Does anyone think they'd be better off trading Westbrook for a cheaper replacement to free up space for Harden? I suggest that because there's plenty of point guards available. For instance (and I'm just pulling this out of thin air) they could trade him, Aldrich and some picks for Ramon Sessions and MKG. Who says no?
Wanted to make a thread but can't, if you were OKC's GM, would you trade Westbrook for Rondo? I think this trade would benefit both Boston and OKC and it's a pretty fair deal. Of course, there can be some other players involved but the main idea is Rondo for Russel.
OKC needs WB's offense. Plus he's not a head case like Rondo. I wonder what Rondo would be if he hadn't played for Doc Rivers his whole career and without guys like KG & PP to keep his tantrums in line. If/when he leaves that environment and plays for a lesser coach, it may not be pretty.
Rondo is a true competitor. One with an actual brain. Him with Durant is a match made in heaven. Rondo's never say die attitude will rub off on Durant.
They'll just amnesty Perkins if it comes to it. why the hell would they let Harden go? That's just stupid.
Cause they can get more value trading Harden and because they're a small market org? Doubt their owner wants to pay Perkins that much money not to play for them
Perkins will be an expiring after next season when the Harden/Ibaka extension kick in. Not hard to find a taker for an expiring and if no taker, just 8+m, not much money to amnesty.
Not true, not sure why people keep saying this. Perkins will still have two years left. He won't be expiring. Also, it will be $9M+ not $8M+ in the last year. To make it even clearer, the situation will look like this:
It's also the ability to shed perks contract in the deal that adds value to OKC. I believe the Raptors have space to absorb more so it even be: Westbrook, Perkins, Aldrich, Maynor for Bargnani, Lowry and two future firsts. Lowry, Thabo, Durant, Ibaka, Bargnani with Harden... For OKC, you could add a Darko or birdman on a one-yr deal. And a vet pg, if Reggie isn't ready. Picks for future maneuverings or usage. For Raptors, playoffs become real talk.
It would only be for one year at $9 million. Not a big deal for an NBA team. As for value in a Harden trade, remember this: The team giving up the best player usually loses in a trade.
small market =/= likely to do idiotic stuff. We are talking 15 mil here. That's what Cleveland wasted just to get the Clippers lotto pick. Now there's a number of guys expecting the Thunder, a title contender, to significantly reduce their talent level and dynasty upside just to save the same amount.
so OKC give up a superstar to get rid of one overpaid guy and get another overpaid guy. Is Presti still their GM?
Plenty of PGs as dominant/explosive as WB? Dude is a top 10 player. You don't trade a top 10 player to make room for a worse player.
OKC of course. it's Westbrook for an above average backup and MKG, who hasn't proven anything yet... it's a bit funny that you structured this deal with OKC giving up picks on top of Westbrook, btw.
From what I've heard, Casey has helped improved his D. A 7-footer who can score from 3 and inside and is 80+% from the line is a tremendous asset. Looking at what brook Lopez, deandre Jordan, etc. got I wouldn't say he's overpaid. He makes 10 a year. He would work well with Ibaka. Even if you argue that, Lowry is underpaid and is under contract for two more years. In addition, with Presti as GM, he would make use of the 2 14-20 range picks from Toronto. A lineup with Lowry, thabo, Durant, ibaka, Andrea would be great on both ends. Plus Harden 35+ off bench if that's how you want to play him. Okc is a small market so this move would save them $ now and still have them as contenders now and for the foreseeable future. You could add a guy like Darko or Birdman Or Kenyon or turiaf for a cheap contend now move as well.
both of those guys were severely overpaid, in part based on their upside. It's meaningless who's drafting. A late pick is a late pick. A great GM isn't going to start overpaying for picks because he believes in himself. Overpaying would make him a bad GM. That deal makes no sense for OKC, regardless how we slice it. They turn Westbrook and Perkins into Lowry and Bargnani to save ~6 mil --- and probably actually increase their payroll when they have to resign Lowry and add all those newly drafted players. It would be just stupid.
