I'd disagree that we have nothing to offer Charlotte for the #2. Kyle Lowry is worth a top 10 pick, just on talent and will to win alone. Sure, they have Kemba Walker, but he could become a backup 1/2 (he plays flat-out, I'll give him that, but is he a long-term answer as your starting PG?), or he could be traded. From there, it's a matter of which players or picks would have value to the Bobcats. Ppat (but he has to get healthy)? Mmorris (but his new coach has to believe in him)? The #14? The #16? Whatever we get in a potential KMartin trade? Likely a third team is needed, at least in part, and we might have to relieve Charlotte of a dog's-breakfast contract. One year of Maggette wouldn't be horrific, I suppose, but McHale would really think he can reach Tyrus Thomas if the guy wound up here; 8 million a year for, what?, 4 more years?
IMHO the Rockets have more than enough to offer the Bobcats. Heck they have enough to get Howard. I do get the feeling though that any discussions involving the #2 pick are going to get extremely onerous quickly. Like in D-Mo, Parsons, the 14th and 16th, Dally's contract and the protected Dallas pick. In a year they will be competing for a playoff spot with a team salary structure that would allow them to go after 2 very good free agents in 2013.
Obviously onerous. It was just a point that needed to be made. Unfortunately the Bobcats are going to be swinging for the fence on this one. At least until they only have 30 seconds on the clock.
There are a lot of issues as you already know. They only have $9 million committed in salary next summer. That is 2 max contracts in a stacked FA market. If they take Lowry and Scola they only will have the cap for 1 max contract. Jordan already ripped apart 1 playoff team to get back into the lottery. It truly is a complex mess this NBA.
Why trade [X] for the #2 pick when you can just trade [X - Y] for the #5 pick and still likely get the same damn player?
I thought about this as well and I think it's a fair question, however who knows how the Rocktes have rated the top-5 players in this years draft. Maybe they think MKG is a tier above Beal and Robinson. Maybe they don't like Drummond at all. Maybe they feel like only one or two of these guys is worth trading up for. Who knows. Also, even if you can get the player you want at #5, you could still trade for #2 and then trade down to pick up additional assets if you're so sure the guy you want will be there at #5.
There are lots of reasons as you already know. The most obvious would be targeting Drummond. Where the heck is he going to land? Decisions like that are best left to professionals in the FO. I do not have the details (among many other things) to make accurate predictions.
Valid point, but who's going to sing with them? As importantly, who woudl they want to sign? I can see the objection to Scola, as he is aging and overpaid. But with Lowry they'll get back more value and more bang for the buck than anythign they are likely to do in FA. Here's the 2012, 2013 free agents btw. Unless they think MJ is going to persuade Dwight and DWill to come, not exactly all that great. Some players to consider, but the best ones they aren't like to nab anyway. The Lakers will reup Bynum next year (or he'll sign with someone other than Charlotte). Josh Smith has likely matured to the point where he probably prefers a locale other than Charlotte's losing culture. They could offer a pile of cash to someone like McGee, who is a RFA this year, but other than a ridiculous, ridiculous contract, one would think Denver would likely match, and if they don't its because as noted Charlotte is overpaying. Maybe go after Ilyasova? Hibbert is restricted. Hard to see him leaving the Pacers, who are probably buying their kool-aid a bit. To summarize, it's a bunch of players either they don't want, can't get because player doesn't want to go there, or have to overpay for. Lowry, Martin, #14, #16 for #2 and Corey Maggette would be ridiculous value to them, imo. Still have holes to fill sure, but by sending back Maggette they only add about $7 million to their cap, so still have room if they want to go after a McGee or Hibbert, for example. Still have two picks in this draft. Lowry + Martin makes them a much much better squad. And if they don't like it, Martin only has 1 year left anyway. And he might walk on his own account, but you never know. Bima, you're much smarter than that question. There's so many reasons. The most obvious, is we're all just making up the X and Y for now. If you have the opportunity to trade X for #2, do you wait for the opportunity to trade X-Y for the #5 if that opportunity isn't there at the moment? I don't think so. More obviously, though, is that you can't get the same damn player at #5 as you can at #2. By trading into #5, there are 3 teams ahead of you that might pick the guy you target.
dude drummond has nothing over even derrick favors...they both are identical. the rockets arent giong to take drummond..they have to be going after beal/barnes/robinson/MKG. maybe the #3, #4 picks arent available...so they wil trade for #2 and then trade down to 3 or 4 to get their guy..pick up a good asset from wizards or cavs while their at it.
Lowry, Martin, #14, #16 for #2 and Corey Maggette would be ridiculous value to them, imo. This is just too much for the #2 IMHO. I think Lowry and Martin both have more value than is commonly perceived on this board. Well - Lowry may be valued about right (6th pick or so?) but Martin is much more valuable than most people assume. It feels like at the end of the day we trade for only one pick in this draft in the 5-10 range.
I actually would see forcing OKC's hand with huge offers for both Harden and Ibaka as one way to play it. Howard may be sitting out there. I don't have a crystal ball. Jefferson and Millsap may be in the mix. Josh Smith, but I would hope the Rockets could grab him. Isn't Paul going to be back on the market?
Your opinion on Drummond is your opinion. Most reports I have read put him as the best center prospect (next to Davis of course) in the last 5 or more years. Since Cousins at least. Not to mention the 5 it is sort of an area of extreme need.
