I wish it were true, but there has been no indication whatsoever that it's true. I think one of the insiders even mentioned the front office is not high on Lawson. The only thing I've seen mentioned is Boston looking at Lawson, which doesn't make any sense anyway. FWIW I think he's a better fit than Dragic because he's a better passer and shooter, and those are areas we are lacking in much more than a Dragic, who is a monster with the ball in his hands attacking the rim. Lawson gets to the line quite frequently too. I think Lawson could be a 50/40/90 player here. Lord knows we have the assets to get him. If Denver is open to trading him they're probably thinking about going young, and I think K-Pap/Jones/Nola pick/Canaan/Capela are all useful assets for a rebuilding team. The problem, I think, is that the Cavs' spoiled them by sending them two first rounders for Mozgov. Also, Lawson's value/production is at an all-time low, and Denver can hold onto him till the summer comfortably in pursuit of better deals.
On a primary level in the NBA contracts are traded not players, right? I mean the traded contracts have to "nearly" match. How can the Nuggets ask for a big package if Lawson is on a bargain contract? Unless you can throw picks at them? How are picks "valued" as far as dollars go?
It depends on the quality of the pick and the state of the market. Right now all sellers have set the bar high but it will come down at the deadline. Including the Nuggets. However becaue of the cap increase => cap space for sale has come terribly down and cheap rookie contracts + 1rnd picks have gone up. There is no exact amount because it depends on the states of the teams dealing. A rebuilding team in general would value more a pick than a contending team. Lawson's value has gone up because he is healthy and because his current contract is extremely cheap . Nuggets are apparently determined to rebuild finally so the value will be in picks or in prospects that they need. They don't need C and Pf.
I am also in the Lawson camp - his size is a concern, but other than that he would be just what we need. Makes Hardens life easier when they are both on the court and he gives us another playmaker when he is off the court. I am just not sure if we really have enough assets to get him. Jones, Papa, NOP pick and a combination of young guys, future picks (our first or NYs 2nd) and euroguys might not be enough. We may have to include DMo - but are we ready to? I am not too optimistic about getting him. I'd be fine with option C Isaiah Thomas. Yeah he is a head case, but he gives us that playmaker off the bench at a very reasonable price. Question just is: are the Suns willing to trade him with Dragic gone? This might be a very disappointing trade deadline...
While the Nuggets may not be actively shopping Lawson, if a team were willinmg to take on Mcgee, they may be inclined to listen. The Rockets would probably need to get an under-the-cap team like the Sixers involved to pull it off, but it might be worth it. While that seems like the opposite of a Morey trade, it's one that I think would really improve the team.
I doubt if Thomas will be traded. You are right, the Rockets may not be able to acquire anyone at all. I just hope that they won't make a big mistake that will end up hurting us in the long run.
Thomas wnt get traded if dragic is and taking on macgee is not an option. Not even a remote scenario. Better stay with beverley.
Ship McGee off to Philly ... with cash, of course. We go all in this year. Finally, after years of churning the roster, no more waiting. Just get a suitable PG who can make plays when Harden is doubled.
Not doing anything at all can hurt us just as bad long term. Daryl Morey took a risk on Joey Dorsey thinking he could nab someone at the trade deadline. If you think Dorsey's a option moving into the playoffs, then we are destined for a 1st round exit. Another 1st round exit will eventually lead to our 2 stars getting disgruntled, and could possibly lead to future trade request. Morey needs to be aggressive given this team still has VERY big holes
If Dragic is off the table, need to go after Taj Gibson. A defensive C in the meantime and as a backup when Dwight returns is badly needed. Try to get Dunleavy too to help as a pseudo-PG.
Ty Lawson's bargain contract is nearly 12 Million/year. Harden is "only" 14. We would have to flood them with players to even get close. D-Mo, T-Jones, Canaan, Capela and Nick Johnson get us about halfway to the 12 Million threshold. McGee makes about the same as Lawson....
This is why Papa/Schved/Terry are valuable to us. They are salary fillers so we don't have to jump through hoops with a million players to match salaries
McGee would need to be shipped to a 3rd team that would obviously get assets for taking him on. Example. Denver gets: Terrence Jones, NOP 1st, Alexey Shved, Clint Capela, DEN 2nd Houston gets: Ty Lawson, Henry Sims Philadelphia gets: Kostas Papanikolaou, JaVale McGee, NYK 2nd, future 1st (from Houston)
Dude just got a DUI a couple of weeks ago... http://kdvr.com/2015/01/23/denver-nuggets-star-ty-lawson-arrested-on-suspicion-of-dui/
It'll be bery difficult. Denver would need to waive half their team to accomodate all the incoming pieces. Plus the Rockets won't want to hit the tax.
Valuable to us as "commodities" to make the math work, but are they in any way valuable to the Nuggets who have no need to trade Lawson. Too bad that all this financial equality works into the trading scenarios. Wish they could just trade players with no regard to financial matters except the CAP.