ESPN: Rockets talking trade-up with Kings, Raptors -- targeting Dwight or Drummond?

You've been told a lot of spin from Dallas homers, which for some reason you eat up with a spoon. If you put Deron's contract on the books at around $14 million, they're practically at the cap already for 2013-14 - and that's with only four players (Deron, Dirk, Marion and Haywood) under contract! Even if you amnesty Haywood, you're still not at the max level for Howard - and that's not even considering how unlikely it is for the entire rest of the Dallas roster to ALL take one-year contracts.

http://hoopshype.com/salaries/dallas.htm

And the Clippers just letting Griffin - a restricted free agent in his prime - walk when they have the right to match any offer? Get real. Tell me, when's the last time you saw a marquee restricted FA leave without serious compensation? This is the biggest fantasy in NBA circles, and every year there's a new sucker. Remember this board last offseason, when folks were convinced the notoriously cheap Grizzlies might not match a max (or near-max) offer to Marc Gasol? Waste of time.

The Mavs have a very real shot at Deron, because he's a hometown boy and the biggest competition (NJ) is terrible, from a basketball perspective. But there's absolutely no realistic avenue for them to subsequently acquire Howard or another star until Dirk's massive deal is off the books. (And then, how attractive will they be?)

 

One of the trades with Toronto or sac town needs to happen today and the other one on draft day because I can't wait till Thursday something needs to happen today

 

yah I think thats more realistic...we wind up with 5 and 14 ...

I think no 5 for anything other than lowry is a stretch.

 

14, 16, Dally, Ppat for 5, Hayes? Where the hell do I sign!?

 

Thanks for posting these

1. I think Billy Ingram is delusional. He thinks Dalembert + 16th will land the Rockets the 5th without including Lowry? I mean, the 16th? Not even the 14th? Of course if it happens I would be very happy, but just can't see it.

2. Chad Ford's take on Hennigan is exactly the same as mine: Coming from OKC, he will try to rebuild the OKC way. Besides, if I were to get a GM job in Orlando, I'd prefer to take a blowtorch to the roster and do things my way rather than spend my days begging Dwight to stay or to take back big salaries that limit my future move options.

 

Maybe Ingram thinks that because of the report that the Kings like a bunch of mid-first rounders. My theory is that the Kings like Kendall Marshall, and think that he will still be available at 16, and want to get a center to pair up with Cousins in the process.

 

I acutally think they are high on Harkless. But it is clear that they like the Dalembert/Cousins combo -and i don't blame them.

 

That was their best frontcourt duo in a long while. They need a shot blocker next to Cousins and Hayes is not that at all.

 

Exactly thats why

lowry for 8 and 14/16 and dalembert

they get a starting center...move cousins to the 4... draft mo harkless and marshal?

 

along that line of thinking, if you were the Orlando GM why wouldn't you require a bad contract be tacked on to Howard as the price of doing business?

that starts adding up quickly if the same is required to net the #5 from SAC...

even if Howard were to re-sign in this scenario, you have two albatross contracts weighing you down for at least 2 more years.

 

Lulz at the folks talking about bringing back Chuck Hayes.

 

I think one of the main points of trading with Sacramento and Toronto (besides the fact that they each own a top-10 pick) is because the Rockets could send out salary to each of those teams without having to take ANY salary back, which would, in turn, open up cap room to both (a) trade for Howard without having to saddle Orlando with much salary in return and (b) possibly offer a max contract to Deron Williams in free agency.

That is why I seriously doubt that the Rockets would be willing to take back a contract from the Kings, even for a guy we all love in Hayes. It would greatly complicate the "jopatmc dream scenario" of adding both Howard and Williams, which IMO has been the Rockets' goal for well over a year now.

 

You can still do it... Just need to trade or, if need be, amnesty Scola.

 

DWill! So your saying there's a chance ...

 

I just don't see why we would give up #5 and #8 for one season of Howard!

A move like that could really set us back 2-3 years at least

 

and if SAC and ORL both saddle you?

 

Well, I'm officially hooked. Thinking about these trade possibilities more and more has only made me think it's actually going to happen.

Unfortunately, I've been there and done that many times, and it never turns out the way I think it will.

/Debbie Downer moment

 

I think Hedu is un-tradable period but I wouldn't put it past Morey to go ahead an take back Nelson, Richardson or Redick. Their contracts are inflated but reasonable.

If Orlando wants to trade Hedu they'll need to give up hope on getting BOTH top 10 picks.