Bigger than the 3-way trade that happened earlier today, Jason Richardson has been traded to the Phoenix Suns for Raja Bell and Boris Diaw. The Charlotte Bobcats denied trying to trade Gerald Wallace. We just found out that it was J-Rich that's gone. With J-Rich to the Phoenix Suns, we're looking at a line-up of Steve Nash, J-Rich, Grant Hill, Amaré Stoudemire and Shaquille O'Neal. Who would have ever thought of that line-up 2 years ago?
Richardson, 27, played the best basketball of his career with highs of 21.8 PPG, 0.7 BPG and 40.6% from beyond the arc. Unfortunately, it was with the Cats. This season, his stats have dropped to wher he's scoring 18.7 PPG. The last time a dip in his production happened, he was traded from the Golden State Warriors for Brandan Wright.
Richardson is not at the peak of his performance yet but with another scorer on the Suns, maybe they could make a run. It definitely gives them scoring, athleticism and more production, if they can work together. Maybe they can finish somewhere between 4-7.
Bell, 33, is still probably a better defender than Richardson. What he brings to Charlotte is a veteran presence with post-season experience. Even with Diaw, 26, coming with him, that still won't spark this team into the playoff hunt because they need time to gel. Diaw has been used less and less since coming to the team in 2005 and continued to see his numbers dwindle. There's a few line-ups Larry Brown could use getting these guys.
D.J. Augustin
Raja Bell/Raymond Felton
Gerald Wallace
Emeka Okafor
Sean May
D.J. Augustin
Raja Bell/Raymond Felton
Gerald Wallace
Boris Diaw
Emeka Okafor
It was a cap-clearing move too because Charlotte will see $3 million in 2010 that they wouldn't have seen if they kept Richardson. They're probably trying to land a big free agent with Okafor and Wallace in their prime. Not to mention Augustin getting better. Not a bad idea for a team who'll be way under the cap come 2010.
Good move for both teams.
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