August 11th, 2010
A Quick Bit of Analysis
Well, the Courtney Lee era of Nets Basketball has come to a close (read release) after a single season in which we saw the second-year guard blossom late after enduring brutal early-season shooting struggles while he adjusted to his new team. Courtney proved a standup kinda cat during his 13 1/2-month stay, always available for interviews and ready with a quotable, and worked hard to find ways to contribute even as shots went awry, notably defending players at the 1, 2 or 3 depending on need.
For those reasons, and others we’re perhaps forgetting, we’ll be sad to see him go and wish him continued success in Houston, where this writer thinks he’ll play a crucial role for a likely playoff team. Which gets us to the part in which I explain how this deal makes a lot of sense for all four teams involved, starting with the hometown squad:
Nets
Trade: Courtney Lee, G, 3rd season
Receive: Troy Murphy, F, 10th season
The Nets needed a power forward to ease the burden on Derrick Favors’ 19-year-old shoulders, and Murphy will do exactly that. A legitimate starting 4 who rebounds well (8.6 career RPG) and shoots as effectively (.394 career 3P%), the 6-foot-11 Murphy has averaged a double-double in five of his nine seasons, including each of the last two. Drafted 14th by the Warriors in 2001, Murphy is entering the last year of his contract, which allows the Nets to retain their flexibility even as they plug him as a bridge to Favors.
Giving up Lee might seem like a quick turnaround after bringing him in as the cornerstone piece of the Vince Carter deal, but a series of offseason acquisitions left the Nets gummed up at the swing positions, with Terrence Williams lacking an apparent place to play. Moving Lee shows how highly the team must think of Williams, who thrived at the end of last season, earning recognition as April’s Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month. Williams then impressed at the Orlando Pro Summer League, where his performance placed him on the All-Summer League First Team. With Williams’ value higher than ever, it likely became difficult for the team to move a player with such a high ceiling before ever ascertaining how close to it he’d come.
Lee’s exit means training camp will likely feature an interesting battle between Williams and sign-and-trade acquisition Anthony Morrow to determine not only the starter at shooting guard, but also the team’s sixth man. Keep in mind that Williams played well sharing ball-handling duties alongside Devin Harris last season, and Murphy’s outside shot would help to offset Williams’ still inconsistent jumper. Morrow, though perhaps a less versatile player than Williams, is an incredible long-range shooter, finishing in the league’s top-5 by percentage during each of his two seasons. The contrast of Williams’ athleticism and energy could provide an impressive spark off the bench.
Pacers
Trade: Troy Murphy, F, 10th season
Receive: Darren Collison, G, 2nd season; James Posey, F, 12th season
The Pacers have been point-guard starved for several seasons, and in Collison, they’ve acquired a point who should man the position for years to come. One of three recent UCLA products to produce well in the pros (along with Russell Westbrook and Jrue Holiday), Collison broke out while replacing an injured Chris Paul in the Hornets’ starting lineup, averaging 18.8 points and 9.1 assists while shooting .429 from three and .485 overall in 37 starts. With young bigs like Tyler Hansbrough and Josh McRoberts in place, Murphy became an expendable piece. Taking on Posey’s ornery contract was the price of business for Indiana in this transaction.
Hornets
Trade: Darren Collison, G, 2nd season; James Posey, F, 12th season
Receive: Trevor Ariza, F, 7th season
New Orleans struck gold late in the Draft last season, discovering Collison to be a major talent. But with Chris Paul returning healthy, Collison’s role would be limited at best, thus providing them with more value as a trade chip than a piece moving forward. Posey’s signing hadn’t worked out as envisioned, and though Ariza is signed for four more years at the full midlevel exception, he’s only 25 years old and provides Paul with his most dynamic small forward to date. This move could go a long way toward proving to Paul the Hornets are serious about competing.
Rockets
Trade: Trevor Ariza, F, 7th season
Receive: Courtney Lee, G, 3rd season
Rockets GM Daryl Morey hasn’t shied from tinkering in tough ways if he thinks it will improve his team. Though he managed to sign Ariza away from the Lakers following their first championship of this back-to-back run, the team’s spending has increased at the same time they added enough swingmen to render him superfluous. Clearing the contract eases their tax burden, and they still managed to add Lee, who should slot in as the team’s backup two-guard while providing competent insurance for Kevin Martin, who’s struggled to stay healthy in recent seasons.
--Posted by Ben Couch at 3:38 p.m.
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