1. You're right. I forgot the draft pick salary. But you're still looking at 9 guys. Gonna run with 9 or gonna sign somebody else? Who? how long? Will tha make them a playoff team? 2. I would never advocate a deal taking Blatche unless there was something more to the deal. That being more attractive trade assets for Orlando and Brooklyn. Without the deal mushrooming into acquiring Dwight/DWill I wouldn't do it. 3. Don't know if I follow your reasoning here. $34 million of dead weight that you are getting no value out of. Just keep in mind what Cleveland PAID to get Kyrie Irving, the #1 overall pick. Approximately $21 million of dead weight salary in Baron Davis, whom they are still paying but they did get to dump Mo WIlliams', who at the time was owed around $12 million in order to pick up the #1 pick. No, they didn't know it would turn out to be #1 but the worst it would have been is #11 with #6 lottery odds. 4. Dunno either. They'd have to believe very strongly that that kid had the "it" factor and would start immediately. Of course, I keep hearing that kind of stuff about MKG and Beal.
Apparently the Wizards are bringing back Randy Wittman. Totally clueless franchise. Now I'm willing to believe they might be stupid enough to trade the #3 pick. http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/7994863/sources-washington-wizards-plan-retain-coach-randy-wittman
If we got Blatche, I'd treat like him Marbury. He'd be on the salary cap, but would have to be banned from all games, team events, practices etc. That being said, this isn't the 1984 or 2003 draft- the 2nd pick isn't bringing you Michael Jordan or Dwayne Wade. It's not worth taken on Lewis and Blatche's contracts.
For the #3 and maybe a little more sweetener, I'd take on those contracts. On their current course, the Rockets won't be doing anything worthwhile anyway. Get someone good in this draft, a good pick in 2013 too. By the time those rookies are producing well, those albatross contracts are expiring. You'd have a couple-year window of salary cap flexibility before those rookies get big-money deals (assuming Morey drafts well).
Good and fair question. The thing about Blatche is he has talent. Just needs the right environment (sound familiar?). Yes, I believe the #3 will be in play. But, for what price? Blatche + #3 for Scola + Morris + #14? I'm in. Are the Wiz? DM the GM? Just don't know?
I strongly doubt the Wizards would do this. We'd probably need to give them Parsons or Lowry, instead of Scola.
Seems like a decent trade to me. They finally get rid of Blatche and that horrid contract. They take back Scola to pair with Nene. They've stated that they need more vets. Morris and 14 provide youth. We trade Scola and Morris and take on a terrible contract in order to move up 9 spots in the draft. Seems pretty fair from a completely objective viewpoint. No way in hell you trade Lowry or Parsons while taking Blatche back.
Honestly, the Rockets would probably absorb 23 million a year over 3 years for the #3 pick in the draft. Morey has proven to be exceptional at handling the salary cap. Hypothetically speaking lets say the Rockets fall in love with Drummond and decide he can be a real true top 10 player in the NBA..... the Rockets would jump all over that deal.
It's a valid point and one I don't think can be overlooked, but considering Blatche is regarded as the largest NBA cancer and drummonds biggest question is if even he likes the game of basketball, it's a dangerous culture to create. Drummond went as far as to say that he didn't always try his hardest at Uconn (where he got bounced by Iowa st. In the tournament). Is that the type of rookie you want around Blatche? (yes, I get we could extend the analogy to say Bradley Beal, just picking on Drummond)
All your points are valid. I think it comes down to how highly you value Drummond and his upside and how likely you believe he is to reach it.
NO WAY. When was the last time a top 5 pick was traded? I'm not talking about those moves where teams swap picks right next to each other like Mayo and Love, Jamison and Carter, etc. Ray Allen is all I can think of. Unless you go back to Antonio Davis for Bender.
