@Major Its not about trading stars for stars. Let just say John Wall would be on the market, and Orlando would be trading for Wall isnt is more then fair that Orlando would trade half their team, instead of swapping Oladipo for Wall? Granted, Oladipo has talent ... but atleast Nick Vuvecic and Tobias Harris would level out the playing field [somewhat]. Not saying this trade'll happen, just that its easier to attract free agents when you have a guy to pair them with. Isnt it easier to attract, lets say a LaMarcus Aldridge [who's looking for a ring] to a team that has a John Wall on it? This is the opposite of what happend in the Rondo trade, none of the players heading to the celtics are going to be able to carry any of the load left by Rondo. And as I mentioned before them Celtics now have 3M less on their salarycap. #50
The Celtics aren't trying to attract star free agents right now, so why should they care about that? They are attempting to build through the draft and/or trades with their boatload of picks.
It may seem unfair on the surface, but really you're not taking into account that, for the most part, when a trade like this occurs, the teams on either end have different plans for moving forward. Contenders aren't really worried about having a stockpile of draft picks, or about developing young talent, whereas the teams at the bottom of the standings are planning for the future. That's why you see a team like Philly or Boston basically giving guys away for multiple draft picks. They're aware that draft picks are currency for picking up talented players in trades, and if that doesn't pan out, they can always develop the players and continually flip them for picks until they find a guy worth keeping around. That's how we rebuilt our team, that's how Philly and Boston are rebuilding now, and that's how a team like Memphis rebuilt back when the Lakers got the final piece for their most recent championship runs. In short, I think its fair because it gives the teams at the bottom of the standings the ability to get out of mediocrity by dumping role players for picks that they're using as a first or second option on their team.
Yes, I think first season Harden came over that was what he was then. If it takes couple of seasons to get there then that would be his max potential. The thing was he right away became that player that many predicted was his ceiling, and obviously he developed more as he was young (and still is!) and the perspective is entirely different. Especially now that he plays defense.
