Playing Virtual NBA GM Again

Here's another trade I came up with using ESPN's NBA Trade Machine.


The Golden State Warriors trade Monta Ellis and Ekpe Udoh (and maybe their 11th pick in the 2011 draft) to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Anderson Varejao and Daniel Gibson (and maybe the 4th pick in the 2011 draft).


My logic?

A few weeks ago when Jerry West joined the Warrior's front office he mentioned that the Warriors needed more size, and this seems to be able to address that problem quite well. While they will lose Ekpe Udoh, they get a quality big man in Anderson Varejao. Varejao does a lot of good things that aren't necessarily reflected in box scores. He's a hustle guy. He can rebound, he can play solid team defense, and he's capable of scoring off of cuts. Plus he can play both the center and power forward position and would complement David Lee up front. Or he can play a role similar to his role with the Cavs, and come off the bench to spell either Andris Biedrins or David Lee.


Daniel Gibson gives the Warriors an option off the bench to play either shooting guard or point guard. True, he is around Monta Ellis' height, but at least if you do get Gibson he'll be coming off the bench. This will give the Warriors the opportunity to draft a shooting guard with whatever draft pick they'll have in this year's NBA draft. Just hope they don't draft Jimmer Fredette, who stands only 6' 2". They could probably draft Alec Burk, Klay Thompson, Marshon Brooks, or Darius Morris and let their draftee start at shooting guard. 


They could even draft Enes Kanter or Kawhi Leonard if they get Cleveland's 4th pick and trade that pick for a good shooting guard or let that pick develop.


So here's my projected Golden State starting lineup: Biedrins, David Lee, Dorrell Wright, draft pick / free agent signee, and Steph Curry. Varejao is the 6th man, with Al Thornton and Daniel Gibson rounding out the bench players who get major burn.


Now what about the Cavs? Here's my take.


The Cavs can start a backcourt of Baron Davis and Monta Ellis, true they get a small backcourt, but Davis is "big" enough to guard off-guards. And that backcourt sort of worked before when Davis and Ellis were in Golden State. How often can a team turn down a guaranteed 20+ppg scorer?


Ekpe Udoh could come off the bench and spend his playing time at either power forward or center position. Or he could even be a reason the Cavs will be able to trade JJ Hickson for other players who could help them or future draft picks.


With Ellis on board, the Cavs can beef up their front court and draft Derrick Williams, who will can likely play both forward positions, and might even end up playing better at small forward and complementing Antawn Jamison at power forward. Or they could both play the combo forward role depending on who they are matched up against.


And if the Cavs keep their 4th pick, they could even grab Enes Kanter to replace Varejao.


Here's my projected lineup for the Cavs: Enes Kanter, Antawn Jamison, Derrick Williams, Monta Ellis, Baron Davis. Ramon Sessions as the 6th man with Ekpe Udoh and JJ Hickson as rounding out the bench.


Wondering why I only have three players getting major burn off the bench? Blame NBA 2K. The player roles they added in the association feature made me build my teams with 8-men rotations.


Out.