Hilarious that you consider trading Parsons and Asik "blowing up the core". Same for Lin and Beverley. These are all one dimensional role players with weaknesses that have bitten the Rockets at some point. Only a trade of Harden and Howard would be considered blowing up the core. I don't disagree about your assessment of LMA, but he's still a massive upgrade over our current PF situation. But yes, I'm sure Morey is targeting Love and Bosh first.
I doubt that Parsons becomes a part of any LMA deal, assuming that the deal happens at all. First, Portland already has Nik Batum, who plays the same position as Parsons, signed to a long-term lucrative deal. Second, Parsons' primary value (besides being handsome) is his cheap contract, which gives his team the flexibility to spend its cap room elsewhere. Otherwise, he is a useful player but not one that you can't find in the market. Well, that contract is getting shorter by the day. Either you make him a restricted FA this year or an unrestricted one next year. In other words, he is an asset, but not the kind of deal-breaker for which a team would accept no substitute in a deal. Morey drives a hard bargain even when trying to obtain a piece that he really wants. It was reported that OKC wanted Parsons and at least another extra 1st round pick in addition to what they got for Harden and Morey didn't yield. My guess is that we are looking at something similar if Morey engages in the next trade talk for a "star that shakes loose." Remember, the team isn't just trying to collect top players, but to actually win a title and for that you need to keep as many of your players and assets as possible.
Yes, i agree Asik + Lin for Bosh is very possible. Funny thing is Asik and Lin will probably win a chip before Houston!
JaVale McGee out indefinitely with a stress fracture in left tibia. Asik for Danilo Gallinari when Gallinari comes back. Gallinari is a tweener forward and would play the 4 here.
LMA fits Dwight Howard as well as Lin fits Harden. LMA would average 16-17 ppg and 7-8 rpg here. Don't think Morey would pay the max for that kind of production.
Good point Carl. If Beverley plays well, Portland might be interested in him more than Parsons as he can fit next to Lillard and Ellis. Could Asik, Beverley & T-Jones/D-Mo + pick = LMA?
I wonder what it would take to get Illyasova from Milwaukee. they have a roster that reeks of tanking. He's shot 45% from 3 over the last 3 seasons. while averaging 10.2 Reb per 36. I don't get to watch much of Milwaukee but he seems to be at least an adequate defensive player. He's the type of player Morey would salivate over. And much more attainable than Love or LMA.
Not right now. Portland's owner Paul Allen abhors "rebuilding." When Oden and Roy were finished, people, including Portland's GM Rich Cho, advocated blowing things up, including trading Aldridge and build through the draft. Rich Cho go fired and they have mostly tried to patch the team around Aldridge with the likes of Camby, Andre Miller, Ray Felton, Jamal Crawford and Gerald Wallace. He really finally gave up and let these guys go only after the team couldn't really win even with them. Now that Portland has Damian Lillard, it's unlikely that Portland just trades Aldridge for role players (and Asik, as good as he is, is viewed as a role player) and future assets unless Aldridge's contract is about to end and he has the leverage to threaten a move. Their public stance is that they want another Allstar (like Joakim Noah) back for Aldridge and I believe them.
For the love of god, can we stop suggesting Lamarcus Aldridge-to-Houston trades? Aldridge is grossly overvalued by Portland, and Portland does not want to trade him. Aldridge is one of the league's most overrated/overpaid players, which means that even if he becomes available, there will be multiple teams willing to give up more than Houston will be willing to give up. It's just not going to happen. The Bosh-to-Houston suggestions are even more idiotic. Miami has won two championships in a row and will likely make it three in a row this year. Idiotic idea, will not happen. Minnesota will only trade Kevin Love if he informs the organization that he will not re-sign, which has not happened. He may become available this summer, but Houston will likely trade Omer Asik before then. Advanced metrics do not love either Jeff Green or Brandon Bass. Highly unlikely that Houston is interested in either of these two dudes. The most likely trade targets are Amir Johnson and Ersan Ilyasova. Don't forget that the inevitable Asik trade may be a three- or even four-team trade. So the team with Houston's desired PF isn't necessarily the team that winds up with Asik.
I'd like to have Patterson back. I thought Dmo or T.Jones would step up but they just turned out to be scrubs.
Sad we have to give up a good center like asik that have us his all last year. Made fans happy #newage now we finding any kind of way to ship the man out
I'm just saying, I'd rather trade Asik for Millsap straight up (for example) than trade Asik + Parsons + draft picks for LMA. LMA isn't much more than a roleplayer himself. He is right at the borderline. You're not going to win anything if he's your 2nd best player, maybe if he's your 3rd best option. So what does that make him? Not a star.
I agree that Aldridge, Bosh, and Love are unattainable at this time. Disagree on bolded. Millsap and Smoove were all available FA's but not many were willing to overpay them. On the other hand, if Aldridge is so overrated, as you stated, why would multiple teams be willing to overpay him? Here are the likely PF we can acquire through trade: Amir Johnson, Paul Millsap, T Young Next likely candidates: Illyasova, Gallinari (SF, has size for PF) Pipe dreams: Aldridge, Love, IBaka, Bosh, and Dirk.
Just had an idea. How about Asik for that Kaman guy in LA? Maybe we can include Lin in the trade and get some role players like Air Blake and Matt Barnes.
I'm confused by the part in bold. Millsap was and is underrated, which is why he was severely underpaid this past summer. Aldridge is overrated, which is why teams are willing to overpay via trade in order to get him, and also why Portland stupidly views him as a "franchise player." Advanced metrics are pretty unimpressed by Aldridge. He is a mediocre defender and rebounder, and an inefficient scorer. Again: overrated. I am baffled by the Aldridge hype. I honestly do not believe that Morey is interested. Millsap would be a great guy to get, which is why Atlanta will likely hold on to him. Atlanta is probably a top four seed in the East this season, so why do people think Millsap is getting moved? Otherwise, I agree that the most likely targets are Amir Johnson, Ersan Ilyasova, and Thaddeus Young. Maybe Danilo Gallinari although I think a trade happens before he returns from injury.
Sending either of them to a contender is going to come back with a vengeance. Lin's record against his former teams is almost perfect.
Denver just lost McGee maybe we can get Faried? but he can't shoot either Atlanta might want a C so they can move Horford to PF Millsap?
How about we look for pf's that can help this team more that our current pf's are, without trading Asik. Asik may be traded down the road, but lets look at what we can get keeping him. Lin is def on the block. He being used in situations where he can succeed more so than Asik, that should tell you a lot.
