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Daryl Morey and the Trade

Here are interesting comments on the blockbuster trade by the Rockets on 2/18/10

From SB Nation - Grading the Trading -

When Ball Don't Lie posted this video of Daryl Morey and Donnie Walsh's trade negotiationsearlier this week, it was a pretty hilarious spoof. ("I want the right to the names 'Madison Square Garden' ... free cable from Cablevision from the city of Houston ... Central Park"). But maybe that was closer to the truth than any of us realized?

As we wrote in the Trade Deadline storystream:

[Houston] traded Carl Landry, Tracy McGrady (who was inactive for them), and Joey Dorsey. So basically, they lost one player from their rotation (Landry). What did that net them? Two first round picks, a lottery pick from last year's draft (Jordan Hill), Jared Jefferies, and one of the more effective shooting guards in the league, Kevin Martin. And again, from this year's core, they lose only Carl Landry.

Giving up Carl Landry stings, but good lord. Is this what happens when Daryl Morey actually sacrifices a valuable asset? As I said this morning, it's gotten to the point where if I were an NBA GM, I just wouldn't even make eye contact with Daryl Morey, let alone negotiate a trade with him. It's like sitting down at a high stakes poker table. Doesn't matter what cards you have—just by sitting down, you're setting yourself up for embarrassment. That's Daryl Morey at this point.

Or this one by Kelly Dwyer on Yahoo Sports:

"Daryl Morey? Listen, the 2011 pick is protected if the Knicks win the lottery. The 2012 pick is protected if New York lands in the top five. Those are reasonable protections worth minding. This isn't going to toss two all-world studs in Houston's lap. You're even going to have to wait until November of 2012 to see one of them, we think. New York could finish at .500, for whatever reason, and still pull a top-five pick.

But doing this much with McGrady's contract? Not merely moving it for similarly expiring parts and a possible pick? Getting Martin? The high end that could give you the second pick in the 2011 draft and the sixth pick in the 2012 draft? Morey, you magnificent bastard. This was a masterstroke. A patient, well-timed, masterstroke. You knew he'd wait until February. You knew he'd wait until trade deadline day. You knew he'd make it work. Goodness, gracious, sakes alive.

Gushing doesn't suit me, but this is worth admiring. Three teams worked the cap and the league and the context to their advantage, and fan bases (looking at you, Sacramento) should be happy with the outcome. This is a fantastic deal for all involved.

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