Rockets open to trading John Wall for Russell Westbrook if incentivized

I'd be willing to send Wall for Russell if the Lakers throw in AD and a second.

 

I'm not really sure why anyone thought John Wall was willing to give up that much money. The only thing that makes sense to me is that he negotiates a buy-out, gives up about $10M in the process, and hopes that he has a productive enough season where he suckers a team into giving him a decent long term deal (similar to DRose). I doubt Stone is going to let him go until after the trade deadline, so likely he will stay the entire time (not sure why he would give up $10M at that point).

 

Wall's expiring contract + picks can net a young star.

 

I doubt it. Maybe a disgruntled star such as Damian Lillard (not sure why we would want him). I doubt the Jazz give up Donavan Mitchell (likely to ship out Rudy Gobert first). What other young star can be potentially disgruntled that we would have interest in?

 

Like who? And from which team? Who out there has 50 million worth of dead cap, a season to waste, and max free agents to lure in the near future? This also requires the Rockets to take back a ton of dead cap that they’ve been shuffling around for years and years

people suggesting this have to understand that the team trading for Wall must have their eyes locked onto specific FA targets for the 2023 offseason? Right?

 

https://basketball.realgm.com/nba/draft/future_drafts/team

Fakers -

1st Round -

2022 - 1-10 to NOP; 11-30 to MEM (via NOP)

2023 - Own or NOP (via NOP swap for LAL)

2024 - To NOP unless NOP defers and instead receives LAL's 2025 1st round pick

2025 - To NOP if NOP defers LAL's 2024 1st round pick

2026 - Own

2027 - Own

2028 - Own

2nd Round -

2022 - To SAN (via CHI swap for DET; via SAN swap of LAL for CHI or DET (via WAS); via MEM to SAC)

2023 - Own; CHI (via WAS)

2024 - To MEM; Less favorable of WAS and MEM (via MEM to OKC to WAS)

2025 - Own

2026 - To CLE if CLE has conveyed 1st round pick to IND by 2023 or to IND (via CLE) if CLE has not conveyed 1st round pick to IND by 2023

2027 - Own

2028 - Own; WAS

 

Fakers, just give up that 2027 1st rounder.....you don't need it!

 

We DON'T WANT THAT LOSER... Please NOOOOOO

 

the player doesn't matter, its just a contract. If they give us a pick for it, no reason not to take it

 

We are not getting Westbrook, the Lakers have no incentive on a final Lebron year to mortgage their future.

DD

 

Sadly this is the case. But I think they are overvaluing a first round pick over a championship. In a way, they are making sure they don't get Lebron for another year.

 

They may have actually knew nothing they traded for last year was enough to be competence with their roster.

so you wait until after the draft when you can add a 2018 swap also, and try and get significantly better player(s).

After the draft I would trade wood, gordon and nwaba for russ, 2027 1st and 2028 pick swap both with minimal protections.

That's a much better LA roster and much better odds at competing and keeping Lebron.

 

One of two things happen here and the second is more likely -


1) The Rockets find a deal for him during the offseason while rosters are expanded to 20 and they can piece together the $37,893,408 minimum retuning salary.

2) Stone can't find a deal this offseason and doesn't find a deal at the deadline. Wall is bought out at that point giving back whatever money he gets from the team he joins for the rest of the season which probably ends up being the veterans minimum.
The Rockets roll into 2023/24 with $116,320,728 in actual usable cap space.

 

I don't think they understand that Wood and Gordon's value will drop to zero in a year unless we move them (since they aren't going to be resigned let's hope). Therefore Wood + Gordon are essentially dead money anyway, and getting two first round picks for them is actually a great deal.

What you really proposed was buying 2 first round picks for 50 million +/- 10 million. Lakers off load the salary, but they also get players who can help them go for the championship. I'd throw Tate in as a sweetener to get the deal done and make it hard for the Lakers to say no. Adding Wood, Gordon, Tate, and Wall to Lebron, and AD actually gives them a contending team they didn't have. That's their core rotation plus Monk, Reeves, Tucker, and their have their old people chasing a ring gang as well.

now we clear roster space and can let KMJ start and have plenty of room for all the young guys to develop while having bringing in veterans on one year deals to help mentor the young guys and reach the salary cap minimum (for 2023).

 

I agree with Pat. Wood and Gordon should each get you a first rounder. Even if it’s at the trade deadline next year. Wall for Westbrook and first should still be on the table.

Rockets aren’t buying out (sitting) $90M.

 

They may be worth 1sts, but not unrpotected firsts. Those guys can get you mid to late 1sts at best.

 

That’s better than getting one lakers first rounder in 2026/2027 (whatever year) and buying out two players making $47M. Lakers can turn around quick. Just like lebron, players will want to go just because it’s the lakers.

 

The picks are assets for future trades. It almost doesn't matter how good/bad the Lakers would be in 2027 or 2029. The "unprotected" aspect makes them valuable.

 

They are worth whatever anyone is willing to pay for them.