OT - Would you trade Griffen for Dwight?

[mkwest]

For me, it's not a question of who the better player is or gives us the higher ceiling. Right now, the better player is clearly Dwight. He can anchor a defense and is the best player at his position hands down. His offensive game has not totally been fulfilled, but he's never played with a pass first point guard with the talent of CP3. Surround them with shooters and it's a wrap. For Orlando, getting a player like Blake in return would be one of the best possible trades for them and that is with him looking at a max contract in a year.

The Clippers won't make the trade, because there is so much invested in Blake. Chris Paul is the reason that any free-agent may want to play on the Clippers and Blake is the reason that Chris took a chance on us. He started the franchise turnaround and there is still work left to be done. We know that we can have Blake for at least 4 more seasons, whereas Dwight could walk at the end of the season if he chose to. A bad back can be just as bad if not worse than a balky knee. For these reasons as well as some others, I don't see Blake being moved for Dwight or 99% of the league for that matter.

I would rather keep Blake.

Welcome to the board

[LOJ]

Per 36 is a great comparison stats. I like per 36 when comparing players that we know can play the minutes being talked about (not Mike Sweetney), or used in context. Both Butler and J-Rich can play 36+ MPG, just that their coaches might not have wanted to leave them on that long this past season because of a another player needing minutes, or them sucking at something else. As long as it isn't a stamina issue, then it's all good.

It's a good baseline to compare because minutes = production, and when you get over about 20+ MPG, it's not a situation of a guy who plays few minutes and goes all out and can't sustain his level of play/energy (and usually you see it reflected in high foul rate, etc for some guys like that).

It's useless to say player A is a better scorer than player B because he scores 15 PPG in 37 minutes, and player B scores 12 PPG in 27 minutes.

That is true that if everyone is unloaded, then J-Rich making $6M for a year isn't an issue, don't think it is possible, or that the team would do that. Probably isn't the best rep for a team that they just unload all their guys like that.

I think it's generally best seen in what I call the "fake" MIP's. The guys that didn't actually get better, but just played more, eg: Ryan Anderson, etc.

In this case it's fine, as you explained with your example and how you used it for Butler and Richardson. But I've seen people use it for their favorite young players to prove a point.

When it comes to scoring some things can't really be predicted. Like hot and cold streaks, some guys can score 15 points in 10 minutes then miss the rest of their shots for the game.

[og15]

That is true, which is why you can't use it for one game, for players who only play garbage time, etc, but over a stretch of games, streaks get accounted for, because that same guy can play 25 minutes and have 2 points, and his per minute scoring averages out. If you look at the majority of players when they reach their "height" of performance, they generally fluctuate around the same range of per minute production.

Mk, I agree, that's what I said earlier, it isn't the Clippers that will be offering Blake, the Magic will have to be the ones trying to convince the Clippers to get him. Olshey will make offers for Dwight, but it will be something like DJ and Butler, or Mo, etc.

[madmaxmedia]

This came up in a post earlier in the year.

Straight up (since this is hypothetical anyway), the answer would (unfortunately) have to be yes. Dwight controls one half of the floor with his defense, on the offensive half both are limited but put up good numbers due to their strength and athleticism. You can sometimes push Blake outside his comfort zone and force him to rely on his midrange game (which is raw but developing), Dwight is too strong to push outside.

Blake plus a bunch of guys is exciting 30 win team, Dwight plus a bunch of guys is a playoff team. Adding Chris Paul to the mix obviously improves the prospects for both, but the ceiling with Dwight is higher. I think the Clippers are soon going to discover just how hard it is to try to rise from a 50 win playoff team, to true conference championship contender. That's not to say it can't be done, but the cap is going to be a serious constraint. If you were to have a chance to have TWO guys that are actually worth more than their max contract, you do it.

I won't get into contracts and trade packages since I think the main intent of the question is just comparing the 2 players, not throwing together real trade scenarios. The other aspect is Dwight's health, I'm assuming that Dwight's back is not an ongoing issue going forward (I have no idea about this.)

[illastrate]

I think Blake may have more appeal in attracting FA's than D12. Maybe because D12 has tarnished his image and seems like a primadonna who quit on his team. With Blake, for all the deficiencies in his game, you know you'll always get 100% effort and no complaining to the media or anything.

[kombayn]

I would have no problem pulling the trigger on a Blake Griffin & DeAndre Jordan for Dwight Howard immediately. People would drool at the thought of playing with Chris Paul & Dwight Howard while we can reach out to Ryan Andersen or other PF's that will get dealt.

[azncorruptedo17]

Sources: Dwight Regrets Opt-In Decision, Seeks Trade
May 30, 2012 10:52 AM EDT


Dwight Howard regrets his decision to forgo his early termination option on his 12-13 contract, according to sources

Howard seeks a trade before next season and his camp is applying pressure on the Magic to pursue a deal as soon as a new general manager is in place.

Several GM candidates have been creating trade scenarios involving Howard and proposing them to CEO Alex Marins during the interview process.

Via Adrian Wojnarowski/Yahoo! Sports


Read more: http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/22 ... z1wNOxIN7W

[wizardg]

Dwight is arguably the best player in the league. Who affects the outcome of games more than him? Only LeBron in my opinion.

The leagues publicity machine (espn) has fallen in love with perimeter players.
Dwight is by far the most effective defensive player in the league and offensively, even though his moves are limited, he has to be doubled. As a result his teams have always been at or near the top in 3pt shooting.

Look at teh components of the team he lead to the finals.

IMO the top three palyers in the league are.
1. LBJ
2. CP3 and D12
4. WGAF lol.

I love Blake but
D12/???
LO/??
CB/
NY/Foye??
CP3/Bledsoe
is a championship team
Mo gets moved for front court help and because bledsoe needs playing time.

[SportsFan215]

I would do a Blake for D12 deal, but it would have to be Blake/DJ for D12/Anderson. Anderson would be an extremely valuable piece, because of his ability to stroke it from the outside. He started to break out this year, with extended PT. I would love this lineup, and resign Reggie and go all out after Ray Allen to fill the 2 with the MLE. (Nick Young is just too inconsistent to be a 2 on a championship team). Then use Mo or Bledsoe and Gomes' expiring contract as trade bait to give us more depth on the bench.

CP3/(Beldsoe or Mo)
Allen
Caron
Anderson/Evans
D12

[wizardg]

Yeah I think it wouldn't be hard to get Blake/DJ for D12/Anderson if the deal was to get done. Because Anderson wouldn't play that much behind Blake.

Nick Young has a huge upside and his years in DC were like a baseball player being in the minors. The leader of the team was Arenas! lol. Then who? John Wall?

I'd give him a season to learn how to play winning basketball. But if healthy Ray gives you everything but future upside.