The Lakers (35 wins) were closer to the Thunder (48) than the Thunder were to the Rockets (65). If you let PG walk to LA and get no compensation, you're allowing LA into that playoff tier right with OKC, whereas they're now clearly below. An opponent would be strengthened either way, so might as well take the option in which you get your own team better. That said, I agree the Anderson contract may not be preferable. But I do think there could be something to the Gordon/Nene for PG component.
This response is so perfect, I hereby announce my intention to steal it and use it repeatedly in thread after thread. Thanks, @Game7!
Exactly and you are assuming, op, that the Front Office for OKC is run by a bunch of idiots. They already got taken once by us with the Harden trade, why on earth would they do this trade?
Wtf is this obsession with Melo. He’s ****ing garbage, are some people really that dense? He’s not going to come off the bench either
Just an FYI.... In terms of salary matching, you might not have to include Nene. But rather just throw in Nanu/Qi/Jackson. I think that is what Morey would do.
except Melo is a locker room cancer and refused to come off the bench for OKC the entire year and next year. PG is also a free agent and has no reason to do this whatsoever unless he really wants to play in Houston.
I want no part of Melo. I mean poor OKC players had to put up with a in court cancer like Westbrook who no one likes playing with and to top it off you had a on/off court cancer like Melo. No wonder they underachieved
I agree with your logic even if that wasn't the choice or the problem. Presti would not pay $4M on a total $67M deal over 5 years to extend Harden because of luxury tax concerns. That was his unforgivable error. I would think he would never trade with us again except I think this year he has two unique problems that the Rockets could help him with. A. Like you said, he wants something for PG13 and knows he's gone B. He needs to get rid of Melo. C. Nobody wants to play with Russ. OKMe is going to be in the tax no matter what they do. They need to make a lateral move if they are lucky. That is what presents an opportunity. It is an extreme longshot but the Rockets could do a 3-way with Cle and OKC. A 4th team could help offset some things for tax purposes but I think Cle wants assets and will be doing a lot of trades. BTW, I don't believe this happens, just possible like your post. Rockets Out: Anderson, Gordon, Tucker, SNT Black, Nene, filler 3 1sts Rockets In: LeBron James, Paul George, Carmelo Anthony (vet min after buyout/stretch) Cle Out: LBJ Cle In: Melo (buyout), Tucker, 2 1sts OKC Out: PG13, Melo OKC In: Anderson, Gordon, filler, $5.6M, 1st
Omg so wrong in every level. First and foremost, PG would want to leave OKC and fixed on coming to rockets with a paycut. Is PG really want to chase a ring now and forgo all the max money on the table from Lakers? We are all Rox fans but sometime you have to check with reality. Second, why would Cavs agrees to take melo than waive him? It makes no business sense at all. Cavs wants to get rid of bad contracts and get picks for Lebron. Worst case scenario Cavs would prefer EG and picks or even Ryno instead of Melo. If Cavs is dumb enough Nice dream but failed on cap space
You didn't read my post. Don't you think it is important to read where I said the trade wouldn't happen? I merely mentioned its possibility under the CBA in the same post as a trade mentioning the possibility for a PG13/Melo trade as a surprise. I didn't take it seriously, I offered it in jest in the only two places I used it in response to someone else posting about PG13/Melo. I 100% think PG13 is going to LA too but everyone else in this thread and others are mentioning the opt-in trade of PG13. We are not using cap space, this is a trade with teams operating above the cap. The first part of your post is incorrect because an opt-in trade of PG13 is on the table right now where he would sign a 5 year max after this season. He would make more money here with another year on the contract. He might sign a 1+1 because with another year of service he would qualify for the supermax. If you don't know the CBA go look it up. The Rockets are pursuing this option first with LBJ and then PG13. As to Melo, I mentioned bought out or stretched same as previous poster. If the Rockets gave the $5.6M to Cle his money goes down to a little over $20M. In a buyout to play with LBJ he might give up $5M to $10M if he knows the team he is going to will resign him using MLE. He makes his money back. You mentioned Ryno who is owed $42M over two years. Who is offering them tax relief and picks, you or me? I offered them two picks. Cle is going to be making a lot of trades so they need assets, which I also gave them in Tucker. Cle is likely to dump KLove, GHill, and maybe they can unload Thompson and be stuck with JR. That would get them under the tax if they can minimize what they get back. There are some NG contracts and space out there with bad teams. Cle doesn't want to lose LBJ for nothing which is why we have a shot to get him.