Now that Butler’s price is dropping, some Miami fans are saying they blew their window of opportunity to trade Butler for Amen, “back when he was a bench player in Nov/Dec.” lulz and, btw, he was getting 30mpg thru Nov and Dec
What on earth would ever make them think Amen was available for Jimmy Butler, even when he was coming off the bench? Do they think teams just throw away top 5 picks from the previous draft class for rentals? Make it make sense. I wouldn't even trade him for Bam at this point.
Amen is one of the most valuable players in the league right now, considering his contract, age and trajectory.
The more I think about it the more I feel like the front office just has this list of like 20ish young stars / borderline stars that they're willing to trade real assets for and are just waiting for one to shake loose. There's not really any rush to make a major trade at this point--the real salary crunch, when all the young core's extensions kick in, is still a few years away. At some point in the next few years a guy on their list will be traded, it's just the way things go in the NBA. Rarely an offseason passes without a really good 20-something player changing teams. Just a matter of waiting for a guy who meets their criteria to significantly upgrade the starting lineup. I will say, it probably won't be a superstar--those guys are pretty firmly embedded in their positions. But it could be an all-star/All-NBA third team level dude like Fox.
Trade rumors were swirling around Daniel Gafford before Dereck Lively’s ankle injury was upgraded to a stress fracture in his foot. Now that Gafford is the only legitimate option at center for Dallas for at least the next two months, Quentin Grimes is perhaps the only Dallas Maverick the team may consider moving on from who holds any real trade value. He will be a restricted free agent at the end of the season and will likely command enough to put Dallas over the first salary cap apron unless other moves are made to make room to match the offers he’ll receive from other teams. So Grimes becomes an interesting test case, to say the least. Moving him before the deadline would indicate the Dallas front office’s aversion to going over that first apron. Keeping him may indicate a willingness to deal with the consequences of going over the first apron. Keeping him only to let him go for nothing at the end of the season would be lunacy, and Nico Harrison has not made a name for himself as a lunatic. — Matt Martinez, Mavs Moneyball DAL in: Jock Landale HOU in: Quentin Grimes + Dwight Powell Dallas gets a center upgrade over Powell while trying to keep their playoff hopes alive. Landale gives them a flexible contract for the upcoming offseason. Houston gets another shooter for their playoff run and get the opportunity to extend Grimes or match offers in the offseason.
Boston Celtics Los Angeles Lakers @ Washington Wizards @ Memphis Grizzlies Memphis Grizzlies @ Denver Nuggets @ Sacramento Kings @ Portland Trail Blazers Detroit Pistons Cleveland Cavaliers @ Cleveland Cavaliers @ Boston Celtics The competition you play will affect statistics. Jabari missed the above games which happened to be one of the most brutal stretches any NBA team has played this season. His teammates played in these games. That's partly why Jabari's defensive rating is low. He faced lesser competition overall. He also benefits from playing with some truly outstanding defensive players like Amen Thompson, Sengun, FVV, Dillon Brooks and Tari Eason. Jabari may become an excellent defensive player someday. The tools are all there. He hasn't been that player yet. Dillon Brooks is thus far better on offense and defense this season.
Quentin Grimes has been really good for the Mavericks this season. They would expect a future first-round pick to give up Quentin Grimes for Jock Landale.
I think his high-efficiency shooting would be welcome here and he is a solid defensive player. I think we already have a lot of talented wings though and I think his minutes would be limited as we already have Jalen, Amen and Dillon on the wings. When Cam was struggling earlier this season, a player like Grimes would have been very welcome. Now that Cam is playing well, I'd rather give those minutes to Cam. His upside is just so much greater than Grimes and he has really improved defensively. I also think Grimes will be worth at least $12 million per year in free agency I don't think the Rockets will be able to afford that for a 9th man in the rotation type.
HOU in: KD, Jimmy Butler HOU out: FVV, DB, Adams, Jeff Green, 2-3 FRPs MIA in: FVV MIA out: Butler PHO in: DB, Adams, Jeff, 2-3 FRPs PHO out: KD HOU starters: Amen, Green, Butler, KD, Sengun Playoff Rotation: Tate, Cam, Tari, Bari Deep bench: Reed, Holiday, Landale
Like it. Reroute Powell and I will love it. POR - Powell (DAL) + Tate (HOU) + SRP via HOU + SRP via DAL DAL: Landale (HOU) HOU: Grimes (DAL) + RW3 (POR)
I like it as a minor move and something proactive for the offseason. Unfortunately, all indications are that we will use our exception to absorb some minor player along with a second rounder or two to satisfy another team’s cost cutting needs.
Rumor mill has it that Myles Turner is destined for the door because the Pacers don't want to pay him. Can him and Sengun share the floor at all on a regular basis? Is he worth the money for us? Would definitely add shooting, floor spacing, and rim protection for us.
He has half a season left on his deal, and isn't a star player, just a high-end roleplayer. It might take a bit more, but I don't think any team is paying a huge haul for a rental.
There are not a lot of teams with cap space next offseason, and Turner will want more more than an exception. Whoever trades for him is in the drivers’ seat to resign him.
