Denver gave Orlando the worst of the 2 picks. They're still holding the better which for all practical purposes is the Knicks pick. Yes, Morey would have a tendency to avoid McGee's deal but... if he got two picks for taking McGee's deal THEN those picks and McGee's contact become more valuable as time lapses. After this season McGee will have 2 years left. Would a team pay $20 million for a couple potential lottery picks???? Most likely they would. I think Morey would do it for 2 potential lottery picks. Don't know if Denver would do it.
There is no reason for Rockets to give up any picks if we trade Asik. At worst, it would be straight up. Like Milsap and Asik straight up. Or Anderson and Asik straight up.
I am getting the feeling that Morey already knows which direction he is going in terms of wanting a helpful player in return or some future draft pick asset. Perhaps he even knows which specific player or which specific draft pick being discussed is the way he wants to go. I suspect that he is maintaining the appearance that he could go in a number of ways just to keep the bidding competitive and make the best deal with the team that he wants to deal with in terms of ancillary assets involved. For example, let's say that Morey wants Millsap above all other offers and Atlanta would trade him for Asik but also wants a NYK 2nd rounder or even a 1st rounder and Morey doesn't want to give those but also asks for a future pick from ATL. Talking to other teams and appearing to be interested in these offers would perhaps persuade ATL to give up its demand for draft picks or perhaps even throw an asset Houston's way.
Omer Asik for Spencer Hawes straight up? We get a decent back up center that is good in pick and rolls and can light it up from 3 point land. Plus he ain't a bad rebounder.
I don't think there is much guess work involved to surmise that Morey HAS offers on the table. Question is, how much does he like any of them. I am sure, even if he has one or more he likes, that he wouldn't mind driving up the return even more. Obviously, a bidding war serves his purposes. Thus all the positioning and leaking this week is in preparation to next weeks closing (hopefully) deal.
My prediction: Morey will make the deal with Bobcat, for MKG and a protected first round pick, with additional role players from each side to balance the salary.
I'm a big fan of Ryan Anderson. I think he would be an outstanding player on any team. But what happens to the Rockets rotation? Anderson has played exclusively at the PF spot for the Pelicans this year and Casspi has logged his minutes almost exclusively at the 4 spot. Terrence Jones is exclusively a PF. At this point both Terrence and Casspi have been outstanding holding down the PF spot. The biggest thing Anderson would bring to the Rockets is great 3 point shooting, but both TJones and Casspi are shooting right around .400 from behind the arc. What is Ryan going to bring the Rockets that they are not currently getting from Casspi and TJones? Ryan is more proven than both Casspi and TJones as he has done it over multiple season, but maybe Casspi has just been in the wrong situation over the last couple of years and TJones best years are still in front of him. If we trade for Anderson, is it for depth or does he start? Will he give the Rockets the same element on defense that TJones gives? Will he be the slasher/passer to the basket that Casspi is? I'm not against trading Asik for Anderson but I'm just not sure how he fits in with the team just now. If TJones hits a wall then it would obviously make a ton of sense as I think Anderson is a quality starter while Casspi is taylor made for a bench player.
Surprisingly enough the bobcats have one of the top defenses in the league, 3rd in defensive efficiency behind IND and SAS
Lin to Milwaukee. Asik and DMo to Atlanta. Ilyasova to Utah along with a first round pick from Houston or Atlanta. Kanter, Rush, Millsap pick swap to Houston.
I don't know why you guys think New Orleans and Atlanta want to trade Milsap or Anderson for Asik. Both are good players for those teams (especially Milsap and Davis broke his hand so New Orleans can't move Anderson right now) and both have good contracts... Much better than what Asik's contact will be next year and then he will be an unrestricted free agent.
My goodness Milsap has become so overrated on this board. Who's going to play defense if we trade Asik for the small 6'7 Milsap? I guess we want to outscore other teams if we bring in Milsap.
This logjam will only be for a season. I suspect one of those 3 guys would be traded in the offseason depending on what Morey can get for one of those 3. Casspi is cheap and can shoot while Anderson is better but more expensive. TJones is versatile. I'd rather have a logjam and deal with it later then be deficient.
i suspect there will also be a minor trade with dmo or smith or maybe one of those two gets packaged with asik
