I suppose Morey has tried to get $11,000,000-cap-space-Sacramento involved by taking Dieng; but then the question becomes, Whither Houston's first round draft picks? Which would Minnesota keep? Which would they route to Sacramento? And the same deal would probably mean Minnesota taking Knight's corpse, whose contract runs one season less than Dieng's. As far as keeping Dieng, he'd be some expensive insurance for Capela. They could play together on D, Capela taking a wing on the perimeter, but then they'd stumble across each other on the other end (not that this would be any worse than what we have now: CLANG! KLUNK! KLUNK! CLANG!)
He never plays. Got some PT against Javale who has fooled people into thinking he's good now, and Tyson more than held his ground. Put up a double-double in 15min. He's still a rotation player in the NBA. Not sure how he handles the PnR up top though.
So the Wolves are insisting on having Gorgui Dieng involved in the deal. This is the third or fourth time that there have been reports that the Wolves are insisting on Dieng being moved. If Dieng is going to be moved, then the Wolves are going to be severely limited in what they get in return. They are asking that a player making $50,000,000 over the next three years be included in a deal and we are to assume they want to take back very limited contracts in return. We also know that the Wolves are insisting that the Rockets include Gordon in the deal. Just spit balling it The Rockets could likely structure a deal where they take Dieng, but that would put the Rockets in the repeater tax and that isn't going to happen. I don't have the time to go through all the possibilities, but just moving Dieng and taking on shorter contracts (i.e. mostly expiring contracts) would cost multiple number one picks. Dieng is an NBA rotation player, but 3/50 is a lot to take on. The most obvious possibility is the Hawks that have Lin (13 million) and Dedmon (7 million) expiring. However, that could take up to 3 firsts if the Rockets/Wolves are desperate enough. That would essentially leave Gordon + Chriss + Green or Hilario for Butler. That would possibly give the Wolves the cap room that they want. The Rockets would still have Knight left to deal, but would have virtually no other assets. The buyout market and seconds are all that could be moved in that scenario. I don't think it would happen, but the Rockets could try rolling Knight, Nene, Dieng, and 4 first round picks....... for Bazemore from Atlanta..... and then deal Chriss, Nene and Gordon for Butler....... The Wolves would likely want a draft pick in that scenario, but an argument can be made that the Rockets did not just give them Gordon and expiring deals, but got Dieng off their roster so they can go after a free agent. The Rockets would be completely stripped of assets..... but they would have added Butler and Bazemore to their team and still have the buyout market to explored....... Gordon would be gone but Tucker would still be present......... Bazemore and Butler would man the wings and Ennis could play some 4.
Yea its all just complicated haha. I will say I will never expect MDA to play them both at the same time.
Sold! Atlanta is a good trading partner. But they don't have any urgency and that is what could be a problem. Their urgency is getting value at the trade deadline. That said, if they are getting 4 firsts, they might jump early here. I mean, that team IS in full rebuild mode. The Wolves can't have their cake and eat it too. They can't have 1) Someone take Dieng 2) Veteran SG replacement 3) Picks They are going to have to compromise on those 3 asset points. Rockets gave them the #3 option already. Nook is now offering a #1 & #2 option package.
So we route JR Smith to the Twolves, Dieng goes to the Cavs along with a Rockets unprotected 1st rnd pick. Butler to Houston and Gordon to Twolves plus 3 protected 1st rnd picks. Cavs gain a pick for taking on salary, Twolves only owe Smith 4 million next year, clearing 10+ million in cap space. They get Gordon as a win now player and picks to help rebuild on the fly around KAT. Rockets get Butler and start winning again. Its not that Gordon isn't important to our success, it is that Knight might be able to provide a little of what Gordon did when he gets healthy. We have nobody that comes close to doing what Butler would do for this team. It could be that 2024 Clutchfans laments how stupid this all was when we become the new New Jersey Nets, losing and not having picks... ...but damn it, 2021 alternate timeline Clutchfans will be even angrier at the thought that we played it safe when we had two of the best guards in NBA history playing for us, instead of taking a shot at the chip. 2018 Clutchfans sure as hell wants to try. Will this be the worst timeline? Who knows. No one here is getting younger. We are all roughly 23 years (or however old you are presently) closer to death than we were when we last won the chip. We've had a lot of mediocre teams in between. Lets not face our mortality settling on mediocrity. We are either great or we are horrible in hopes of rising back to greatness. I'm done with having years of my life spent on rooting for a team in between.
Also concerning rebuilding. Yes, the last draft pick or two will likely hurt but it doesn't doom the Rockets necessarily. The Rockets will still have their own picks the year before and after the last one we lose. Also, assuming that Morey is the GM, we will likely get additional picks from taking on other contracts. Right now the concern in the next 12 months and maximizing Paul/Harden/Capela.
I'm just picturing the Rockets with Lin again. Does Clutch still post videos on the main page? If CP3 gets injured, it would be the video with the most clicks.
Lets say the Nook deal happens and the Rockets get Butler and Bazemore. At any point they could pivot and get picks for Butler, Bazemore and Capela. In addition to the 1sts they will have in the every other year scenario. Morey can maneuver.
