Cp3/Harden pick n pop with Beasly would be sick!!! Beaslys jumper is money! Still wish we held on to him instead of trading for Ennis. :/
Smoove is just a tremendous defensive difference maker in the middle. If only he'd just play that role, drop the attitude, and be satisfied to be the roller and finisher/garbage man on the offensive end instead of wanting to play with the basketball and shoot. I'd love to have him in that defensive anchor role at the 5 if his attitude was right and he was accepting of the above. He's such a devastating defender.
Can't poison pill first round picks, and I don't even think anyone has the cap room to sign Noel anymore. He'll have to work something out with Dallas, or settle for the QO and go unrestricted next year.
QO is what I think happens but that is lose-lose for both Mavs and Noel. If not poison pill, then sign and trade because Cuban is obviously taking advantage of the lack of market demand and Noel is bristling at the treatment. MDA loves Nerlens, feeling is mutual, so the natural fit is Houston IMO. There is an opportunity there somewhere and if anyone can swing it, it's Morey.
I dont see a way we can get him without moving Capela. I love the idea of Morey somehow swindling the Mavs for this guy, but I think the time to do that was last year when he was had for 2 2nd round picks.
It just may take Capela. If we're going to max one of them next season, would rather max Nerlens, he has the better talent, skill set and upside. Both are rim runners, finishers and rim protectors. Nerlens is the better defender and rebounder. Capela is slightly better offensive player.
Nerlens is a bit better, but neither of them are worth the max. Keep Capela, and put him to work with Nene. The Rockets can re-assess the situation after the end of the season. Noel wants big bucks now, he will grumble if he doesn't get that. Let the Mavs deal with him.
Just a couple notes on Nerlens: 1. MDA loves him. 2. Fantastic steal rate for a big. Best steal rate among bigs since he entered the league, even higher than Draymond. In fact one of the best steal rates in the entire NBA. 3. He's top 5 in combined steal rate and block rate since he came into the league. As you can see from the video Noel is made for fast play and defensively he is a fast break igniter.
Why are we talking about Nerlens in a thread about bargain hunting? There is no way we can get Nerlens. Even, hypothetically, if he were willing to sign for the minimum (he isn't) the Mavs would match in a heart beat. I don't understand this conversation and don't have the energy to root out the source of it.