Indiana trades Granger for Beasley and Randolph... You may also want to include that they will somehow acquire 25 first round picks to even make it conceivable.
I'm afraid Beaz and Randolph have very little trade value right now except as expiring deals for a team to take a flyer on for the rest of the season. I would doubt there is a GM around that is going to give up any substantial talent for them, especially a perennial all-star like Granger.
Morey, as we know, has been famous to buy low and sell high. We've seen this with the "09 draft busts". In this optic, I would like Morey to explore trades for the following players; O.J. Mayo, Jerryd Bayless and Ramon Sessions. O.J. Mayo: Has to be the easiest to get and he really needs a fresh start somewhere. If we trade Kevin Martin, I would love to see him share minutes at the 2-spot with Courtney Lee. He would bring a spark off the bench with his offense. Jerryd Bayless: Always been a fan of the kid, he's had some great games with Portland. He's stuck in Toronto behind.. Calderon. If Dragic gets shipped out in a big deal, I wouldn't mind trying to acquire him. Ramon Sessions: Kyrie is the new "King of Cleveland" and Sessions is rotting on the bench. Once again, a good replacement for Dragic and this man can definitely dish the ball for our second unit. All these players have the same thing in common: They are low-risk high-reward players. Definitely the kind of guys Morey would try to trade for.
I had some free time, and this is what I came up with Rockets Trade: Lee, Bud, Scola, Parsons Get: DeRozen, RoLo, Batum, Future 2nd rd pick (Raptors) Raptors trade: DeRozen, Future 2nd rd pick Get: Bud, Lee Blazers Trade: Oden, Batum, C. Smith, optional 2012 or 2013 1st rd pick Get: Scola, Parsons, Hill Suns Trade: RoLo, Hill Get: Oden (exp. contract), Smith (exp. contract), optional 2012 or 2013 1st rd pick Blazers (lottery protected in 2012, top-10 protected in 2013) Raptors- That's just a good move for them. Solid players for very cheap. Bud is definitely an upgrade over Kleiza, and Lee would get plenty of pt and potentially break out. Blazers- Get rid of Oden and getting crucial depth. Hill's 6mil expiring contract allows them to have some cap space next year. Suns: They've been great in getting injury prone players healthy. If they can get Oden back to health like they did Hill and Shaq, then this trade would be a huge bargain in hindsight and if he can't get back to health, he's another expiring contract. Hill opens room for Dudley and Brown to play. Smith is an expiring contract, and the pick allows them to start the inevitable rebuilding process in Phoenix. Rockets- DeRozen has a lot of potential to be something great and would make trading Martin easier. Batum could also break out. He's a very good defender with great athleticism and can knock down 3's at an above average rate. I also believe RoLo can improve with the McHale system. If he doesn't, he's a 7 fter that can play defense and has a expiring contract. IMO, he's underrated. This would allow us to rebuild while still potentially contending and still being able to make moves afterward. Lowry/ Dragic/ Flynn Martin/ DeRozen Batum/ T-will/ Morris Patterson/ Hill Dalembert/ RoLo/ Thabeet
To OKC: Kyle Lowry, Luis Scola, Courtney Lee or Terrence Williams, draft rights to Donatas Motiejunas and 2012 Knicks pick To Houston: Russell Westbrook, James Harden, Serge Ibaka and Cole Aldrich Why OKC does it: The Thunder get a good inside scorer in Scola and two-way players in Lowry and Lee/TWill. They also get the Knicks pick, projected in the mid-late 1st round and Motiejunas, one of the best Euro big men. They also don't have to worry about re-signing Westbrook who will command a max or near-max salary. Why Houston does it: They get younger and their "superstar" player to build around in Westbrook.
Dude....what??? Why on earth would the thunder ever do this? Seriously? So they trade an upcoming star, and two very, very young pieces with very high ceilings for what? Westbrook>>>>>Lowry Harden>>>Lee/Twill Ibaka>Scola Cole Aldrich was a lotto pick in a deeper draft than Motiejunas. I would call that a wash, seeing as neither of them have played meaningful minutes. Surely you don't think the 2012 Knicks pick is worth Westbrook, Harden and Ibaka....
I'm beginning to be believe the Nuggets are the way to go. I think the Rockets can build a better team with the same plan. See my sig.
The Suns are just HORRIBLE and we know Morey has a thing for Gortat... Rockets get Gortat - Rockets get another seven footer to complement Dalembert nicely. Suns get Hill, Flynn and 2012 #1 pick - Suns save money and get two young players along with a mid 1st rd pick. Then complete the Gasol trade and create one of the deepest and best front lines in the game. Lowry/Dragic Lee/Williams Bud/Morris Gasol/Patterson Gortat/Dalembert That is a top 4 seed in the West, easily.
The Lakers were never trying to get rid of Pau. They were only making him available so they could acquire a superstar in Paul.
Referred to today's Marc Stein report that talked about the Rockets getting involved in the Lakers/Magic talks. Obviously assumed the Rockets would be willing to pull the trigger again.
In production you are are correct, but in ceiling Westbrook has the potential to be a superstar, Lowry does not. DD
Luis Scola is 100000000000000x better than Serge Ibaka. Westbrook>Lowry Harden>>>Lee Ibaka<<< Scola Lowry Harden Durant Scola Perkins Would ring this year, imo.
Lowry's defense, court vision, passing ability, ability to play under control, and ability to play within an offense are much better than Westbrook's. Westbrook's potential as a PG is no where near is high as Lowry. His true potential to be a superstar lies in his natural position at SG. And Lowry is seriously underrated.
