Which asset has the greatest trade value right now?

If the Rockets miss the playoffs through 2016, that first rounder automatically converts into the Rockets' 2017 second rounder and ~$200k in cash.

I'm guessing that the Hawks would rather take a mid-first rounder in the next year or two.

(As far as "trades to get that pick back" go, if the Rockets look like a mid-lottery team next year, I would consider removing the 31-40 protection on the 2013 second rounder we already owe Atlanta, together with perhaps the 2013 Charlotte second rounder. Two picks likely in the 30s in exchange for a future non-lottery first that might end up as a crappy second rounder and cash is pretty good value for a team like Atlanta.)

 

this.
besides, why not just try to sign him in free agency if Morey wants him so badly. He didn't sign an extension, did he? Trading for him gives very little benefit. You'd only do it if you wanted to throw a "Bird rights" max at him, which IMO would be way too expensive for Josh Smith.


Also, I doubt Morey views Josh Smith as a 'cornerstone piece' that he's been looking for. Maybe as a 3rd piece or so.
Josh Smith would be a pretty crappy 'cornerstone' game wise and especially character wise.

 

Toronto will compete this year. 10th pick at highest in an average class.

If Motie and Lamb produce like they can this year, I think their values will surpass the value of that pick.

 

the rights to Rockets (own) pick and Toronto pick are nearly identical from the Rockets' point of view.
In fact, Toronto rights are more limited (Toronto's is top 3 protected next year).

Houston has:
- Toronto lottery pick next year as long as it's not top 3.
- Houston lottery pick next year, including if it's a top 3 pick.
So I don't see how most of the league would value the Toronto pick more. Unless the Rockets are much better than Toronto on the court.

 

Refering to this season if the Hawks trade for less protection on our pick. If Hawks deal to decrease protection on Rockets pick, I think they would want to let Rockets wrap up being a lottery team first. I think the Rockets want to end their obligation to Atlanta one way or another.

 

Rockets can't trade their pick to anyone else until they are sure that it doesn't go to Atlanta. The Rockets could trade their next lottery pick, top 3 protected to Atlanta in exchange for the rights back to the Rockets next non lottery pick.

 

just place restrictions on it to make sure it doesn't go to two teams at once, and trade.

 

Can't trade future consecutive first round picks. So any traded pick pick in future most likely can't be done until four seasons as pick owed to Atlanta is conveyed in 2014 at earliest.

 

Joe Joe is correct. Due to the rule commonly known as the Ted Stepien Rule (which states that a team cannot be without a first round pick in two consecutive future drafts), the Rockets cannot trade their own pick until 2015 at the earliest and more likely much later than that.

The best Houston Rockets first round pick (as opposed to pick obligations from other teams owed to Houston) that can be offered by the Rockets in trade right now is the following (which I will refer to here and in other threads as the "Undesirable Future Pick"):

"Houston's own first round draft pick in the "First Allowable Draft". The First Allowable draft shall be the draft that occurs two years following the year in which Houston satisfies its obligation to convey a future first round draft pick to the Atlanta Hawks via Brooklyn from the trade involving Terrence Williams."

Unless the Rockets somehow obtain an UNPROTECTED 2013 or 2014 first round pick from another team, then the Undesirable Future Pick is the best the Rockets can do with their own picks in trade.

The Rockets can't just trade the "lottery portion" of the pick owed to Atlanta, either. For instance, if the Rockets miss the playoffs and convey that lottery portion of the pick to Team X in 2013, they will still potentially need to convey their 2014 pick to Atlanta if the Rockets make the playoffs that season. That would violate the Ted Stepien Rule.

Plus, there is no guarantee that either the Toronto pick or the Dallas pick will be conveyed any sooner than 2018. Hence, one cannot point to either of those picks as allowing the Rockets to trade their own pick any sooner than as set forth in the Undesirable Future Pick description.

Fortunately, the Rockets still have the Toronto pick, the Dallas pick and the Charlotte second rounder as attractive future picks to offer in trades besides the Undesirable Future Pick.

Also, the Undesirable Future Pick might not even be that "undesirable" to many teams. If it contains little/no protection on the back end, that pick could end up being a top-10 pick several years from now.

Of course, let's hope that's not how it ends up playing out for the Rockets.

 

well yes.
but all you have to do is put conditions in paper regarding the other picks you have.

This is what Houston can trade, legally:

"2013 Houston pick, protected 15-30 (i.e. lottery pick). On condition that either Dallas pick is outside top 20, or Toronto pick is within 4-14.
Else:
1. if the Houston pick was 1-14, but conditions re other picks weren't met, then similar restrictions apply the following year.
2. if the Houston pick was 15-30, and conditions to at least one of the other picks weren't met, then similar restrictions apply following year, and the pick becomes unprotected and unconditional in 2015.
3. if the Houston pick was 15-30, and conditions to both other picks were met, then the Houston pick turns into 2015 unprotected 1st rounder."
And these conditions have to get a little adjusted and fleshed out to cover following years, but i don't see much point to get into it.

It seems complicated, but all these extra conditions are very likely. Most likely scenario, the trading partner gets the 2013 lottery pick. The second most likely - a lotto pick next year.
Worst case, and rather unlikely - it turns into a 2017 or 2018 unprotected pick.
Either way, it's a great tradable chip.

If you have a pick, and you have multiple conditional picks from other teams, you can always find a way to trade your pick.
It's a matter of correct legal language at that point.
But there's no reason why the pick can't be traded.

 

*i meant 2014