Random Houston Rockets Trade Ideas - 2012-13

ESPN guys playing around with the trade machine:

 

Indiana is very motivated to clear Danny Granger's 2013-14 salary (the last year on his somewhat bloated contract) from their payroll sooner (i.e., prior to the February trade deadline) rather than later (this summer, if not later) because of one simple reason: they want the cap space to play around with this summer. And they'd have a lot more cap space if they can turn Granger into, say, Patrick Patterson and expiring contracts (in other words, Patrick Patterson, for all intents and purposes).

Having said that, if Donnie Walsh is calling the shots in Indiana, this means that a trade is unlikely, as Walsh is not a very good GM (his reputation as a strong GM is not at all deserved), is indecisive, and overrates the value of his own players. So it would not be at all surprising if Walsh insists on way more than what Daryl Morey is peddling, in which case Morey tells him to take a hike.

Of course, I'm not so sure that Walsh is really calling the shots in Indiana. I believe that they hired former Portland wunderkind Kevin Pritchard, and if Pritchard is the one who is making the decisions, then Pritchard is quite clever, and is going to want the cap space more than the overpaid Granger. Especially since Indiana has demonstrated that they don't really need Granger.

Houston has about $7 mil in unused cap space, so they can take back Granger's $13.1 mil 2012-13 salary (plus filler) pretty easily. This is presumably what Morey is offering for Granger:

Patrick Patterson ($2.1 mil in 2012-13, $3.1 mil in 2012-13), Carlos Delfino ($3.0 mil in 2012-13, team option for another $3.0 mil in 2013-14), and Cole Aldrich ($2.4 mil in 2012-13, contract expires at the end of the season) to Indiana

Danny Granger ($13.1 mil in 2012-13), and about $0.9 mil in filler (Ben Hansbrough, Sam Young) to Houston

I seriously doubt that Morey is offering any of the Rockets' first- or second-year guys or any draft picks here. Granger is not the most valuable commodity on the planet. The dude makes a ton of money next season and is in his late twenties, which is relatively old by NBA standards. He turns 30 on 4/20 of this year. Plus he's coming off the injury and nobody knows what kind of a player he'll be when he comes back.

If Granger can come back and be the player he was before, or close to it, then he's a guy who can play alongside Chandler Parsons as one of the team's two forwards, and he is certainly an upgrade over any of the "power forwards" on the team's roster right now. And it's nice to not have to give up anything you really want for Granger. Houston pretty obviously doesn't plan on either Patterson, Delfino, or Aldrich being around beyond the 2013-14 season.

It will be interesting to see how the minutes get distributed both before and after Granger's return. Delfino is getting a lot of minutes as the team's sixth man and is playing at both SG and SF. One would think that Houston would start giving a lot more minutes to Toney Douglas. One would also think that Marcus Morris is given more minutes. We'd also see either Terrence Jones or Donatas Motiejunas promoted into the rotation, at least until Granger returns. Although Granger is projected to return within a week or or two, so we wouldn't see a whole lot of Jones/Motiejunas in the rotation.

By the way: I can see Indiana as a team that might want to take a flyer on Royce White. In which case maybe we'd see Houston replace Delfino with White, and maybe add Toney Douglas' expiring contract to the equation. In other words, the deal would be Granger and dirt-cheap filler (i.e., three dudes who won't be on the payroll next season) for Patterson, Aldrich, Douglas, and White.

Also: Houston isn't going to be interested in Gerald Green. He is making $3.5 mil/season this season, in 2013-14, and in 2014-15. That's a waste of cap space.

 

There's no ****ing way Morey gives up Asik for Pao.

 

http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=cwvmzuq

Houston Out- Delfino, Patterson, Aldrich
Houston In- Granger, B. Hansbrough, DeQuan Jones

Pacers Out- Granger, B. Hansbrough
Pacers In- JJ Redick, Delfino

Magic Out- JJ Redick, Jones
Magic In- Aldrich , Patterson

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Why the Pacers do this-

To build the team moving forward around P. George, increase their financial flexibility, and help out their current lineup dramatically with great floor spacing/shooting.

Redick will fit right in their starting lineup, and move George over to his natural SF position. Having better floor spacing will help George create, and also help Hibbert in the middle with having outside shooters around to help.

If they want to move Granger for financial reasons, this is a great trade. If they want to suffer very little + gain potentially alot.. this is a really great trade.

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Why the Magic do this-

They are going to lose Redick at the end of this year anyways. Patterson is a nice young PF that they might see as a building block in the future if they dont think Glen Davis/ Harrington are long term answers at the 4 spot. Aldrich can tryout for a chance to get re-signed this Summer on a deal to be the long term backup C to Vucevic next year.

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Why the Rockets do this-

Why not? Granger gives this team a chance to really make a push now going into the playoffs. He's an excellent complement to Harden, and can take some of the pressure off them the backcourt offensively. Defensively, he's solid defending most wings.

I think in short term you try Parsons out at the 4 spot to see what he can do there. You might be surprised at the mismatches this lineup can create, and not give up that much defensively.

The Rockets also get two young players in Hansbrough, and Jones to look at for next year.

This Lineup would be extremely fun to watch, and could make some legit noise in the playoffs ESPECIALLY is Jones/D-Mo are all they are cracked up to be here in the GARM-

PG: Lin, Beverly, TD, Hansbrough
SG: Harden
SF: Granger, D. Jones
PF: Parsons, Morris, D-Mo, Jones, White
C: Asik, Smith

 

I say trade patterson and White and Aldrich for Granger and move Parsons to the 4. He can guard the 4s in the league and hes taller than Patterson so why not?

 

Houston In:
Danny Granger
Marcin Gortat
Miles Plumlee

Houston Out:

(to Indy)
Delfino
PatPat
Mook Morris
Aldrich
T Douglas

(to PHX)
Motie
TJones
G Smith

New Run and Gun Rockets:

Lin / Beverly
Harden / J Anderson
Parsons
Granger / R White / Plumlee
Asik / Gortat

I wasn't able to pull the salaries of Beverly or Anderson, but I assumed they were both making less $1MM. That would leave us roughly $1.5MM under the cap to bring in a couple more replacement level fill-ins.

Plumlee is a warm body I threw in for depth at the 4. I figured Morey would need a Duke boy to justify/counteract bringing a polack on to the squad...

 

Every single one of those trades involving the Rockets from ESPN involve the Rockets being viciously robbed. There is no way Morey moved Asik or Parsons for anyone who is not going to be a long term all NBA level contributor to the team.

I guess the Smith trade proposed by Han is not as bad (Jones, D-Mo, Patterson and Aldrich), but it is still bad and I don't think Atlanta OR Morey would either.

I can see a deal for a veteran like Granger, Gasol or Smith -- but Morey is only going to make those deals if the core of Harden, Asik and Parsons (as well as future roster and long term cap flexibility) is maintained.

 

So we trade Morris and Aldrich but get Bledsoe Henderson and Mullins? Yeah ok.... And why would the clippers trade D Jordan and Bledsoe for Gordon and Aldrich? Makes no sense to me

 

http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=a5dzmx7

Jordan Hamilton, Quincy Miller
...for...
Pat Patterson

(Cut Anderson or White)

Miller --> RGV. He showed flashes at Baylor / #1 player coming out of High School (Durant comparisons).

 

Question...why do people want Gortat??? Why?? He's not a difference maker

 

http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=byz66u3

Rockets get: Josh Smith, Devin Harris, Ivan Johnson, Alan Anderson
Rockets Give: Jeremy Lin, Delfino, Aldrich, Patterson

Lakers give: Pau Gasol
Lakers get: Bargnani, Delfino, Aldrich, Patterson

Raptors give: Bargnani, Fields, Anderson, Kyle Lowry
Raptors get: Jeremy Lin, Pau Gasol

Atlanta Hawks get: Landry Fields, Kyle Lowry
Hawks give: Josh Smith, Devin Harris, Ivan Johnson

Why Rockets do it:
Get their coveted second superstar WHILE maintaining flexibility with devin Harris on an expiring. Have room to give J-Smoove more money. Don't have to give up that much

Why Lakers do it: Pau wants to leave and dosent fit and they bring in Bargnani who will space the floor. Also bring in a good shooter and young PF

Why Raptors do it: get another superstar with Gay and Lin. Attracts the league to Toronto and brings them attention.

Why Atlanta does it. They bring in 2 pieces for J smoove who will probably leave. Young talent.

 

DeAndre is useless for offense. Aldrich brings both offense and defense. Morris can back up Butler. Gordon is a step up from Green, paired w/ Paul in the back court can be pretty damn dynamic. *probably have to throw in either motiejunas or jones

We finally get a back up for Harden and Mullen can actually develop into a decent C INSIDE and instead of chucking up 3s.

Bobcats gets step up from whoever they have at C now, making one heck of a defensive front court w/ Biyombo.

Even if we don't trade for Smith, we get rid of Morris and PatPat, making room for Motiejunas or Jones. Also a decent bench now.

 

No way Morey sends four players for a rental, if he hasn't already committed to the idea of giving Smith a max contract.

 

I can dig it

 

Have you been to the Arena and looked around...??? Lin is going nowhere. Not this season anyway. Alexander would have too many business pull their advertising.

 

Players I would Like

Jimmer, to develop and possibly a backup PG/SG
DeJuan Blair, Motor Guy can score and board.
Carl Landry, Just what you want from a Starting PF
Paul Milsap- All Star Caliber PF.
and I really want Picks this year for the draft there is a lot of talented players if used right. A Pick in the 14-27 range and draft someone like CJ Leslie.

 

My stab at making a pretty ****ty trade. I think its plausible if Kings really dont want a headache in Cousins, and they have a log jam at PG,and giving them 2 expirings would probably be nice for the new group of owners in Seattle to start sorta Fresh. They get two PF/C who can shine if givin minutes.(Both have been killing the D-League)

Houston Send: Douglas,Aldrich,Jones,Donatas(2 Expiring in Douglas and Aldrich) and owe em a pick in like 2015-2017 one of those years.

Sacramento Sends: Cousins,Jimmer

Houston Rotation:
Lin/Jimmer/Beverly
Harden/Delfino
Parsons/Mook
Cousins/Patterson
Asik/Smith

Basically starting 5 gets stronger bench gets weaker. Reason getting Jimmer is Douglas is probably only bit better and Jimmer doenst get much of a chance with Evans,Thomas, and Brooks in front of him so he could get a fresh start, and the kid is a born shooter.

 

Lol you're replacing Deandre Jordan with Aldrich? Have you seen Aldrich play? At
Least Jordan can rebound and block shots

 

All these trades sound nice, but I think the Rockets would be better served just trading a combination of Aldrich, Douglas, Morris, D-Mo, and or a 2nd round pick and upgrade the bench with a player or two.

Even the Charlotte Bobcats have a better bench than the Rockets. Upgrading the bench would be just as beneficial as adding a big name player but at a cheaper price. The Rockets would be a 7th or 6th sead with a better bench.

 

Jordan is overrated. At least with Aldrich, he still had hope since we haven't seen his full potential.