Aside from Scola being worse than a sandbag on defense, I would agree with you that he is currently better. However, Ibaka is very young, is very long, and has a tremendous amount of upside. Honestly, if we could trade Scola for Ibaka straight up, I would have to think about it. Especially given the difference in salaries. I'm just not sure the Thunder are willing to part with him at this point, and rightly so. In any case, even if the Thunder were drooling over Scola, there is no way they would trade Westbrook and Harden for him, while giving up a very high ceiling player in Ibaka.
Ibaka is better then Luis, Ibaka is one of the best rim protectors in the NBA and is a tremendous athlete. The only reason why Ibaka doesn't score more is because he gets limited touches. I dislike Westbrooks game but he has much more value then Lowry. Westbrook would be great at the 2, as a point guard I can't stand his decision making. Harden might already be a star if he were the number 1 option. Harden is already a 6th man of the year candidate. Harden would be the best player on the rockets.
Westbrook is overrated. Lowry has a better court vision than Westbrook, Has a "true" vision of a point guard other than westbrook and not to mention his Perimeter Defense.
I posted something similar in the NBA section, but I wanted to weigh in on what the GARMers in this thread were saying as well, and see what my fellow trade proposal trolls thought of an idea. So, there is no way OKC would trade Westbrook to Houston for Lowry (or any of the other things in that trade proposal). OKC is devoted to Westbrook. They could have moved him for Rondo or Paul over the off-season, but didn't. They see him as an elite super star talent, and are going to try and make it work as opposed to trading away a potential perennial All-NBA player. However, this incident may make OKC see what is obvious: that Westbrook is not a point, that they need a point, and that (with Durant and Harden) they have too many young scorers and it is hurting chemistry. So, what about a Lowry for Harden trade? The Rockets would have to scramble to make things work at the 1 afterwards and move Martin as well (hopefully for a point, but possibly for cap space and draft considerations). Still, Harden is only 22, is a two way player, very skilled, and, I think, might be one of the three best shooting guards within 2 years. I love Lowry, but OKC needs a point and is adamant on keeping Westbrook. Lowry has a Presti friendly contract, is young, experienced and a selfless true point that defends well. My thought is that OKC would give up Harden and other assets to do this deal around the deadline if the Westbrook issues continue.
Just thought people might like to see some of the trades OTHER teams fans have come up with involving the Rockets... ----------------------------------------- 3 team trade: Lakers, Rockets, Warriors Lakers: Ellis, Scola Warriors: KMartin, Dragic, 2 1st Dps(Lakers) Rockets: Pau Gasol ----------------------------------------- Boston gets= -Kyle Lowry -Marcin Gortat Houston gets= -Rajon Rondo -Hakim Warrick -Channing Frye Phoenix gets= -Luis Scola -Hasheem Thabeet -2012 1st round pick(from Boston) -2012 1st round pick(from New York via Houston) ------------------------------------------------ Boston gets= -Marcin Gortat -Kyle Lowry -Channing Frye Houston gets= -Rajon Rondo -Hakim Warrick Phoenix gets= -Luis Scola -Jermaine O'Neal -2012 1st round pick(from Boston) -2012 1st round pick(from New York via Houston)BOSTON -------------------------------------------------------- 3 team deal... lakers get: howard,scola, dragic orlando gets: bynum,kevin martin houston:gasol --------------------------------------------- Rockets-Magic-Lakers trade Magic recieve: Andrew Bynum,Kevin Martin, Luis Scola, 2 first round picks Rockets recieve: Pau Gasol,Jason Richardson,Q.Richardson Lakers recieve: Dwight Howard, Jordan Hill, Hedo Turkoglu ---------------------------------------------------- DEN: Al Harrington PF & 2nd round pick for HOU: Jordan Hill PF ------------------------------------------------------- akers get : kevinmartin ,scola , patterson and dragic rockets get : pau gasol reggie evans and kleiza raptors get cash, luke walton and rockets 2nd round pick ------------------------------------------------------- Lakers/Rockets/Pacers Trade: Lakers get: Paul George Luis Scola Rockets get: Pau Gasol Danny Granger 2013 1st Round Pick (LAL) 2011 2nd Round Pick (LAL) Pacers get: Kevin Martin Chase Budinger Terrence Williams Johnny Flynn 2011 and 2015 1st Round Pick (HOU) ----------------------------------------------- Rockets-Magic-Lakers trade Magic recieve: Andrew Bynum, Luis Scola, 2 first round picks Rockets recieve: Pau Gasol Lakers recieve: Dwight Howard, Jordan Hill, Hedo Turkoglu ---------------------------------------------------- Lakers- Nets- Rockets Lakers Trade: Pau Gasol Nets Trade: Deron Williams Rockets Trade: Kevin Martin, Luis Scola, Goran Dragic Lakers Get: Deron Williams Nets Get: Kevin Martin, Luis Scola, Goran Dragic Rockets Get: Pau Gasol ------------------------------------------------- houston get gasol Timberwolves get martin and gouldeock LAKERS get scola, beasly, flynn, and center from timber wolves of there choice.. first round pick ny and timber wolves 2014 first round.. Houston wants gasol and was gonna give up dragic, scola, and martin plus pick, so this should work for them.. Timberwolves want martin so they give up pick beasly and center.. Let williams and love then johnson can back up williams and randolph back up love, still have three centers.. This team would be more whole now.. Lakers do this to shed gasol and picks to get howard.. Then they would waive world peace.. Trade bynum and barnes plus there 2013 and 2015 plus two picks from trade for howard on deadline.. Flynn fisher blake Kobe kapono morris Beasly ebanks Scola jmr caracter Howard murphy center from wolves ------------------------------------------- Houston gets= -Marcin Gortat Phoenix gets= -Courtney Lee -Jordan Hill -2 future 1st round picks -------------------------------- Heat get Luis Scola and Kyle Lowry Rockets get Pau Gasol Lakers get Chris Bosh and Udonis Haselm ------------------------------------------- Gasol to Rockets Howard, Turkoglu and Hill to Lakers Bynum, Martin, Dragic, Thabeet, Ebanks plus 2 1st rd picks(2012 NY and Dal) to Magic ---------------------------------------------- Lakers get Boris Diaw, DJ Augustine and Hasheem Thabeet Rockets get Pau Gasol Bobcats get Luis Scola a first round pick from the Lakers and one from the Rockets and cash from the Lakers. The Lakers are starting to get desperate. They need a young PG to team up with Kobe Bryant in the back court. The Rockets get a big time upgrade at PF that they have already been interested in and the Bobcats acquire cap relief, money and draft picks to build around. -------------------------------------------------------- Lakers get DJ Augustine, Hasheem Thabeet and Boris Diaw Rockets get Pau Gasol and Matt Carroll Bobcats get Kevin Martin ---------------------------------------------------- THESE ARE NOT ACTUAL TRADE DEALS....just user submitted ideas, something to look at from the other side of the fence...
Trade for Al Jefferson with Kevin Martin, and then trade either Scola or Patterson for a useful wing to add to our wing depth, as we'll then be thin at the wings and have 3 starting-caliber PFs. While not a good defender, Jefferson is longer than Scola and put up 19 pts/10 reb/2 blks last season. Being able to replace Martin with Lee in the starting lineup is an upgrade defensively. Jefferson is every bit the scorer Scola is, providing a post scorer and dangerous mid range shooter. While not a good defender, he is at least longer and more athletic than Scola is. He is a good fit with Dalembert, just like Scola is, but even better. Utah does it because they are rebuilding and already have Derrick Favors and Enes Kanter and are thin at SG.
How about Jordan Hill and Chase Budinger and the T-Wolves 2nd round pick to the Suns for Robin Lopez!! Lopez and Williams can replace Hill and Budinger in the starting line-up and frees up so more playin time for Morris and Parsons. Also gets rid of the log-jam at the PF position. Lowry, Dragic, Flynn Martin, Lee Williams, Morris, Parsons Scola, Patterson, Adrien Lopez, Dalembert, Thabeet
I'd rather play Dalembert over Lopez. To me, Lopez is a backup center. Still worthy of consideration though for Bud and Hill.
if we are looking to win it all in the next three years, I wouldn't trade Scola or Lowry for anything. Everyone else is is for trade in my opinion. If I see another Gasol/Scola trade idea, I will throw a fit
The OKC Westbrook situation is interesting. Lowry and Scola in OKC's lineup make them pretty incredible and favorites even over Miami. The only reason they consider this trade is because they might have to choose between Harden and Westbrook in terms of salary issues. Lowry/Harden/Durant/Scola/Perkins w/ Ibaka and Collison as their bigs and Thabo/Maynor as their guards. I wonder what Morey things of Westbrook. He is definitely a top tier talent in the NBA and although he does not mesh great with Durant, I think that sans KD, he would be in a similar situation to DRose where he is the foundation of a very good team. Westbrook/Martin/?/Patterson/Dalembert is a pretty darn good lineup as well and it would give us that star building block. Proposed trade: Lowry + Scola + Bud + NY pick for Westbrook + Aldrich
Terrible trade, Lowry has an incredible contract and is the center of the chemistry on our team. Westbrook is an emotional and freakishly athletic undersized 2 guard.
Pass. Westbrook isn't a pg; he's a SG. He's more athletic Eric Gordon (not saying he better than him though) than a DRose. At PG position, Lowry > Westbrook.
-The T-Wolves pick is a bet much (with thier start this year / new coach and system / short season + draft depth + 2nd rounder on league minis. = a lot of value) more than a late first rounder IMO. -Sending those two kids back home to AZ just MAY wake them both up and that is a good thing (they both seem like really nice people and I wish them well). Lopez + KMH = somthing positive I like it a lot. (wish there was a way we could get the other twin, too.)
That's why I said that I wonder what Morey thinks of him in terms of championship aspirations because I trust his judgement. I agree that Westbrook is not a traditional PG. He is the new-wave of hybrid guards. I really don't see that much of a difference in style between him and DRose though which makes me think that maybe Durant and Westbrook of current can't co-exist. To play devil's advocate, I will try to build a good team around Westbrook. You need a SG guard that plays well without the ball. We have 2 in Martin and Lee. I think Lee is a better fit because of his defense and he doesn't need to be a focal point on offense which allows Russell to do his thing. Ideally, I would trade Martin for Granger. This also allows you to look for a C upgrade. Westbrook/Dragic Lee/Williams Granger/Morris Patterson/Moti Dalembert/Hill/Thabeet That is a very solid offense/defense lineup that could be one piece away from a championship.
Exactly. Put Lowry on the OKC? Championship. Sorry if it sounds like an exaggeration, but Lowry would be perfect for Durant. Westbrook wants to be Derrick Rose. Westbrook has the size to play some 2. Put him with a real playmaker and he'd really tear it up. Lowry is turning into a star that nobody's noticing. No way would I hand OKC the keys to the kingdom, even to get a talent like Westbrook.
I really like Marshon Brooks what could we offer for him. Maybe Hill it works on trade machine. Brooks and a 2nd or protected 1st for Hill?
