Clutch's makes trade for new EGO? Proof is in the picture?

I have to wonder though how much he is going to sway from his demand of getting paid the max to play for a contending team (which we would be with him on our roster IMO). I feel like there is going to be some team foolish enough to throw the max at him in the offseason and I reallly don't believe we would give him that to retain him.

 

I expect high things of Jones, too, but I think he and Smith are both 4's. Although Smith can play some 3.

 

As much as i don't like the player.. FYI, it's J-SMOOVE not J-Smooth.

 

So what I am guessing is that

we can only get Josh Smith or Howard....we have info that Howard is leaning towards Houston. But we need to know for sure that he would sing with us at a discount or we have to make the trade for josh smith...or make a trade for him with the lakers. If he wont guarantee a FA signing then we have to decide to either trade for him and give up a lot Asik and Parsons...or get Josh Smith for cheap keep asik and Parsons.

So which is better if we have to trade?

Lin
Harden
Parsons
Smith
Asik

Lin
Harden
Delfino
Patterson
Howard

?

 

Call me crazy but I think I prefer the Smith team for entertainment purposes but I don't see that team winning a title unless Harden goes full Kobe mode. I think the Howard team is closer to title contention provided Howard puts forth the effort. I don't see the Howard team having the chemistry that the Smith team has so that can be a factor too. I just really hate to lose Parsons, I believe he helps keep the team loose and keeps the team fun while maintaining good work ethic.

So I guess by this post I prefer to keep Parsons and add Smith...wtf!?! Did I just actually say I would rather have J-Smoove than Superman!?...Yes, Yes you did because Parsons is "my precious." Nasty Lakerses...I hates 'em...Nasty Lakerses!

 

I think you're spot on. Would rep if the site would let me.

It's definitely a tough call. You can win a championship with Asik as long as you have a dominant PF next to him, which Josh Smith is. However, we've got two more years out of Parsons at best (until his pay goes through the roof), and Asik will get at least $10 mil in free agency as well. So unless we are willing to let them walk in free agency for absolutely nothing we'd essentially have to be contending next year with your 1st lineup. As good as that lineup is, i don't think it beats OKC or Miami. I think that long-term (because we only have Asik and Parsons for two more years), the Howard deal is actually the smarter one.

 

I'd take option 2 (with Dwight) in a heartbeat. Josh Smith is one player we should avoid getting. Harden-Dwight-Lin trio and surround them with key players and we'll instantly become contenders. Adding Smith on the other hand would make us better but not a contender.. We would be like the new Memphis Grizzlies. Paying him max money (which he will demand) would be a slap in the face.

 

From what it looks like (as many have said), the FO must be planning to send Harden to convince Howard to come to Houston. If Howard reveals that he plans to come to Houston, then the Rockets will either wait until Free Agency to make a splash, or trade Parsons and maybe Asik for Howard on Feb 21 in order to gain his bird rights (and if that's not possible, at least to feel more secure about resigning him). If Howard reveals he is planning on staying with the Lakers, then the Rockets will acquire Josh Smith, seemingly for cheap. I don't really know what the Hawks would get if not Parsons, becuase even adding Parsons isn't hurting their cap space or anything. Then of course there is the possibility of Harden convincing Howard to contact Smith and let them discuss taking a small paycut each in order to play together with Harden.

To sum it up, it's either:
A) Sign Howard in the offseason after convincing him.
B) Trade for Howard now on Feb 21 (maybe earlier)
C) Trade for Smith at the cost of no Howard but keeping Parsons.
D) The unlikliest, but signing both Smoove and Howard this offseason, with both taking paycuts.
E) Stand Pat.

 

I still think its far more likely we do nothing...these major trades are hard to finalize.

 

But FWIW I'd definitely prefer Howard (and I hope we do get him)

 

If you truly believe that Josh Smith is in Harden's league going forward then be ready to give him a max contract because that's what he will demand and that's what other dumb GM's would give him this off-season.

What has he done for that Hawks team, even when Joe Johnson was there? Dwight Howard had a horrible supporting cast and still managed to bring Orlando to the finals.

Tell me right now that this lineup..

Jameer Nelson
Courtney Lee
Hedo Turkoglu
Rashard Lewis
Dwight Howard

is better than..

Jeremy Lin
James Harden
Carlos Delfino
Patrick Patterson
Dwight Howard

And don't forget that we'd still have cap room to add a much better small forward or power forward and even a solid 6th man.

What was the Hawks best finish in the playoffs? Dwight and a bunch of spot up shooters owned JJ/Smith/Horford-led Hawks in the playoffs.

Plus, having an Asik/Smith front court would seriously give us spacing issues on offense.

 

Why don't the Lakers and Hawks just swap Howard and Josh Smith?

 

You take that back you sick b*stard! :grin: ......

 

Because that would be a horrible move for them. How about this trade for them..

Dwight Howard for Al Horford and Kyle Korver.. Who says no?

 

Jim Buss - how are you going to sell LA on Horford? Makes basketball sense but not marketing sense. Though you could say winning is marketable.

Lakers will hold on to their future marquee player.

 

Jim Buss - how are you going to sell Dwight on LA Lakers?

 

that means a lot coming from MR 1000...had a whole doc rocket post with your theme :grin: ha

 

good points actually... I didnt think about it...but I think if we go the smith route we would have the cap to resign all of them.

 

Ah... Those people and their silly spelling.

 

Wait why would we have to trade Asik and Parsons in a sign and trade for Dwight? Can't we just sign him? And LA won't reject sign and trade for a pick(s) if Dwight wants full max. I don't remember a sign and trade ever happening with major players leaving from a team with space to sign the other player.