What is "line-up flexibility"?
Was Namestnikov existing the reason Lemieux wouldn't get moved up?
Line up flexibility = the ability to move players and insert others.
If the thought was that Namestnikov should be kept and make all efforts to drive up his trade value, then no, Lemieux was not getting moved up. If you think that the smart course of action would be to simply let Namestnikov walk away at the end of the year with absolutely NOTHING in return, then yes, you could have played him on the 4th line for the rest of the year or simply scratched him. However, and please answer this, what exactly does that accomplish? At the end of the day, whether it is Namestnikov skating on the 4th line or McKegg or Haley, it makes not for one lick of difference as far a where the Rangers will finish.
You go on and on quoting how many points Namestnikov has. But you constantly choose to ignore context. How many of those points did he score while riding shotgun on Tampa's top line? Do you think that he has shown that he would get the same exact output if he played with whomever the center is on the Rangers 4th line and Brendan Smith as linemates? Because if you if you say now, then what is this debate really about? If his offensive output is mostly determined by his linemates, then as Tawnos pointed out, his point deferential would not be that much different than a McKegg.
What is seems you are coming onto is that you would rather have Namestnikov skate on the 4th line and then have him walk away at the end of the year for absolutely nothing. That seems to be what you are preaching.