Perhaps this is a "random trade ideas" thread. Admins, do your worst. We are laser focused on LeBron and Paul George...both of which are unlikely given our limited resources. In addition, we have salary constraints. Assuming we stay above the cap (a VERY high likelihood), we will have just one resource to add an above minimum free agent...the tax-payer mid-level exception ($5.3 million). A quick review of available free agents that could be had at that level yields just a handful that are playable against GSW, which is the ONLY barometer to judge a free agent by IMO. A quick list: Ersan Ilyasova Avery Bradley Tyreke Evans Will Barton (unlikely - looking for more) JJ Reddick (very unlikely - looking for more) And being able to offer the taxpayer MLE assumes we won't have to use it to keep Mbah a Moute, who I would probably take over everyone listed above except Reddick. So the question to us is how to improve a team with no cap flexibility and few trade assets...the answer is to get creative and do the unexpected. As mentioned, the barometer for judging a potential acquisition is to ask whether they can play against GSW. If not, they are pointless on this team. Ignore the contract...we are in win now mode. It wasn't Anderson's contract that killed us against GSW...it was the fact he was unplayable. If you remove contract as a concern, then a lot of options open up using Anderson's contract, a 1st round pick and perhaps one of our prospects as a way for a team that isn't in win now mode to marginally add talent in exchange for a mid-level player. A few names to toss out there: Kent Bazemore Allen Crabbe Demare Carroll Marvin Williams Courtney Lee Jonathan Simmons Serge Ibaka Each of these guys is playable against Golden State, or at least more playable than Ryan Anderson. None are on particularly good deals, and all are on teams that won't be competing for anything anytime soon (my assumption is Toronto gets broken up...to the extent that is possible). The idea is that teams won't be particularly tied to these players, taking Ryan Anderson won't be harmful to the organization since they aren't competing within the next few years anyway, and the opportunity to get a pick and young talent would be attractive, even if the return isn't huge. For example, let's say you could trade for Bazemore with Anderson, a 1st round pick and Zhou Qi. That improves your team, and doesn't extend you beyond when Anderson's contract would have expired. tl;dr - we can improve by trading a bad contract (Anderson) with sweeteners for other bad contracts of useful but overpaid players on bad teams
good thoughts. i don't think toronto gets broken up, though. actual professionals in real life tend not to overreact like random NBA fans
...but didn't those same professionals kick the future coach of the year to the curb after getting swept in the playoffs? If that's not an overreaction, I don't know what is.
Not so sure. They've been basically the same team for 2 years now, and got swept in the 2nd round of the playoffs. They are old, have tons of money committed to just 4 players none of whom are in the top 20 players in the league, and they just fired their coach. Seems like they are ripe for being split up.
Solid point but I figure this occurred to Morey and he just hasnt had any luck with teams biting on a future low 1st + filler to take Anderson for a more useful player. I think Anderson's contract and dramatic decline as a shooter on a team that gives him the green light has probably depressed Anderson's value A LOT.
Didn’t follow that series too closely but i vaguely recall hearing that the coaching may have been part of the problem. Regardless, they need to add better talent outside of the guard positions. If you want two guards to carry you through the playoffs they better be generational talents like harden and paul
I don't disagree. The key to this is trading for overpaid players on bad teams. They likely won't value their own players much, and they certainly won't value Anderson. Is a 1st and a high upside prospect like Zhou Qi enough? I don't know, but it seems more likely to me than being able to offload Anderson outright by attaching two picks.
Not IMO, but I'm sure there is reasonable space for debate here. I'd take all of the following over him: Harden CP3 Stephen Klay Draymond Durant Kawhi Davis Cousins Lillard Westbrook Paul George Mitchell Butler Lebron Tatum Kyrie Heyward Embiid Simmons Giannis Could probably list another 5-10 I would prefer over him.
I was playing with a Anderson for Bazemore swap in my head the past couple of days. If all else fails, I think I would love to see this move. Like you said, Bazemore is at least playable against the Warriors. I feel way more comfortable with him switching on any of the Warriors’ perimeter threats than Anderson. He has the speed and athletic ability. Plus, he shot right at 40% from deep. He can be our Ariza-apparent with added playmaking and driving ability. If we can get George for Gordon, Nene and a 1st then use Anderson and some 2nds plus prospects to get Bazemore, imagine the possible lineups we can throw at the Warriors. Paul Harden / Bazemore George / Ariza / Green Tucker / Luc Capela Obviously would need to get Ariza, Green and Luc on vet min/MLE, find a suitable back up point guard to give Paul some rest during the season and a young prospect to back up Capela (Onuaku? Ha!) and this team would literally be perfect to face the Warriors.
If we can get Avery Bradley for a reasonable deal I would be ecstatic. I don't think people forgot how good he is though just because of his injury so I don't think it is likely.
You are likely right, but I do think the squeeze will continue into this year. So few teams with cap space after all the spending from 2 years ago. It looks like for the long term, the lion share will go to the superstars, with most b-level players signing for the MLE.
