FanShot

McNamara: Debating Possible Chris Kaman To Portland Trade

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Michael McNamara and Jason Calmes of Hornets247.com debate a possible trade scenario that would send New Orleans Hornets center Chris Kaman and forward Carl Landry to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for four players. ---------------------------------- Chris Kaman and Carl Landry for Greg Oden, Nolan Smith, Luke Babbitt and Marcus Camby Why the Hornets should do it: Basically, you do this trade so you can kick the tires on Greg Oden. He won’t be able to play this year and will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, but you get a chance to have him checked out by your doctors and specialists. Maybe they give the thumbs up and he falls in love with Monty and Dell the way most players do and takes a 2-3 year offer. Nolan Smith and Babbitt are two more guys that create competition and maybe one of them sticks. Remember this trade can’t go through for a couple more weeks anyway (not to mention the fact that Landry and Oden would have to agree to it as well), but it is one that could pay off big down the road. Why the Hornets should pass (Jason Calmes): ... Camby would be a nice pick-up, but his deal is one year too short, the opposite of the Emeka contract issue. We need to find a Goldi-blocks, not too hot, not too cold. Swapping his expiring for Carl’s does little for us. Camby will be looking for more than a 1y deal given his age and the tax rule changes slamming down prior to the 2013 – 2014 season. Getting us into a position so we’ll have a center next season should be find a taker for Emeka would be a better move, even if said player isn’t of Camby’s quality. I’d pass on this chance to keep our Clipper quotient where it is. ---------------------------------- Kaman has been benched by the Hornets until they trade him and one national report indicated the Blazers "make sense" as a possible trade partner. -- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | Twitter