Adam Morrison probably isn't 'crying' about going to Lakers

[KDisNotNice]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=Aq8TDvxHIPPalUSNkMyKz9I5nYcB?slug=ap-lakers-bobcatstrade&prov=ap&type=lgns

[Rod4soonrs]

maybe this will get the trading going around the league.

[Plainsman]

Here's Hoopsworld analysis ..........

http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=11479


Brilliant Trade For Bobcats

By: Bill Ingram Last Updated: 2/7/09 4:17 PM ET | 1204 times read
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The Charlotte Bobcats made another aggressive move to revamp their roster in the mold of new head coach Larry Brown today, shipping Adam Morrison and Shannon Brown to the Los Angeles Lakers for Vladimir Radmanovic.

"Vladimir is a versatile forward who has the ability to play multiple positions in this league," Bobcats GM Rod Higgins said in a press release. "We saw this as an opportunity to add another experienced player whose skill set is interchangeable with a variety of different lineups."

Like their previous trade, which brought in Boris Diaw and Raja Bell, the Bobcats added versatility, experience, and a legitimate scoring force to the team with this move. Radmanovic can play the three or the four, and will likely start right away as the team struggles to get by while Gerald Wallace recovers from a collapsed lung and fractured ribs, ironically suffered in a win over the Lakers. Radmanovic hasn't been quite at home in Phil Jackson's lineup this season, but even so has continued to be a sharpshooter from three (44%) and could easily average double figures in scoring and 4-5 rebounds per game in a more significant role. Radmanovic will make the Bobcats better right away, and will continue to be a solid contributor even after Wallace returns.

More importantly, the Bobcats unloaded a pair of players in the deal who clearly had little or no future in Charlotte.

Larry Brown gave Morrison every opportunity to be a major factor for the Bobcats, from giving him extended minutes off the bench to putting him in the starting unit. At the end of the day, however, Morrison was unable to stake a claim on any particular role. Most recently he's averaged better than 20 minutes per contest since the injury to Wallace, but has managed just 4.25 points and 1.09 rebounds per game and shot just 35% from the field. It's likely that the only reason the Lakers are interested in Morrison is because he's due around $5 million next season and can then become a free agent. Radmanovic is owed roughly $6.5 million next season and close to $7 million the following year, so this becomes a cap saver for the Lakers if nothing else.

Shannon Brown is the throw-in for all practical purposes. He makes less than a million this season and his contract is up at the end of the year. He did a capable job of backing up Raymond Felton while DJ Augustin was out, but he didn't play well enough to justify any court time at all now that Augustin is back. He gives the Lakers an option as a third string point guard if he sticks there at all.

It's a deal that serves a purpose for both sides, though the positive impact will most likely be felt by the Bobcats first. It remains to be seen whether or not Morrison can actually make it in the NBA, while Radmanovic is ready to step out and help the Bobcats get back on court immediately.

[KDisNotNice]

Its just another reminder that just because a guy is a top player in college doesn't mean he will succeed in the NBA. Hopefully '(ex)Shaggy' has invested his rookie contract money well.

[Malaysak1983]

Morrison was a wasted draft pick for Charlotte. Good riddance.

[Trueblood]

Morrison was a wasted draft pick for Charlotte. Good riddance.

Agreed. I was begging for them to take Roy but whatever, they made up for it slightly by getting a better player in Radman.