take on some of the baggage that Zach started (but didn't complete) unloading last season.

Such trades in division also create misgivings, but to unload Randolph's contract, that could be what it takes. And if it goes down, it could happen on draft night, if a player Philly wants is there at No. 6.

That's unless Randolph's native Indiana is willing to ship Jermaine O'Neal's two years and $44 million (which means he'd be off the cap by 2010) to the Knicks for Zach's longer money in a deal that would require other components.

Doubt that in a market not looking to add any more questionable citizens, plus an extra year of cap money.

But O'Neal, who announced this week he won't opt out of what's left on his deal, is almost certain to be dealt (the early rumored destination: Cleveland, for expiring contracts, although the Pacers deny).

It's that time of year, though. Don't believe everything you read, of course, much of it, actually.

Fun, though, isn't it?

***

And then there was Thursday's Arizona Republic, which reported that Allan Houston has been in Phoenix, working out regularly, clearly looking to resuscitate his comeback after an unwelcome cameo for Isiah Thomas last training camp,

Houston, who turned 37 on April 20, is buddies with former Pistons teammate and Suns forward Grant Hill, whom Houston visited in April to see how the Suns kept Hill on the floor for 75 games (including five in the playoffs) this season.

Comments

[Loki1963]

Mike,

Can you or someone else explain to me how the salaries workout? This sounds like one of those stupid trades people through out, not knowing the salary cap restriction.

But, I have no problem giving up Zach for Reggie Evans, Evans is a bruiser.

But, they have to through in a least a 2nd round pick as well. Or a next year 1st, we're giving up Zach and the 6TH PICK in the Draft.

[Rob K]

Mike
I believe the reason it works out is because the Sixers are far enough under that cap that they can afford the differece that remains. If one salary is 5 mill and another is just say 15, it doesn't match if you are over the cap, but if they are more than 10 mill under you can absorb the contract. That's what happens in this case.

[Cody]

Wow, I would do that deal all day long. In fact, I would personally deliver Walsh a nice bottle of single malt if he pulls that one off. I just don't think Philly would do that trade; Evans is an animal and is young and has a nice contract. Those guys are tough to find in this league!

[Loki1963]

Thanks Cody,

That's crazy and the 1st time I ever heard of that.

I hope you're right and I hope they do it. With Marburry, Malik and now Zach coming of the cap we're looking at close to or to $40K coming off the books.

[Loki1963]

I'm sorry, not Cody (Thanks), I meant Rob K.

[CloaknDaggers]

Gosh Darn Stevey

Your really putting out the info this off season. I see you stepped up your game.

I say do the trade sine it gets rid of an albatross contract. Like that Z-Bo brought it for the Knicks but they didn't improve with him there, they regressed.

[Am! SIXERS GURU FAN!]

mike,

RASHEED SAID IT BEST,AFTER A POST GAME INTERVIEW.."IT'S THE SAME OL,SAME OL IN PHILLY! MANAGEMENT STINKS!.. DON'T KNOW BALL AT ALL. THEY LISTEN TO THE REPORTERS THAT CHASES EVERY DECENT PLAYER AWAY. THE ZACH TRADE A NO BRAINER. TOO SCARED..NO GUTS,NO GLORY,NO CREATIVITY TO PULL OFF BLOCKBUSTER TRADES.BESIDES ALL THEY THINK ABOUT IS POCKETING. IF NOT, WHY DO WE GOT ALL THIS MONEY & CAN'T LURE A STAR. INSTEAD THEY'LL PAY ONE & THEN THE PRESS BURNS HIM OUT. HISTORY TELLS IT ALL. LIKE RASHEED SAID IT'S THE SAME OL, SAME OL IN PHILLY!

[Am! SIXERS GURU FAN!]

PLEASE YOU GOT TO READ THIS CAREFULLY MIKE..
I'M BACK AGAIN.IF YOU WERE PHILLY'S E.STEFANSKI WOULD YOU DO THIS??..MAKE THE ZACH,& NO.6,FOR R.EVANS,9 MIL,& NO.16. THEN SHIP THE NO.6 WITH A.MILLER & W.GREEN TO THE WIZARDS FOR G.ARENAS(sign & trade 13-15mil), & their no.18. PHILLY KILLS TWO BIRDS WITH ONE STONE. THEY COULD EVEN SHIP ZACH, & 09'S NO1. STRAIGHT TO SEATTLE FOR C.WILCOX,7MIL, & A 2ND RND PICK! THAT WOULD TAKE US BACK UP TO 9MIL CAP SPACE.THEN WE GO AFTER SOLID BACKUPS IN FREE AGENCY WITH SOME MONEY LEFT OVER.. SEATTLE COULD USE ZACH WITH DURANT & COMPANY. BUT NO!..PHILLY MANAGEMENT GOING TO SPEND ALL THEIR MONEY ON DAMAGED GOODS OR OVERPRICED VETS...MIKE THOSE MOVES WOULD GIVE STEFANSKI GM OF THE YEAR FOR SURE & PUT SIXERS IN SURE CONTENTION OF WINNING A CHAMPIONSHIP.
KNICKS GET THEIR CAPSPACE, WIZARDS GET A VALUABLE VET PG,& DON'T LOOSE ARENAS FOR NOTHING, THEY SIGNS JAMISON, & SILL HAVE THERE TEAM FROM LAST YEAR, & SEATTLE WOULD NOW HAVE A DEFINITE LOW POST THREAT. ALL THE TEAMS WOULD BE HAPPY..BUT NO!
WATCH PHILLY BLUNDER AGAIN.
NO GUTS, NO GLORY, END OF STORY!..SAME OL SAME OL IN PHILLY!..MIKE DO YOUR HOMEWORK & TELL ME WOULD YOU MAKE THIS MOVE. TO ME IT'S A NO BRAINER!