Post by Miami Heat on May 31, 2008 11:10:35 GMT -5
ESPN
If you look at the Grizzles Trade Block it has listed "PG Mike Connoly, PF/C Jermaine O'neal, C Marcus Camby." There is a note under Connoly that says "for a young upgrade at PG (same position.) Looking at the rest of the league I don't think many young PG's will be heading to Memphis so he will probably stay put for this season.
While there are no rumors to report about O'neal ESPN knows for sure that the Grizzles have been shopping him. For a talent like O'neal to not be picked up by a contender may seem odd to some, but most likely reason is his HUGE contract. "This isn't where I want to be" O'neal said "I want a ring and won't get it in Memphis. I just have to keep my head up play hard and hope someone picks me up."
As for Camby there are numerous teams interested in him, everyone from Atlanta to Washington. The teams that I know of that have made serious offers to the Grizzles are the Phoenix Suns and of course the Miami Heat. Suns are trying to trade Rasheed Wallace and either David Lee and Grant Hill for Camby and franchise player, Rudy Gay. I would expect a lot of this has to steam from the fact that A. Wallace is old and expiring B. Gay is such a young talent on a rebuilding Memphis team. The Suns GM would not comment on any trade speculation just saying "We have 3 stars expiring, no way we can keep them together next year, so obviously one of two of them have to go." Referring to Rasheed Wallace, Baron Davis, and Shawn Marion expiring after this year...The Suns GM has yet to trade Marion so it's a good bet Wallace and/or Davis won't be a Sun much longer.
I think the scariest place in the league for Camby to go is Miami, putting him at center with Lebron James and Pau Gasol at the fowards scares the crap out of a lot of the Southeastern teams. One SE GM said "If the Heat get Camby , they not 's no more." The proposed trade has basically been Camby, a bad contract, and maybe the Grizzles 2010 2nd for Shane Battier, The 2 1st rounders the Heat Own (GSW and CHI), and maybe Damon Jones' expiring contract. This would not be a surprise on the Heat's part, even though Shane Battier has only played 2 games in a Heat uni. GM Charles Boen has a reputation for getting players then shipping them out the next day. When asked about what was going down Boen said this "Grizzles GM is a tough guy to negotiate with and is going to do what is best for the Grizzles. Everyone wants Camby and I understand this, he is going to have to reject some good offers. We just have to hope it isn't mine, if we get Camby I think we are the beast of the east."
Camby has also come out and said that he would be happy playing in either Phoenix or Miami "both first class organization and I think I could help lead either one to a championship. Obviously I don't want to be a Grizzles at 34 years old, I want a ring so we just have to hope something happens soon." Also if Phoenix or someone else was to acquire Camby, the Heat could possibly get Jermaine O'neal for Stephon Marbury's contract and the 2 picks. When asked about the possibility of that happening Boen replied "I'm going to get a good player next year in FA, O'neal is on the decline, and Marbury is playing damn well...I don't think I would do that unless I really thought I could win it all. Remember I've said all a long we will be better next year."