Would you trade Donatas Motiejunas for Goran Dragic?

Suns don't have leverage so I'd offer Donatas and some overseas pieces straight up for Dragic.

Use the Pels pick to get Kanter from Utah.

 

We rarely ever feed Dmo more than like 2 attempts. So i dont know how you could say Dmo cant be a hub to generate offense. Im not saying he would succeed at it but we haven't really seen it attempted.

 

Suns don't have leverage so you'd offer our best asset and only consistent low post scorer?

You're right, they don't have leverage, and that's why I'd start conversations with TJ.

 

I'm accounting for the Suns being stupid enough not to trade Dragic and let him walk. If Morey can get Kanter and Dragic for Dmo and a pick then to me that's a good trade it doesn't matter who gets Dmo.

 

Suns may not have leverage against dragic but they sure as hell will have competition.

 

Yes if they include Len

 

Let's all take off our Rockets hats and put on the Phx one. You're stuck in mediocrity, just like the pre-Harden and Howard Rockets were. Your number 1 goal is to find a star. That's going to come in the form of: (i) a current star that gets disgruntled and wants out, or the existing team has salary cap or other issues; (ii) winning a FA war for a star; or (iii) getting a talented player before he blows up into a star.

You look at Dmo and see option 3. Dmo could grow into a Marc Gasol type star.

Here is your risk analysis:

Dmo never improves and remains a regular starting caliber PF: Are you any worse than under a scenario where you keep and re-sign Dragic and he regains his 2013-2014 form? Under that scenario, Dragic is still not an MVP / Top 10 caliber player and you're still stuck in mediocrity, with long term commitments to all three of your guards. What if you keep and re-sign Dragic to a long term deal, but he doesn't return to form? You were much better off having today's Dmo on your team. This really ends the inquiry. You have to take a shot on Dmo, unless you think he has very little chance of growing into a star.

What does the deal look like if Dmo improves?
- What are the odds Dmo bulks up as he gets older? He will
- What are the odds that helps him with rebounding and low post defense? It will
- What are the odds that he refines a 3 pt shot? He has the real potential to shoot 35%, maybe better. The guy is a gym rat and has skills.
- What are the odds that he improves his FT percentage? Highly likely.

If Dmo grows into a top 10 PF (or call him a C), but not an all star, you win the trade. Keeping Dragic is a highway to mediocrity, with fewer exit ramps.

If Dmo grows into an all star/Marc Gasol, you won the lotto. But you didnt jeopardize a realistic path to a contender to do it.

So, if you're PHX, in their current state, you're desparate to get Dmo. Desperate. You'd throw in Plumlee or a 2nd rounder. Dmo is more valuable to you than Dragic . If Phx keeps and re-signs Dragic, and he regains last year's form, it's not enough. He isn't an MVP/top 10 type player. His ceiling isn't high enough and he is likely too old to stay at that peak while Phx hunts for a star to pair with him.

PHX has to take a shot at a talented player who can take it to the next level. Harden was once a dangerous, talented 6th man for OKC. I'm not saying Dmo is going to become Anthony Davis. But he has a high upside that is undefined and Phx has to roll the dice.

If Dwight is healthy enough for a playoff run, Dmo for Dragic is a deal that should occur. This is like a negotiation where the Rockets are willing to do Dmo/filler for Dragic straight up, and Phx is willing to do Dmo/filler for Dragic, and is willing to add Plumlee or a 2nd round pick. The ultimate price depends on (i) information, and (ii) negotiating skill. But those details won't hold up the deal.

If Dwight is healthy, the deal happens and I'm calling Dmo/filler for Dragic/Plumlee. If no deal, I'm worried about Dwight's health b/c that's the only way a deal doesn't happen. It's not going to be because PHX overplays its hand with excessive demands. They have to be willing to deal Dragic for Dmo IMO.

 

TJones may still turn into a star as well. What are we worried about? Pull the trigger and load up for a playoff run while we have the MVP of the league on our team. You don't waste years like this. Hakeem's elite greatness run was 2 or 3 years long. Don't waste this season, trade for Goran and trust that what you've seen of Terrence is the same potential you see in DMo.

Goran/Harden/Ariza/Jones/Howard

or

Bev/Harden/Ariza/DMo/Howard

Really? Is this even a question? Do it. DMo isn't even a big game player and you need a big game player to win in the playoffs.

We have 4 PFs for god's sake! And they all deserve to play! They have 3 PGs that all deserve to play! Let's help each other out.

Goran/Jones >>>> Bev/DMo

 

let's try to sell the Suns that Jones could one day be a star so they would be willing to take the redundant PF on our roster instead of our best PF

 

Your DMO man love is unrivaled lol :grin:

 

What part of that obvious statement was what you consider "DMO man love"?

 

You are absolutely right, but something tells me we've tried this and they aren't biting. TJones just isn't a major downgrade. He isn't. He's really close to being the player DMo is. Goran is a MAJOR upgrade over Bev. We do this because our window with Harden is limited. Same with Howard. We are not building a team around DMo and everyone here is acting like we are. Bring in Goran and make a real run. Commit to winning now.

 

Who's our best PF?

 

That we can trade DMo and maintain a top 4 seed going with a three man rotation of Dorsey , Smith and T.Jones sitting on the trainers table .... then Dwight is gonna come back completely healthy and average 30ppg-13rpg-3bpg and no turnovers while hitting 78% of his dream shakes.

 

I'm kind of beginning to feel this way as well. The upgrade from Bev to Goran is a hell of a lot more than the downgrade from DMo to Jones, but I'd exhaust all options to try to keep DMo before making any deal.

I guess I'm just kind of desperate seeing as how short Howard's window seems to be.

 

See, that's where I disagree. Jones will never be the player DMo is/can be for several reasons.

1. He'll never have the size

2. He'll never be able to play the 5 when needed

3. He'll never be the same caliber of defensive player

4. He'll never have the polished post game

 

Well said.

 

DMo, obviously, then Smith, then Jones.

 

Totally depending on how Jones and Howard can perform THIS SEASON, which looks to be pretty shaky.

Bev/DMo/Smith >> Goran/Dorsey/Smith (and no big off the bench)

 

And how much of his 11.6pts and 6 boards a game is drop off from the other two lol?