A recurring topic of conversation when your team hasn't been in the playoffs for 13 years is how to improve the team.  Can we trade player X for a superstar? Can we trade scrub 1,2,3,4 for a superstar?  Can we trade 3 wing players for a center or power forward.  Once the laughter dies down you are left with the trades that might make sense and the players that could make up those trades.

JRich is one of the players who comes up frequently, because he has some value, to us.  He has been the Warriors best player, but he is a 2 guard and unless your last name is Wade, Allen or Bryant, you can be replaced.   To illustrate my point on JRich as a trade discussion point, here is a graph of messages in which trade jrich appeared so far this season.  We are only a little more than half way through March, but you get the point.

Now today from MTII we get another article on either Baron or JRich being gone in the off season.  MT II's reasoning is money, salary cap and the luxury tax.  I think a better reason is skills.   Second tier 2 guards aren't a dime a dozen, but they are far easier to get than say a talented big man.  Think Fantasy Footbal drafting, what round do you draft a tight end in?  Most people draft them pretty late because once you get past the top 2 or 3 the next 20 are all about equal.

With all the scorers on the team now, Richardson's point productivity isn't as critical as it once was.  The premium is now on his rebounding, he is amongst the best rebounding shooting guards, and defense.  His ability to get to the rim isn't what it once was, compare him to Monta Ellis, who do you give the ball to and say drive to the rim in the 4th quarter?

What could we get for Jrich?  Lot's of suggestions on that one trade that has some appeal came up and Chase addressed it:

Richardson for Milicic makes some sense for both teams. The Magic have their blue-chip big. Howard is already a stud and he's going to get better and better... what they lack is a consistent scoring option on the perimeter to complement Howard and Jason fits the bill. On the W's side, they have the perimeter firepower. As talented as Jason is, he's not a 7-footer. He can't rebound and alter shots the way Milicic can. If the W's do have interest in Milicic, they'll need to move salary in the deal because he's due for an extension. They can't trade expiring salary for Milicic unless they're willing to take a tax hit this off-season to re-sign him and an even bigger hit when it comes time to pay Ellis and Biedrins.

If the W's are interested in Milicic, Richardson is the logical trade chip... Orlando isn't taking Stephen Jackson. The ex-Pacers can't be used in combo. trades. Pietrus and filler is a difficult deal due to the tax complications discussed above and the fact that Darko is more valuable than Mickael. We'll see how it goes. I think it's a reasonable deal on the W's end, but I'm not too crazy about the idea of sacrificing a pick in what should be a very talented draft.

 

So if we can use JRich as a chip to trade for a big man do we make the move?  I think so, not because I don't like JRich, but because with Pietrus and Azubuike the drop off in talent is not as great as the potential increase in talent from getting an athletic big man.