If we trade Lin, we need to get a perfect fit next to Harden and not just to get rid of him like so many of ya'll o so want. Ok so what we need is someone who is young, cheap, can hit open 3's and play good defense. Simple yet hard to find. Call me crazy, but i think the best deal if we were going to trade Lin for money reasons would be to trade him to the kings for T.Douglas and picks. Douglas is semi young 27, cheap 2 mill expiring, a scrappy defender and can it opens 3's (38%). I know a lot of you are probably saying are you kidding Douglas? Lin's just flat out better. That's true no doubt, but for us he's not the better fit.
Even though I made the list, personally I think most of those guys don't make any sense. Everyone is so down on Lin, but the guy is still young and getting better. If he shoots for a season like he did after the all star break and continues to learn how to be a point guard, there is no reason he can't be a starting point guard on a championship contender. Trading him and acquiring a guy like Jack, Lowry, or Dragic may result in a slight upgrade, but not big enough to warrant all the sacrifice. The only real reason to move Lin is if Morey thinks he can sign a star PF that is enough better than what he projects our young PFs to produce that, he thinks the production scale tips like this: Star PF/young PFs + Beverley/anonymous backup PG > Young PFs + Lin/Beverley People debate whether Beverley is/could be better than Lin, but I guarantee Beverley is better than whoever we get to back him up if he becomes a starter. Thus, our new PF would have to be good enough to offset decreased pg production. OR Lin is moved because the Rockets think they have a shot at a star PG and are confident one of our young bigs will will eventually be good enough to be a 5th best starter or better. This is probably less likely because I doubt there are many prime targets out there. I know it's unsexy, but the best move if we do land Howard may be to sign a few cheap vet backups, preferably ones that can shoot, and use the season to see how are team gels. We can trade accordingly if necessary once we see who is expendable, who break outs, etc.
Woops just realized TD is a restricted FA, well still same deal would work wit a S&T. Maybe something like Lin for S&T Douglas (9mill/3 years) and a future protected first RD pick.
I think that Rondo is the best bet. Dwight said that he thinks we could use another superstar. I feel like Smith would be easier to get but I love Rondo's potential on this team. Don't tell me he wouldn't fit with Harden. Harden played with Westbrook who is just like Rondo in that they both need the ball in their hands. Granted WB is a better shooter but still. I think that Rondo, Harden, Parsons, filler, and Howard is a definite western conference champ. contender and even a championship contender. Just think Rondo is better than Chalmers, Harden is better than Wade at this point in their careers, LBJ has CP beat but CP can guard him ok, I can't compare PF cause I really don't know who we are gonna throw out there, and as for C Howard is 20 times better than Bosh.
So you want a ball dominating PG who is a much worse shooter than Lin and a proven head case to play with a combination of Howard and Harden? At least Lin can shoot and has no ego. Harden coexisted with Westbrook IMO because they were friends and Harden knew WB and not him was the top dog on the team, but this is HIS team. He came here to become the franchise face. Color me skeptical, but I think Rondo is a horrible match for both Howard and Harden.
While he is not a proven 1 obviously, I would seriously consider trading Lin for Dennis Schroeder. I've seen him compared to Rondo with a jumper. Mid first round rookie contract for Lin's contract frees up plenty of cap room. Conveniently goes along with the Josh Smith S&T. Breeds competition at the point and allows for the cream to rise to the crop. I believe this would be good for Beverly's and Schroeder's development. Atlanta gets a starting point and center and is allowed the opportunity to move Horford down to his more natural postion. Houston gets exactly what Dwight is looking for in a third "star".
To be honest this was the biggest mistake.....and all over a player option.I understand the logic at the time,so so , but it looks like dragic is leaps and bounds better than Lin and he would be the perfect fit next to Harden.Dragic and Harden on the break would be crazy good..... Send Asik/Lin to the Suns (move Gortat to the 4) Suns send Oneal and Dragic..... Dragic Harden Parsons Smith/Milsap Howard
well Dragic wanted to leave and go back to the Suns, don't think we had much of a chance to sign him up again
I am not sure about that. I think he wanted a starting gig and a player's option on his last year. Starting gig was his, but the player option killed the deal for Morey. Dragic is not good enough for a player's option IMO.
Dennis Schroeder. Atl gets Asik and Lin for Smith and Schroeder. Schroeder obviously isn't an immediate starter, but he is relatively cheap and could have a future in the league. Snags Houston their biggest need, a starting 4, and gives Dwight what he is looking for in terms of "star power". I think it would work out great for both teams. Harden is presumably the main ball handler going forward anyways, so I don't see a need to pay much for a point guard.
Rodrigue Beaubois' or Darren Collison would cheap and great fits with the fast paced Rockets. I think they might better candidates then Jack.
If not Lin, gotta go for Teague. Anybody else is a lateral move or costs too much. Even Teague might cost too much.
OKC could have kept Harden and dumped Perkins. I'm almost certain it was reported he was more than willing to stay with OKC if the money was right, OKC went in a different and obviously wrong direction.
I think I would keep Lin unless there is something you just can't pass up. I've been down on him, and he's not a sniper. But he is solid, has some dynamism in his game and will probably improve his value in time as well. He'll do fine for now, and may fetch a better replacement later.
