But - - what if PHX stands pat and rushes ahead in p/o pursuit? Or if they offer EB? Or Ainge targets IT? What is the term I am looking for, fluid?
Whatever "offset" rule you are thinking of applies to amnestied players. Since Smith was waived he will receive pay from Detroit and whoever else he signs with. Waived players receive their entire salary.
Yes, they did. Seemed like fabricated b.s. at the time; now, however....(trails off, gives noncommital shrug)
Morey would be rolling the dice to make that happen. In our current system.. K-PAP is a unique bargaining chip to hold onto at a stable price. Sure we could hold onto DMO, but in order to get the deal done. It may require him being involved. Personally I think getting Josh Smith makes DMO expendable and in this instance I would include him with Pels 1st/Shved/Cannan/a 2nd for Dragic/Plumlee or Len. I think DMO/Knicks 2nd/Cannan could also net Dragic. I do that all day if Suns back me in a corner in Feb. saying take this and his bird rights or nothing. DMO has had a small sample size and he may or may not turn into a top PF/C in the league. With Dragic, we know what he brings and for right now (if we add Smith)... He would prive to be more valuable than DMO.
I agree! And posted a lengthy response in that regard. I do not believe it will take BOTH DMo & NOP pick to net Dragic. I think it can be done with one of them. Both of those assets individually are higher individually than anything Boston got in the Rondo deal.
I haven't watched JSmith lately, but I have to believe he is still a good defender, otherwise Morey would not be interested. And particularly at the PF position where in the West it is tough. Bringing Smith to the Rockets is about how he can impact the game defensively in the frontcourt. And less about what he brings offensively (for better or worse).
I think that's the reason why a deal wouldn't get done until the deadline. If Morey were willing to include dmo I think the deal would have been done yesterday. PHX waits to see if they can get it together (make dragic/Bledsoe/IT) work, make a serious run at the 8th spot in the playoffs. If any of that happens, Daryl would have to cough up dmo since PHX is less motivated to move him. But if they cant get it together or get good value for IT I think they start having to consider a Hou package without dmo. You're right in the fluid nature of the market. Demand and supply changes dramatically in 2 months. Right now it's just about playing odds IMO. Odds are things don't work out favorably for PHX to where they can feel good about dragic staying. If that doesn't change, moving beldsoe or IT makes no sense. Everything hinges for them on how Dragic feels about resigning in PHX.
Ainge isn't going to target IT. End of story. There is the possibility of IT for Taj. This makes a lot of sense for both sides. However I really don't think PHX signed IT to replace Dragic. They signed IT to replace Bledsoe and they were hoping to flip Bledsoe for a big time big man. I don't think IT is the issue in PHX. The issue is Goran and Bledsoe. My sense is Goran wants to run the team from the top, not constantly defer to Bledsoe up top. And I would almost bet that part of the contract negotiation with Bledsoe involved PHX telling Bledsoe he would be the 1 whenever he was in there. I think that was part of the deal. They had to let Bledsoe run the top. Because that is what happens except when Bledsoe wants a blow. Bledsoe runs the top. Bledsoe and Dragic aren't sharing the plays from the top like they were last season. Bledsoe is dominating the ball when he is in there. Personally I don't think this is sitting well with Dragic hence he is letting PHX know that he is leaving town. So, I really think the only chance PHX has of keeping Dragic in PHX is to move Bledsoe out. PHX KNOWS if they trade IT for Taj that Dragic could (and likely would) still walk on them. They have no assurances that Dragic isn't going to leave. Of course the same thing holds true if they trade Bledsoe. BUT.......here's the difference. If they trade Bledsoe they can hand the keys back over to Dragic and hopefully win back his trust and then offer him a 5-year deal for more money than anyone else can pay him. And give him the same promise they gave Bledsoe. It's his team to run from the top. IT is the backup and if they play together IT has to play off the ball. That is....if they can generate a trade for Bledsoe that brings them a quality SG that will be good playing off the ball next to Dragic/IT and also get a quality big man to go along with the SG. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Yeah, Morey could lowball, but that's a crap offer. What fillers would they need? They prob want DMO. If the Celtics wanted too... they could easily top that offer. Lakers? They have a valuable draft pick this year... Sac? They could offer some pieces. There are teams out there that could pose a threat.
This scnario Id be okay with because we wouldn't be overpaying and getting fair value for dmo. To put dmo and the Nop pick together for only dragic and we'd just be out bidding ourselves.
I watched the game last night and he's still got it. Looks a little out of shape, but he still plays Defense. I think McHale would turn the switch back on for him.
This is my feeling as well. Morey looks at the landscape and is willing to WAIT on Dragic, so as to not have to include DMo. Just let things play out. And one could argue that getting Josh Smith just makes it even easier to wait. My guess is but trade deadline the Suns will be overing around the 11-8 seed with the Thunder probably firmly at #8. And the Suns will probably see the writing on the wall there and it will come down to if they RISK not making the playoffs and then let Dragic go into UFA. With the teams with cap space and considering Dragic's feelings towards how things are playing out in PHX, him going to UFA would be bad news for the Suns.
No, I wouldn't ever consider DMO/Pels Pick for Dragic unless we were getting more (Plumlee/Len/etc). That would be the worst trade Morey could make.
Thx Deuce for your post in the other thread. Great points in that post that I want to respond to but I'll do that later when I'm not typing on my phone. Just trying to get caught up on all this smith stuff. I swear you leave this forum for half a day and all the sudden you're behind on the latest rockets news.
--Makes sense that Suns would want DMo. He and the NOP pick are probably the most valuable assets that the Rockets have to give right now. He also fits their need as a potential 2-way big guy. It also make sense that the Rockets would at least consider trading DMo if they can get Josh Smith to play the PF role. Smith, despite all his flaws, was quite effective as recently as his final year in Atlanta. Detroit is just a bad situation. I do think that the Rockets would prefer NOT overpaying, and would be reluctant to trade DMo unless it is absolutely necessary. Anyhow, let's wait and see how the dust settles first. We may not even be getting Josh Smith in the first place. -- Scary news on Jones. Career in jeopardy? Wow. I hope for his sake that he recovers.
