Trade Factory - Ratliff and Blake for Eddie Jones

In the O-live blazer blog, there was recently a link to an ESPN chat with Chris Sheridan that suggested the possibility of trading Zach Randolph to Memphis for Eddie Jones (look just a little down from the top, May 12th). While that trade specifically makes no sense at all for the Blazers or the Grizz, it got me thinking about Eddie Jones.

Coach Nate specifically requested some veteran help at guard. Jones is such a guard, who plays smart, plays decent defense and can hit an open three. He is probably about the best player we could realistically get without giving up our top pick.

With Mike Miller and Shane Battier potentially holding down the 2 and 3 positions, and with Bobby Jackson, Chucky Atkins and Lorenzen Wright potentially leaving and Damon Stoudemire coming off injury, the Grizz might look to move Jones and his big expiring salary for immediate help at the 1 and 5 positions.

So it seems to me a trade of Steve Blake and Theo Ratliff for Eddie Jones makes sense for both teams. To get their veteran guard and a chance at cap space when Jones's contract expires at the end of the year, the Blazers give up a smart and effective but extemporaneous young PG and an aging and overpaid and often injured center.

The downside for Memphis, besides giving up a good player, is that they take on more salary obligations for the 2007-2008 season, and they risk having Theo injured and unable to contribute during the next two years. On the salary front, they probably won't be able to get under the cap until at least 2010 without some major cap clearing moves, so it's a matter of whether their ownership is willing to tolerate that level of payroll. Also, they would still have to look for another passable center to account for the possibility of injury to Ratliff.

However, in my opinion, Theo along with Blake could be two very great backups for them, and this trade makes sense for both teams.

Blazers lineup:

• PG: Telfair, Jack
• SG: Jones, Dixon
  
• SF: Webster, Khryapa, Outlaw
• PF: Zach, Aldridge/Bargnani/Thomas
• C: Skinner, Ha, ?