they traded away prince and pondexter to give lee less minutes? Those 2 combine for 42 mpg at the wings
It's funny how everyone is making trades early this year for some reason. I can't help but think there's a little bit of "everyone else is doing it" mentality operating here.
If Clippers are indeed trading Jamal Crawford for a 3 and D player, maybe Rockets can snag him after he's traded. Shved + Canaan + pick and whatever else if we need salary to match. Next season is Canaan's last season on that contract and we could just accept Jamal Crawford's team option for next season.
Clippers would be nuts to trade Crawford. He plays a vital role on that team as the only alternative creator to CP3 and the guy who will take and hit tough shots when their offense goes stale. They better get more than just a 3 and D player in return.
Good deal for the Griz trading Tayshaun's corpse for Green. It sucks for them that they had to give up a 1st rounder in the deal, but what do you expect, Prince (expiring contract or not) is garbage.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Sources: Boston, Memphis and New Orleans agree on five-player trade sending Jeff Green to Grizzlies. Trade call Monday.</p>— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA/status/554395077012127744">January 11, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Looks like they gave up a 2nd as well. And pondexter. Basically traded D for O. Green can make his own shot, but plays little defence, and is too often 'off'. I wouldnt have given up a 1st and a 2nd and a serviceable defender (Pondexter) for him. But Memphis really needs a wing scorer who can make his own shot, potential to put them over the top, so why not go all in?
I feel like green was in a bad situation in Boston. No way he comes to the grizzlies with Tony Allen, Marc Gasol, Conley and Zach and they let him half-ass-it on defense. It ain't going to happen. The best part about Green is the fact that while he might not be the prototypical 3 point shooter, he IS enough of a threat that teams won't be able to really leave anybody to double down on Gasol or Randolph. This should make the grizzlies a deadly team.
Was Arron Afflalo seriously not available? Probably cheaper and a definite two way player. Seems like he'd fit chemistry-wise
A lot of grizzlies fans wanted Wilson Chandler. But again, Green, I think, is a hell of a player and I think the difference between: Affalo, Chandler, Deng is nominal and splitting hairs. They are all pretty good.
It's official <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Grizzlies?src=hash">#Grizzlies</a> acquire Jeff Green & Russ Smith in 3-team trade w/ <a href="https://twitter.com/celtics">@Celtics</a> & <a href="https://twitter.com/PelicansNBA">@PelicansNBA</a> <a href="http://t.co/DSreuH64K8">http://t.co/DSreuH64K8</a> <a href="http://t.co/JhsQinZOh9">pic.twitter.com/JhsQinZOh9</a></p>— Memphis Grizzlies (@memgrizz) <a href="https://twitter.com/memgrizz/status/554677428321533952">January 12, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Teams are making moves early because of how tough / competitive the West is. One loss might mean the difference between being the 3 or 4 seed or the 7 or 8 seed at the end of the season. This year more than any other , every game counts in the Western conference.
It's probably more to do with how the west and title seems way more open this year, last year for everyone else it felt from about December that the Spurs and OKC would battle out the WCF vs Miami in the finals.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Phoenix's Shavlik Randolph has been traded to Boston, with Reggie Bullock to Phoenix, Austin Rivers to Clippers, league sources tell RealGM.</p>— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) <a href="https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/555823633051156481">January 15, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Current version of deal <a href="https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania">@ShamsCharania</a> first reported, I'm told, also includes Chris Douglas-Roberts heading to Boston</p>— Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) <a href="https://twitter.com/DanWoikeSports/status/555828647634804736">January 15, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>A source also told me the Clippers' current plan to either trade or waive Jordan Farmar</p>— Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) <a href="https://twitter.com/DanWoikeSports/status/555828807890780161">January 15, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Danny Ainge will meet with Tayshaun Prince in LA during upcoming west coast trip. All options (buyout, trade) open, including roster spot.</p>— Mark Murphy (@Murf56) <a href="https://twitter.com/Murf56/status/555829301468463104">January 15, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Total take from Rivers deal - Shav Randolph and Clippers' 2017 second round pick.</p>— Mark Murphy (@Murf56) <a href="https://twitter.com/Murf56/status/555829673960419328">January 15, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
This. What the hell is GM Doc doing? Clearing out the roster for his son? Bullock, Farmar, CDR, 2nd round pick. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>I don't really understand what the Clippers are doing. That is a lot of noise to get Austin Rivers.</p>— Zach Lowe (@ZachLowe_NBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZachLowe_NBA/status/555841473330311168">January 15, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The funny thing is after all this hub-bub, I STILL don't know if Rivers will even crack the lineup to get playing time in LA. This is hilarious, and terrible all at the same time.
