I see all the Western Playoff Teams of last season ahead of them, also Phoenix, Denver and maybe Sacramento. Since the East will be horrible again, 10-12 seems realistic.
I don't think there's any star on the market, or in the near future is there, maybe Rondo, but the point guard market is like a junk bond market because of illiquidity. Even tghe free agent market this next offseason looks dull, Gasol (who we wouldn't even look at) and Rondo maybe, Aldridge if Portland go belly up, after that it's like Millsap and Dragic, it's not exactly roaring out the stalls and since the star market tends to be the "we can't re-sign them, help help help" variety, the stars on the market would likely be equally supressed.
Kind of like that Toronto pick that wasn't that amazing that netted Harden? Every time there's speculation about acquiring a star, some people keep thinking that teams are going to get a kings ransom in return for the star that they trade. Historically that just isn't true. Just look at recent history. Harden acquired for Lamb, Kevin Martin on an expiring deal and what turned out to be the #12 pick in the draft (Adams). Dwight traded to LA - for Affalo, Al Harrington, Vucevic and Harkless plus 3 1st round picks. 2014 (Dario Saric trade to Philly), 2018 from Lakers and a protected future 1st from Philly that turns into a 2nd round pick if not fulfilled by 2018. CP3 - to Clippers for Eric Gordon, Chris Kamen, Al-Farouq Aminu and a 1st round pick that turned out to be Austin Rivers. Being a Laker fan you needn't look any farther that what LA received for Shaq. Lamar Odom, Caron Butler and Brian Grant and a 1st round pick (Jordan Farmar). You can look at those trades and say that Houston doesn't have the assets to acquire a star? Why?
Bass is on the last year of a 6.9 mil deal, I don't think Bass is a sticking point for a Rondo trade. Yes the Celtics want to play KO and Sully at PF and not Bass but keeping him is not the end of the world. Bass could be a nice expiring piece for a contender at the deadline or let him become a FA. Additionally I don't think Houston has assets to match the salaries of both Rondo and Bass.
I used bass as a example because if the celtics were to agree to a trade we would have to take a bad contract with him. And morey is real big on "flexibility". He's waiting on Boston to change their stance a little. I think smart is gonna be good which will help get it done. Just speculation
Trading for stars is not all about assets. It's also about cap condition and contracts as well. For instance, Rajon Rondo. He's a pending free agent. He wants $$$$. But realistically, does anybody know WHERE he wants to play next season? No. But we do know where he does not want to play next season, don't we? He doesn't want a small market team that's not a contender. Wouldn't you agree? And there's also the distinct possibility that he doesn't want a large market team that is not in a position to contend also. I think that's pretty likely. So those factors severely limit the trade market for Rondo. If he's not willing to re-sign with Sacramento.....well....Sacramento ain't going to trade for him. As are the vast majority of teams. With those factors in sight it comes down to Ainge trading Rondo to one of the teams he is willing to re-sign with and that team coming up with the highest trade bid of all the teams that Rondo is willing to re-sign with or Ainge just keeping Rondo and gambling that he can re-sign Rondo long-term. Sacramento could have the assets to dangle 5 #1 picks out there and McLemore and Stauskas and it isn't going to happen because Rondo don't want to be there. The value Cleveland gave up for Love is an anomaly. They only gave up that much because they wanted Love now and Flip was willing to hold Love and let him walk rather than take a crappy deal. Because Love could've walked to Cleveland next summer. Rubio is another such situation. Fegan is his agent. They've been belching and farting about a max contract since he was drafted. And they've got Minny behind the 8-ball because of the previous GM's faux pas with not giving Love the 5-year deal to reserve it for Rubio. But Rubio is being ripped because of his poor shooting and that combined with dealing with an agent who is demanding a max deal is going to be too much for most non-contending teams to take on. Rubio's trade market is limited as is Rondo's. Who is going to pay what for Rondo or Rubio in trade? Name the team and what they'll pay. (Same question I ask every time one of these situations arise)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41Yz5JtnNwM If I was Morey I would just step up and overpay at this point.
lol Right now we have squat but after the season goes on our assets will look a lot better because Morey has the flexibility.
I see New Orleans as that 9th-10th team who just misses the playoffs in the WC which would put them at the #13 or 14th pick. If they do make the playoffs the pick would be closer to #20 since they would have a better record than at least half the EC playoff teams. Assuming they stay relatively healthy I do see them finishing higher than Denver/Sacramento tier teams. Tyreke is already injured for them but frankly see that as addition by subtraction... not a fan of him at all.
The whole thing is that the pick is protected to fall in the lottery over the next 3 years if I remember right. I love Anthony Davis as well but I am betting on them being in the lotto over that time period. Personally, I think it lands us the 9th pick this year. DD
Do the Rockets really want to take on & resign another over-hyped Knicks player? How did that work out last time? Seriously though... Shumpert will be a decent nba 2 guard. Best case scenario he's a Wes Matthews type of solid SG. 3 & D.... even now he doesn't really have a reliable 3... he will eventually. If you had a superstar scoring 3, Shumpert would be a great complement. The Rockets have a superstar scoring 2, and have a great 3 & D complement at the SF spot. Shumpert then becomes a bench contributor. While he would be a good one, he's going to cost too much on a new contract to warrant giving up assets, and taking up valuable cap space.
Totally agree on Reke being out actually helping them. Not wishing an injury on them but if either Davis or Asik goes down they will be close to the bottom of the West.
If Pelicans miss the playoffs then it's 14. If they make the playoffs then its likely 18+ being better at least 3 eastern conference teams. Pelicans pick isn't as valuable as some of you guys think. It may actually be more valuable KEEPING the pick for us instead of trading it away.
