<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">There's SO much $ this summer, Mike Conley, DeMar DeRozan, Harrison Barnes, Ryan Anderson types expected by some to get max $. Chaos coming.</p>— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) <a href="https://twitter.com/sam_amick/status/690275033122377728">January 21, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Why not? If we traded for a starting PF I don't see why not. Harrell has shown the ability to be a solid backup, Rockets can run a 3 man rotation between Howard, Capela and the starting PF as well. Dmo will be looking for a big contract and has health issues, If we can flip him for a upgrade I'd do it. Batum would be a really nice fit, and having his bird rights this summer could go a long way.
I am prepared. I look at all future salaries at a % of the future cap. Still Anderson getting 25 million is preposterous. And can't think of what team will pay him that much. Can you? Detroit doesn't have so much available they only have enough for around a rookie max.
Teams that give that tier of player the max will be hamstrung for the duration of those contracts .... They ain't worth the max meaning they cant spend that $$ on truely max level players nor can they use portions for lesser contracts.
Doomsday trade: http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=j9dczmo First, I'd like to say this is all in good fun and I was bored so I got to playing with the trade machine. Anyway, I think this is probably the most extreme trade one could think of, so here we go! Rockets in: John Wall, Jimmy Butler, Marcin Gortat, Steve Novak, Drew Gooden Rockets out: James Harden, Dwight Howard, Trevor Ariza, Terrance Jones Wizards in: James Harden, Joakim Noah, Dion Waiters Wizards out: John Wall, Marcin Gortat, Bradley Beal, Drew Gooden Thunder in: Dwight Howard, Nikola Mirotic Thunder out: Enes Kanter, Steve Novak, Dion Waiters Bulls in: Enes Kanter, Trevor Ariza, Bradley Beal, Terrance Jones Bulls out: Jimmy Butler, Joakime Noah, Nikola Mirotic Why the Rockets do it: Dwight Howard is past his prime, and will be looking for another 5 year max contract this summer, which the Rockets shouldn't give him, they have Capela who has shown great promise. James Harden has worn out his welcome, refuses to improve his defense and is too busy at the strip club when he should be with the team. Trevor Ariza and Terrence Jones are easily replaceable and have not been consistent enough to keep. Getting John Wall and Jimmy Butler completely solidifies the team's back court for the next 4 seasons, as both Wall and Butler are under contract. They are athletic, young, and defensive minded. Gortat is a stop gap center until Capela advances his skills. Novak and Gooden are filler. Why the Wizards do it: The Wizards have had a disappointing season, and want to focus on positioning themselves to lure Kevin Durant this offseason. They get James Harden, arguably a top 5 player in the league, and receive Noah and Waiters (both on expiring contracts). Having Harden and being the hometown of KD, could easily make them his number 1 option this summer. If KD doesn't come, they still have Harden for 2 more years to build around and could go after others FAs. Losing Beal for Harden is a no-brainer, but are they willing to give up John Wall, for a possible KD signing? It could help them tank for a high draft pick... Why the Thunder do it: The Thunder are in win-now mode. If they don't win the Finals this year, I believe KD will leave. They had to sign Kanter to that ridiculous contract just to keep him for POR and to fulfill their "big" position. Dwight Howard is a superior replacement. Howard showed last year that, when healthy, he is still a top dominating force, especially in the playoffs. The Thunder also receive some extra scoring and rebounding for their bench in Mirotic. Trading away Waiters is a non-issue, since they still have lots of guard help. Why the Bulls do it: Admittedly, this was the hardest of the four to convince myself that they would do it. Let's start with the easiest first. Joakim Noah is an expiring contract who is currently injured and probably won't sign back with them next year, since he already spoke out against the coach. They get Kanter on a 4 year deal to replace Noah and a soon-to-retire Pau Gasol. The Bulls also get Ariza and Beal, who basically combine to be Jimmy Butler (maybe?) Jones in for Mirotic seems like a fair swap to me. They could easily offer Beal the max in the summer, something the Wizards won't do. A Rose/Beal/Ariza/Gasol/Kanter lineup is just as good, if not better, then what they could do now with Butler. Rockets roster: PG: Wall/Lawson/Beverley SG: Butler/Brewer/Thornton/Terry SF: McDaniels/Novak PF: DMo/Gooden/Harrell C: Gortat/Capela Go after Barnes/DeRozan and Horford in FA (and obviously give KD a call)
http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=jeof454 Ariza for Bradley Boston has to be tired of starting that midget back-court. http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=zacbhyg Capela and Lawson for Middleton. The Bucks NEED rebounding and a playmaker who is capable of making 3s. 2 way players around Harden: Bradley / Beverley / Terry Harden / Thornton Middleton / Brewer Jones / D-Mo / Harrell Howard / Plumlee
I'd totally be okay with Ariza/D-Mo for Batum even despite the concerns I listed earlier. But I'd only be okay with it if we upgraded at PF first.
Probably been discussed before but if Dwight decides to walk and get nothing back from him we will be a lottery team for a few years, watch the Detroit game if you don't believe me. Therefore Howard Jones- CLE Mozgov Love - HOU Don't care what the ESPN trade prediction say CLE will be much stronger with Dwight Howard at center. Howard/Lebron/Kyrie would be immense. What has Kevin Love really done at CLE as he is essentially a third wheel and you can tell his confidence is shot, but the player from UCLA and MINN is still in there for sure. Overall the Rockets certainly get weaker but I'm not thinking about this year as there's no chance in hell even if we make the playoffs we go far. But its better to trade Howard while he is still an asset rather than lose him get a mediocre center and become a lottery team for years.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Clippers have traded Josh Smith back to Housto, sources tell Yahoo.</p>— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/WojVerticalNBA/status/690556479875579904">January 22, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Houston will send rights to foreign players and cash to the Clippers for Smith, league source tells Yahoo.</p>— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojVerticalNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/WojVerticalNBA/status/690556990762823680">January 22, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
wouldn't we all? But there's absolutely no indication that MIL would be interested in moving Middleton. Middleton, Giannis, and Jabari are their 2,3, and 4 for the foreseeable future. Milwaukee is looking for a solution at the 1 and more help on the interior at the 5.
OT: But Middleton, wow How crazy was that draft with 2nd round studs in Draymond Green, Crowder, Middleton, Barton - all legit NBA players Maury had 3 picks in that draft and drafted Royce busty WHite and TJ ahead of all these guys. I'm ok with Lamb since he was part of the Harden trade.
But that begs the question.....why was Morey talking to Milwaukee at all? Surely it wasn't just for a bunch of expirings. I don't know if Middleton can be had, but I think I'd be willing to pay the price to get him. Something like: Lawson + DMo + Gentile for Middleton and Plumlee Then you flip Ariza and TJones to Chicago for Mirotic, Snell and Brooks Beverley / Brooks Harden / Thornton Middleton / Brewer Smith / Mirotic Howard / Capela And to be honest, Middleton is one of the few guys I might be willing to give up Capela for.
