| Grading The Deal: Gerald Green Traded To Houston For Kirk Snyder Authored by Andrew Perna - February 21, 2008 - 8:39 pm
Heading into the NBA’s trade deadline a pair of Minnesota Timberwolves, Gerald Green and Antoine Walker, were crossing their fingers for a ticket out of Minneapolis. On Thursday afternoon, Green got his wish – and more.
The Timberwolves sent Green to the Houston Rockets in exchange for guard Kirk Snyder, a 2010 second-round pick and cash considerations. Green, who played sparingly for Minnesota this season, just so happens to hail from Houston, Texas.
The Rockets saved roughly $900,000 in the exchange, before taking into account the undisclosed amount of cash that was swapped. While the Rockets deal with the Hornets and Grizzles seemed to be a clear short-term salary dump, this one appears to be slightly different.
When the Celtics and Timberwolves discussed a trade involving Kevin Garnett this past summer, Green was one of the key cogs in the deal. Al Jefferson was clearly the centerpiece for Minnesota, but nearly everyone involved expected Green to continue his development on the rebuilding Timberwolves.
Green struggled in Minnesota, but was never given a fair shake in terms of playing time. After averaging 22 minutes of play in 81 games for the Celtics last season, the 2005 first-rounder only appeared 29 times for the Timberwolves this year. When he did get onto the court in Minnesota, he played in short stints.
In limited playing time his numbers have been respectable, 5.1 points and 2.2 rebounds, but his already-suspect shooting touch has dipped significantly. He’s shooting just 33.1% this season, horrid even for a slashing guard.
Daryl Morey got the better end of the deal in terms of potential because a change of scenery, especially one home, could revitalize Green’s still promising young career. The price of Snyder, a low pick and some cash seems like mere peanuts when you consider the 10.4 points Green put up in Boston last season.
Grade for Rockets: A-
It seems like Kevin McHale was just trying to appease Green’s wishes as Snyder doesn’t hold an edge in any facet of common trade analysis. As stated earlier, Snyder will earn $900,000 more than Green this season, and the Timberwolves also have the ability to turn him into a restricted free agent this summer with a qualifying offer. I don’t expect McHale to do so.
Snyder has played in nine games for the Rockets this season, averaging 3.8 points in 8.9 minutes of play. He was selected in the first round of the 2004 NBA Draft by the Utah Jazz, and started 45 games for the Hornets in 2005-06.
The second round pick won’t come into play for McHale for another two years, and by then someone else might be making the decisions in Minnesota. I would give the Timberwolves a decent grade for the plausible theory that McHale was looking to improve chemistry by dealing a player who wanted out of town, but a cohesive locker room isn’t going to save an 11-win team.
Grade for Timberwolves: C
Andrew Perna is a Senior Writer for RealGM.com. Free feel to contact him at Andrew.Perna@RealGM.com with comments and questions. |
