Random Houston Rockets Trade Ideas - 2012-13

Gortat vs. Ryan Anderson: who would be a better fit for the Rockets at the 4??

 

Guys, New Orleans is a very well-managed organization. They really like Ryan Anderson and they signed him to a very reasonable contract. They aren't interested in trading him. Phoenix is a very badly managed organization, the team sucks, and Gortat is nearly 29 years old. Phoenix wants to get younger and cheaper by trading Gortat, which is why they are interested in trading him.

 

why not? go ahead..Approved

 

That's good to know. I'm still interested in the original question.

 

Terrence jones and a future pick for jj redick. Gives an actual 2 guard who can shoot from deep to Houston. Creates flexibility in the back court with Lin/Douglas/Beverly/harden/redick. Lets delfino get most of his minutes at the three.

 

Like this has any chance of happening.

 

we cant trade any future pick until our obligation to ATL is fulfilled

 

At the 4 it's Anderson by a mile.

 

He'd fit in really well with the offense we're trying to run. Great 3-pt shooting and great rebounding. He's the PPat that Clutchfans deserves.

 

The point is that it's a waste of time to imagine scenarios that are not going to happen. Miami is not going to trade Lebron to Houston, L.A. is not going to trade Dwight Howard to Houston, Portland is not going to trade LaMarcus Aldridge to Houston, New Orleans is not going to trade Ryan Anderson to Houston, etc.

It is a more useful exercise to focus on players who are or who might be available. Here is a partial list of such players, in my mind:

Paul Millsap
Marcin Gortat
Luol Deng
Josh Smith
Zach Randolph
Rudy Gay
Al Jefferson
JaVale McGee
Nene Hilario
Pau Gasol
Ersan Ilyasova
Thaddeus Young
Andrei Kirilenko
Danny Granger
Paul Pierce
Rajon Rondo
Jose Calderon
Darren Collison
Tyreke Evans
Brandon Jennings
Monta Ellis
J.J. Redick
Jared Dudley
Shawn Marion
Kyle Korver
Amir Johnson

In my view, the only players on this list (i.e., players who he believes will help the team win now and in the near future, and who won't cost an arm and a leg, quite possibly) who will interest Daryl Morey are:

Paul Millsap
Marcin Gortat
Luol Deng
JaVale McGee
Pau Gasol (maybe)
Ersan Ilyasova
Thaddeus Young
Andrei Kirilenko
Danny Granger (maybe)
Jose Calderon

I have already suggested what I think Morey is offering for Gortat (Patrick Patterson and either Donatas Motiejunas, Marcus Morris, or Terrence Jones). I think he's probably offering the same package for Millsap. Chicago probably doesn't really want to trade Deng although they are motivated to avoid the luxury tax this season and next season, and one way to do that is to trade Deng to Houston. My guess is that the asking price of McGee, Ilyasova, Young, and Kirilenko is prohibitive. Gasol and Granger are both very expensive and therefore not exactly Moneyball players, so I think Morey is not thrilled about trading for either player, but maybe I'm wrong. Calderon is a guy who appears to be an upgrade over Jeremy Lin, and who can probably be re-signed this summer to a reasonable extension (e.g., two years, $14 mil, or three years, $21-$24 mil), so maybe a three-way deal where Calderon goes to Houston, Lin goes to Utah, and a prospect (Alec Burks?) and expiring contracts goes to Toronto would work.

Anyway, these are the players who appear to be a) available and b) likely targets. No point in speculating about players who are either a) unavailable or b) unlikely targets.

 

I think Deng is the best option and Chicago may be inclined to trade him since they have been playing well without him.

 

I think Houston's three best bets are Millsap, Gortat, and Deng, and, in my opinion, these are the three guys who Morey is gunning for. His offer for Deng would, for all intents and purposes, be the same as what I think his offer is for Millsap and Gortat (i.e., Patrick Patterson and either Marcus Morris, Donatas Motiejunas, or Terrence Jones), only with various expiring contracts/expendable pieces thrown in (e.g., Carlos Delfino, Toney Douglas, Cole Aldrich) in order to make the trade actually work from a salary/cap standpoint. I think there is a reasonably good chance that Morey trades for one of these three dudes prior to the February 21 trade deadline.

So, in any of my three proposed scenarios, Houston would be replacing Patrick Patterson in the starting lineup with either Marcin Gortat, Paul Millsap, or Luol Deng (huge upgrade, no matter which one of these three dudes you get here) and maybe you'd be replacing Morris in the rotation with Terrence Jones or Donatas Motiejunas (if Morris is the guy who gets traded). Not sure that going from Morris to either Jones or Motiejunas is much of a downgrade but I suppose we'll see.

 

A minor trade that helps our bench.

Hou-Out-Ppat, Aldrich

Den-Out-Mozgov, Randolph

We swap centers that neither team really wants. Mozgov is an upgrade but really both are expirings. I've always liked Randolph and would be willing to bet on his potential at the expense of getting rid of Ppat.

This trade could be in addition to a trade for a starting 4, as Randolph won't start (at least not this year). Morris could start the rest of the year until we get a PF in the offseason.

 

Trade ID #6216317
http://basketball.realgm.com/tradechecker/saved_trade/6216317

BOS In Omer Asik - Carlos Delfino - Toney Douglas - Future 1st - 2013 2nd thru NY
BOS Out Rajon Rondo

HOU IN Rajon Rondo
HOU Out Omer Asik - Carlos Delfino - Toney Douglas - Future 1st - 2013 2nd thru NY

 

Anderson without the slightest bit of doubt

 

And then what? Start Greg Smith at center? Have even LESS defensive support than we already do?

Can't say I'd endorse that one.

 

make a 2nd trade for gortait

Rondo
Harden
Parsons
Patterson
Gortait

Lin comes off bench as sixth man

 

I like it, Patterson is a good fit in Denver would like to see J. Hamilton / Fournier in return over Randolph (he has played under HOF coaches and never got much burn, just a thought - now McHale; and we are stacked deep with "potential" at powerforward, IMO ) PLUS they have a lot of wings at the moment.

 

As much as I like Asik, Boston can get a better return for Rondo. Ainge would be swinging for the fence trying to get a Cousins or Favors potential franchise type if he deals Rondo.

 

Im pretty sure Boston can get more, and I don't think we can trade a 1st soon (I may be wrong)