If we end up having to give up both Capela and Gordon to add Butler are we really any better? I personally think we would be better, but not by very much, especially if we can't find a big to fill Capela's role and someone to provide scoring off the bench the way EG could. What say you?
I think it depends on who we can get to replace Capela at the 5. I am hoping we can somehow get our hands on Willie Cauley Stein in a 3 team trade. Would really love to see him with CP3 and Harden.
At this point, I'm not even thinking about Capella. So, for me, the real question is Butler > Gordon? Yes, Butler is better in every aspect except scoring and an elite defender. My primary concern is how will two extremely competitive players, CP and Butler, get along when we're not winning games? Are they going to clash when leading plays? Knowing their roles will be very important in the long-run. We will need to replace Capella, but not by a traditional center, we need length at 4 who can stretch the floor and play center in a small lineup. Someone who is an above average defender, rebounder, and can shoot the 3.
The thing is Capela really only works (or at a minimum is greatly enhanced) because of Harden. I feel like Capela will not drastically improve at this point and he was definitely a liability against Golden State. I think his defense has been questionable at times and his game is very one dimensional. I also believe that Jimmy Butler would be a very sizable upgrade from Gordon. With all that said, if we have another target center who can play some defense, even if they are not as good as Capela offensively, then I would be fine with it. I think any decent center would play better having a trio of Harden, Gordon and Butler. I do think though we need to make sure that we maintain contracts that are not significantly unfavorable so we do not put ourselves in a position of not having many tradeable assets.
Capela has already reached his peak. Hes an athletic big man, but that's about it. Gordon is good but scoring can be replaced with MLE.
I have to think that if the Rockets appear to be so willing to move Capela it's because they're confident they can get a replacement. If that's true you do this and don't look back, especially if the Rockets still don't know if Gordon wants to extend. What they do know is that he already turned down an extension last summer so, it's likely he'll look to get paid and/or leave anyway in a year, at that point, if you can switch an expiring Gordon with 4 years of Butler, you do that with zero esitation.
The answer is obviously yes. We can get a serviceable big man with the MLE. It would be interesting to see what the third team in the trade would be that’s taking Capela. It’s a very complicated deal cause sixers don’t need Capela so we need a third team. Maybe we would have space to take another small contract in return for Capela and the third team gives a pick to sixers? If Butler is willing to sign with us and sixers are open to taking our package rather than having more cap space then Morey will find a way for this to happen.
I would be fine with it if we find a solid defensive center who can rebound really well on both ends of the court. The only free agent that fits that bill is Deandre Jordan but not sure if he would sign for MLE or not. Brook Lopez would be nice but I don't see how that is possible. I think Capela is way more valuable to us than other teams especially if we don't have a playoff series against the Warriors for once. Hopefully someone else will knock them out in the 2nd round or so before Capela goes into turd mode. Also, if we lose Gordon we obviously need to keep Rivers or sign another scorer/playmaker off the bench that is capable of playing 20-30 minutes each night. I definitely like the pursuit of Danny Green, Al-Farouq Aminu and to a lesser extent Jeremy Lamb. I think the targets from Amick's article are spot on and exactly the type of players we need to chase and see if we can somehow add 1 or 2 of them to this team. Lamb did put up 15 pts a game last season with better efficiency and all around stats than Gordon. Could be a good target for the MLE but may command more than that. Also, forgot about Kevon Looney being a target. He is underrated due to his ugly playing style but he is all over the court on both offense and defense. Also has championship experience and plays pretty smart. Would be a good rotation piece to have in case we lose Capela. Maybe we re-sign Faried or maybe Hartenstein steps up this year. Either way I am only okay with losing Capela if we are able to get a good 2 way center that does all of the dirty work because that is what we will need more than anything else.
Eric Gordon will get paid in a year WE ARE SCREWED for the future if he bolts and we are left without a replacement. Then the window really closes forever. This year is the last chance to fix the roster by adding another star to replace cp3s inevitable further decline.
The problem isn’t if Capela and Gordon <=> Butler. If you told me i could get butler for those to. Yes plus maybe even a couple picks. He’s definitely better. The problem is the hard cap. Doing that trade under the scenario we’re facing means there’s no way to really fill out the roster after the trade.
Spoiler Paul Gordon Harden Tucker Capela MLE signing Shumpert (can re-sign to a larger deal if you want) Clark Hartenstein min min min min min Can still trade Shumpert, Gordon and/or Capela later. Can still sign buyouts in February/March. Paul Harden Butler Tucker Jordan or Looney (let's say CF dream scenario plays out & one of them accepts the $5.7M) Clark Hartenstein min min min min min min min Hard capped, no buyouts, no trades Chris Paul will miss his 15-20 games again. This is semi-realistic (minus the Austin Rivers part) but there's no depth. Danuel House who was in the doghouse Gerald Green who everyone said should be in the doghouse Tyson Chandler & Jared Dudley on their last legs Thabo meh OK Clark & Hartenstein, maybe Mike trusts them more in year two, maybe not? Didn't we just watch the Raptors? "Oh Kawhi has so much help. Kawhi's supporting cast is carrying him. Look at Toronto's depth." But hey, we'll have our big two and a quarter & knock on wood! ___________________ "We're not better than last year," he said, "from a personnel standpoint." “It’s like when you don’t have bodies. It’s tough,” said James, who had a triple-double in the loss. “The ****ing grind of the regular season. We’re a top-heavy team. We have a top-heavy team. We top-heavy as sh-t. It’s me, Kyrie, Kevin. It’s top-heavy.” “We need a ****ing playmaker,” James added. “I’m not saying you can just go find one, like you can go outside and see trees. I didn’t say that.” "They've got bodies," James said of San Antonio when asked about the Spurs' beating the Cavs without Pau Gasol or Tony Parker. "They've got bodies. For the most part, all championship-contending teams has got guys that are ready to step in. Knock on wood, what if Ky goes down? For two weeks. Let's say two. What if I went down for three weeks?" A reporter responded to James that many wonder how Cleveland would do if James tapered his minutes at the end of the month, as Cavs coach Ty Lue said was the plan. "Yeah, y'all are worried about five minutes. What if I went down for two weeks?" James said. "Trying to build something, you know?"
We won't give up both If Butler decides to come here he'll option in n we would only have to match 20 million, so Gordon n fillers. We would give him max after next season, just like with CP. Come on people, ya really think we're gonna give up both Gordon n Capela
