FanHouse AustinCroshere

With the NBA trade deadline looming, Trade Machinations rounds up real rumors (and creates fake ones) of moves that'd make the NBA a better, brighter place.

The proposed deal - made a little awkward by the Warriors not wanting to burn up their trade exception just to dump Mickael Pietrus - would be Pietrus and Austin Croshere for Joey Graham and Juan Dixon, the two names that have apparently been tossed around.

This trade helps both teams to a certain degree, but more than anything it rids each one of their most recent malcontent (that being Pietrus and Dixon). Croshere helps out the Raptors because his contract, although a small one, is an expiring deal, freeing up more room for Toronto to resign Carlos Delfino and Jose Calderon. Pietrus' contract is also expiring and he has purportedly agreed to waive his George Bird Rights should Golden State find him a new locale.

From a basketball standpoint, Pietrus would give the Raptors a more scoring-capable option at the three than Jamario Moon currently provides in addition to lineup flexibility. Croshere provides a little frontcourt depth while Graham gives the Warriors a tougher body in the post (neither has really played in 2008, both have expiring deals, the money works out to save the Warriors' exception from the Jason Richardson trade).

Will it happen? It certainly could. Both Pietrus and Dixon are likely to get moved before the deadline and in this case, each team gets something useful in exchange for their unhappy player.

Don't let the title confuse you: as far as I'm aware there was never a report that Austin Croshere had died, I had simply forgetten that he was alive. (That's my Eastern Conference bias showing, I guess -- he did get in 62 games for the Mavericks last year.) In any case, the 10-year veteran has reportedly inked a one-year deal with the Warriors. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em, right?

It's not a bad move for the Warriors, as it bolsters their bench as well as their scouting department, assuming Croshere dishes the dirt about the Mavericks' operations. According to the San Jose Mercury News, it's believed the team got him for the veteran's minimum, and at 6-foot-10 he brings a nice combination of size and offense.

Speaking of size, the Warriors also inked 7-foot-2 rookie Kosta Perovic, which means they now have 14 of their 15 roster spots filled, though that counts restricted free agent Mikael Pietrus, who may or may not actually stay with the team. Pietrus has been linked with the Mavs, among other teams, as well as a potential sign-and-trade with Cleveland for fellow restricted free agent Sasha Pavolic.

So who gets that last spot? Well, Matt Barnes has yet to receive any long-term offers (and now has two ex-agents to show for it), so there's a chance he could come back with his tail between his legs. You have to figure the Warriors will want to bring back either Pietrus or Barnes. Theoretically, the team has enough room under the luxury tax threshold to have them both back, but it's hard to imagine they'd each agree to that considering they'd be competing for playing time.

(hat-tip to SLAM)