Howard Beck reported the story:
The Knicks are offering a package built around Marcus Camby, Steve Novak and two future draft picks, one in the first round and one in the second. Several teams have pursued Bargnani, but the Knicks have emerged as the “strong favorites” to land him, and a handshake deal could come soon, the person said.
Adrian Woj is reporting that it’s a 2016 first round pick:
The Knicks will send their 2016 first-round pick to the Raptors, and a package that includes Marcus Camby and Steve Novak, league sources said. The Knicks will also send two future second-round picks to Toronto, sources said.
Unlike the Bargnani-Clippers rumour which saw Doc Rivers, a notoriously defensive coach, acquiring one of the worst defenders in professional basketball, this rumour is more believable.
The 2016 pick is protected, as is usually the case with any future first-round pick being traded these days.
Here’s what the deal breaks down like:
Getting anything in return for Bargnani is great, but getting multiple picks is simply unreal, and I don’t even care where they are in the draft. Add to that Steve Novak, who at the very least, provides outside shooting (43% career 3FG), and this is a trade which not only sheds an unwanted player but makes the Raptors better.
The Raptors would be saving approximately $3.5M in salary, as Bargnani is owed $23M over the next two years, Camby is owed $7.5M over the same period (partial guarantee of about $1M for the 2014-15 season), and Novak is owed slightly more than $12M over three years. Money again, is not the primary factor for both teams. The Knicks are trying to add variety to the roster and spread the floor, while the Raptors are trying to find Bargnani a change of scenery.
This is a deal which makes sense for both teams, with the Knicks heavily counting on Bargnani to rejuvenate himself in New York. What the Raptors do with the 39-year old Camby remains to be seen, but waiving him would likely make sense, unless Ujiri feels that Camby would provide the veteran leadership that has been missing for some time on the roster.
What’s good about this trade is that the Raptors are not adding a sweetener for a team to take on Andrea Bargnani, which was the case in the Clippers deal as DeRozan was part of the package. This doesn’t mean that DeRozan’s safe, but it does give the Raptors the option to trade DeRozan to actually improve the team instead of to simply shed a contract. The amnesty would also be preserved, which would no doubt be used on Linas Kleiza. The immediate cap relief here is minimal, with the Raptors saving $1.36M for the coming season, but that is not even the point here.
On an entirely emotional note, it’s nice to see Marcus Camby return to the Raptors, if for nothing but a game or two. Andrea Bargnani never worked out in Toronto, and the writing was on the wall for quite some time. Bryan Colangelo simply chose not to read it, and Ujiri has.
The initial reaction to this trade has the Raptors winning it hands-down, and has ESPN New York scratching their heads:
Bargnani, 27, is due to make $23 million in the next two seasons, which makes the potential trade a bit of a head-scratcher as the Knicks are already over the luxury tax threshold. In addition, Bargnani, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2006 draft, has missed 98 games in the past two seasons due to injuries. Last season he had to shut it down in early March because of an avulsion sprain in his right elbow.
Bargnani, 27, is due to make $23 million in the next two seasons, which makes the potential trade a bit of a head-scratcher as the Knicks are already over the luxury tax threshold. In addition, Bargnani, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2006 draft, has missed 98 games in the past two seasons due to injuries. Last season he had to shut it down in early March because of an avulsion sprain in his right elbow.
Of course, given the luck of the Raptors, I’m pretty sure that Bargnani will smoke them at least on a couple occasions next year. The talent is there and he does have the physical ability to pose a threat, it just has never consistently manifested itself on the court. Whether Woodson is the guy to make him realize his potential is questionable. What this trade does show is that the Knicks recognize that they have a problem and a solution is to try something drastic.
Here’s a nice headline by Knickerblogger.
Good luck to Andrea Bargnani.
