Churning Up Some Fropez in the Rumor Mill

Hornets, Suns, Wolves are nearing agreement on a 3-way deal that would send Robin Lopez to the Hornets in a sign-and-trade, sources tell Y!

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 24, 2012

Along with Lopez, Suns would send Hakim Warrick to Hornets. Minny would send Wesley Johnson and a 1st round pick to the Suns, sources say.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 24, 2012

https://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA/status/227915715460603905

For Wolves, deal clears cap space and apparently is a prelude to another potential signing or deal, sources say.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 25, 2012

The Minnesota 1st round pick will not be their own in 2013, because their pick in 2012 was used by New Orleans via the LA Clippers. A team cannot trade its own 1st round pick in consecutive years (see: “Ted Stepien” rule). However, according to the RealGM.com future pick details page, the TWolves own the rights to the Memphis Grizzlies 1st rd pick in 2013 via the Houston Rockets.  The draft pick is listed as top 14 protected in 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016.  The Cliff notes version of what will happen next, if the pick is not transferred by 2016, is the pick will essentially become a 2016 2nd rounder.

Regarding the outcome of the proposed trade, the Suns make out like bandits in this deal.

1. The Suns apparently are not willing to meet the contract demands of Robin Lopez.  In return…

2. The Suns will receive a 1st rd pick (likely to be the 2013 Memphis draft pick as described above) for agreeing to a sign and trade of a player they are not willing to oblige in a contract negotiation.  Said player, Lopez, obviously has not lived up to his potential nor his draft selection (need I mention how we could have selected PG, Jrue Holiday instead to backup Steve Nash; no, I won’t mention that).

Note: Although this goes against my argument in favor of the deal, I was actually quite pleased with Lopez’s play in the last quarter to third of the season last year. Anyways…

3. Depending on how you view the roster, the Suns are effectively swapping a 30 year old, 5th string power forward for a 25 year old, wing rotation player who is only entering his 3rd year in the league. The Suns currently have a logjam at forward (Scola, Morris, Beasley, Fry) and only Dudley, Brown, and recently signed castaway P.J. Tucker at the wing.  In addition, both players have Team Options for next year, so the contract details are moot, and if somehow Johnson thrives with the Suns, the Suns have another asset to trade or retain for the future.

The Suns aren’t necessarily hitting a home run for a superstar, but they just hit a couple more singles. Eventually all those singles (process of asset acquisition) will return dividends and put points on the scoreboard.

Oh, and to quote Bill Simmons, “KHAAAAAAN!”