ChrisMannixSI Chris Mannix Remember, the Hornets have limited options. GSW, LAL, LAC, BOS have shown most interest because there's no guarantee @CP3 stays long term ChrisMannixSI Chris Mannix Those young players and draft picks the NBA is demanding may not be out there
I agree with you 100% if we end up sweetening the deal so the Hornets and Lakers can make their dream trades happen.
KBergCBS Ken Berger BTW, good luck to Lakers moving Odom and Rockets moving Scola in other deals. Who wants two guys the commish labeled as old bums?
I don't think it is fair to put Chase on this list -- that guy is serviceable player, started last season, isn't overpaid, may get better, and was part of the 2nd half turnaround the Rockets had last year. Those other guys are garbage no team would take off our hands.
KBergCBS Ken Berger BTW, good luck to Lakers moving Odom and Rockets moving Scola in other deals. Who wants two guys the commish labeled as old bums?
JohnReidTP John Reid Dell Demps appeared to be in good spirits, despite Thursday's nixed trade. He also seemed confident about getting a deal completed.
I guess the NBA wants to sell the Hornets as a "rebuilding project" with less longer-term deals on the roster, even if we are talking about good players and reasonable salaries (Odom, KMart, Scola). Kind of makes sense, if a guy is buying a team, he kind of the flexibility of building the team as he like rather than inheriting someone else's toy. In the end, I'm not disagreeing with Stern if this is where he's coming from, but the mechanics of the veto process is still the problem: If Stern knew this is what he wanted, maybe he should have bothered telling Dell Demps before he wasted his time and everyone elses negotiating under different assumptions. As for how to salvage this from Houston's point of view: As others have said, an easy way would be to flip one or more of Odom, KMart and Scola to a 4th team for younger pieces and picks. Another would be if the Rockets were to keep one of their more expensive guys-- preferably KMart for positional purpose and give up more of the young guns (Lee, Patterson (hope not), Morris, Motiejunas, Bud, etc.) along with salary fillers (2009 busts). The latter wouldn't make me sad, actually-- unless Patterson is involved... I have an unhealthy obsession with Patterson. Having Pau, KMart and Nene would give you 3 guys who would combine for 55-60 points a game and each having a TS% of around or above 60%. It'll be like advance stat geek wet dream.
Scola? Old bum? Scola plays his heart out every night. I´m perfectly fine with him ending his career in Houston. He is no dead weight, he should be one of the most hunted players - if you look at all the overpaying for Pfs and Cs right now, Scola is on a very, very reasonable contract... Oh, and isn`t he the same age as Gasol? The Gasol, that basically quit the last playoffs?
It sounds like the chances of this trade happening hinge on finding a taker for either/both of Odom or Scola in exchange for young players and/or picks. The Lakers should at least add a pick or two and take on Jack's contract. That should lessen the burden of "youthifying" the trade package somewhat.
The very sad thing about all of this is... there's actually a very simple solution to this ordeal. But LA has their heads so far up their asses that they could care less. LA gets Okafor, and Houston (or New Orleans) gets LA's 1st round draft pick. Lakers still get Chris Paul, but eat up some cap and lose a draft pick, which hurts their chances at bringing in Howard. Houston gets Pau Gasol, and still has a shot at Nene. The owners wouldn't have to pay extra money for the Hornets players. Everybody wins.
The Commish's labels don't play basketball, actual humans do. Odom and Scola are very good players. Besides, I don't think Stern is badmouthing them, just saying that when you are losing your superstar AND especially if you are trying to sell the team, maybe you should just get short contracts, young guys and picks rather than spending money on good (but not great) players.
If the Nets are going after Howard, why would they go after Nene too? Unless it was a piece to flip to Orlando. But Nene would have to sign off on that and I don't see that happening. So confusing!!!
I still wonder if this isn't a face-saving move by Stern--he regrets vetoing the trade, and now is looking for a way to approve it, so he says to the teams in private "make some minor tweaks and I'll let it through". That's what I hope anyway... if we wind up putting objectively more into this deal than we already were, I'll be pissed. If we like, take Scola out of the trade and drop in something like Thabeet and Hill (for salary and appearances) + one more first round pick, that would be fantastic.
