Time to Find Sasha Vujacic a New Home
July 30th, 2010 | by Garrett Wilson |When rumors broke out the other day that the Lakers are hoping to trade Sasha Vujacic in the next week in order to try and clear some payroll space to re-sign Shannon Brown, I couldn’t have been happier. Sasha has been my least favorite Laker for just some time and seeing his tenure end a year earlier than planned positively fills me with unbridled joy. Since this may be the only chance I ever get, I can’t possibly let the opportunity to conjure up some ways for the Lakers to finally rid themselves of “The Machine.”
Don’t cry, Sasha. If you get traded, I know I won’t be crying for you.
Finding Sasha a new home won’t be easy. He has an expiring contract but it is for $5.475 million and that is the kind of contract teams usually only take on if they are ridding themselves of a longer, more expensive deal which is exactly what the Lakers are trying to avoid, so finding a taker for Vujacic isn’t going to be easy, but I’ll be damned if I’m not going to look high and low for some sucker willing to take him off LA’s hands.
Sacramento Kings – The Kings still have available cap space and might be able to absorb Sasha’s salary without giving up anything at all and that would be just fine with the Lakers. Even better, the Cow Towners might actually want Sasha as they don’t have a whole lot of backcourt depth behind Beno Udrih and Tyreke Evans. I would normally be against the Lakers dealing within their own division, but in this case I’m not too worried about Sasha coming back to haunt them.
Washington Wizards – Another team with a bit of cap space left, the Wizards are in full-fledged rebuilding mode, so paying Sasha for a season in exchange for a future first rounder might be pretty pleasing to them. They have plenty of guards on the roster already though, so they might prefer to use that remaining space on a front court player instead. But, hey, it doesn’t hurt to ask, right?
Chicago Bulls – If the Lakers were to cut a deal with the Bulls, they could actually kill two birds with one stone. Chicago has just enough cap space to acquire Vujacic who would fill the final guard spot on their roster, a spot they have been considering filling with Shannon Brown. The trick will be convincing the Bulls that using the last of their cap space on Vujacic and a future draft pick is better than spending it on Shannon Brown or Tracy McGrady (as has been rumored). It is a tough sell job, but it is worth a shot.
LA Clippers – I don’t see any real reason why the Clippers would want to take on Vujacic and help out the Lakers at the same time, but, hey, they’re the Clippers. Do they ever make any sense? I’m just saying it wouldn’t hurt to make a call across the hall to see if the Clipper management team is feeling especially foolish for a day.
New Jersey Nets – The Nets were the big losers in free agency as they hoarded all their cap room only to land pretty much nobody. They are not desperately trying to spend that cap space somewhere. I have a feeling that if a team willing to give Travis Outlaw a $35 million, 5 year deal could be talked into absorbing Vujacic’s deal. It would actually make some sense for the Nets since they get to recoup that cap space again next off-season for another attempt at hitting the free agent lottery. Plus their new Russian owner might like having Sasha’s Russian girlfriend, Maria Sharapova, hanging around.
Minnesota Timberwolves – The Lakers first tried to move Sasha by sending him to Cleveland in exchange for the non-guaranteed deal of Delonte West. Cleveland was too smart for that though and used West in a deal to land Ramon Sessions. That might be just the stroke of luck Mitch Kupchak needed. The Cavs were too smart to accept such a sucker of a deal, but one thing that Minnesota GM David Kahn has never been accused of is being smart. If Sasha comes packaged with a future first rounder, Kahn might be very willing to strike a deal and pay Sasha’s salary so he can get his hands on that extra pick since it is pretty clear Minnesota won’t be competitive anytime soon.
Tags: Beno Udrih, Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Delonte West, Minnesota Timberwolves, Mitch Kupchak, New Jersey Nets, Rumors, Sacramento Kings, Sasha Vujacic, Shannon Brown, Tracy McGrady, trades, Tyreke Evans, Washington Wizards
By Luminous Numinous on Aug 6, 2010
People are jerks! Why doesn’t your little article rate higher? People are just jealous haters!
My friend, your breakdown on where Sasha could go, and why, is well-written with humor and intelligence and it demonstrates and in-depth knowledge of the Association.
I think the bulls are a real option. An article came out saying they want a sharp-shooting SG rather than an aging, banged-up SF. I think they’d rather have Sasha than T-Mac. Especially since it would only be for a year. If it doesn’t work out, they ditch Sasha at season’s end.
T-Mac is going to want more security: say, 3 years, $15 million.
I think it makes sense for all parties.
Sasha to Bulls, T-Mac to L.A. in a sign and trade. GET HER DONE, MITCH!
By Garrett Wilson on Aug 6, 2010
I appreciate you coming to my defense. I suspect the low ratings are merely Sasha’s fans (all eight of them) trying to come to his defense. No skin off my back. Sasha to the Bulls is a good idea (not sure the salaries line up though), but Chicago can’t sign and trade T-Mac, only the Knicks can do that.