OKC/PHO

[koolcrud]

OKC Sends: Kendrick Perkins, Jeremy Lamb, TOR 1st, DAL 1st
OKC Receives: Marcin Gortat

Why for OKC?: By far the biggest hole in the Thunder's starting line-up is Kendrick Perkins at center. However, moving him is not as easy as it may seem, because he is also the only legitimate big body on the Thunder who can adequately cover Marc Gasol and Dwight Howard in the playoffs. Therefore, any dead sending out Perkins is going to have to bring in a legit defensive center. Gortat fits that bill. He is also a very capable scorer and rebounder who would instantly transform the OKC offense into a truly fearsome beast. Adding the option of a Gortat pick and roll with Westbrook, with Durant on the wings is probably unguardable. It's the general consensus that OKC is going to need to do something with these picks and young players, as they don't have nearly the minutes to develop them all. This would cure the log jam.

Westbrook/Maynor/Jackson
Thabo/Martin
Durant/Jones
Ibaka/Collison
Gortat/Thabeet

OKC gets to keep a prized asset in PJ3, along with their own 1st and the CHA 2nd. Those assets could allow them to make another deal to fill a need near the deadline. Gortat is locked into a reasonable deal for this year and next. After that, there will be a money jam, and OKC will need to make a decision to either move Gortat or more likely Ibaka. This is something we've seen them do before with both Green and Harden, and fits into the organization's mantra of sustainability, while also making the Thunder a much more formidable threat to win now. If they win a championship or two with this core, it also may change Clay Bennet's calculus on paying the luxury tax.

Why for PHO?: Obviously, Gortat is the best asset the Suns have going for them, they're in a strong financial position to eventually extend him, and it would take a king's ransom to pry him loose. I believe that this is a king's ransom. It would leave the Suns in a very enviable position for their rebuild. While Perkins is certainly a bad contract, he's a good leader for a young locker room and the Suns have some cap space. (Maybe the PHO medical staff could even get him playing at a high level again.) Jeremy Lamb would instantly become the organization's best wing prospect; and they have the minutes to develop him fully.

The Suns would also have an absolute bonanza of draft picks. Doing this deal now would enable them to full on tank for a pick that has an excellent chance of being top 5. They would also own the Raptors pick which looks likely to be between 4-8. They would also have 2 additional late 1st rounders, from both LAL and DAL. They also have 3 2nd rounders! 7 draft picks, 4 in the first round and 2 likely in the high lottery is obviously an incredible draft situation. It's not unreasonable at all to think that they could package the two later picks with something small to get another late lottery pick. The Suns would be well on their way to a Rockets-style rebuild, only with better assets.

[Wasabi_Johnson]

Gortat is good and all. But he isn't worth two lottery picks and a first.

[Biz Gilwalker]

Over pay from OKC but they may actually do something along these lines. Gortat is a great fit with Ibaka IMO.

[koolcrud]

If OKC is in fact overpaying, they could swap out that Dallas pick for the CHA 2nd. Just a minor adjustment, but it could make the value more fair.

[sonictecture]

Is PJ3 more prized to OKC than Toronto's lottery pick?

I'm fine with targeting Gortat and I'm fine with overpaying to get him, but if anyone thinks he solves all of the problems for OKC that seems like a mistake.

[1UPZ]

This is commonly proposed at Suns boards by Suns fans except Jones come in and Thunder keep the Mavs pick...
But the offer here isn't a deal breaker IMO...

Although Suns prefer a third team who can use Perkins.

[asudevil]

This is commonly proposed at Suns boards by Suns fans except Jones come in and Thunder keep the Mavs pick...
But the offer here isn't a deal breaker IMO...

Although Suns prefer a third team who can use Perkins.

agreed. the suns already have 3 first rounders in the upcoming draft Own/Lakers or Miami/Memphis or Wolves, so adding 2 more is quite a bit overkill.

the deal that i thought would be somewhat more fair would be

Suns trade:
Marcin Gortat/Shannon Brown
Thunder trade:
Perkins/Lamb/Toronto Pick/PJ3

[torotoe]

I like the basic idea. I think the trade would take both teams in the direction they need to go in.

[Ryu]

I like this deal for both teams.

OKC gets better chance in the championship battle while Suns go full rebuilding mode with nice wing prospect in Lamb and they can easily draft their future C in upcoming draft (Adams/Len/Zeller).

[inquisitive]

Not a good deal.

[Ricepilar]

Is PJ3 more prized to OKC than Toronto's lottery pick?

I'm fine with targeting Gortat and I'm fine with overpaying to get him, but if anyone thinks he solves all of the problems for OKC that seems like a mistake.

That's exactly right. If they are going to dump a bunch of these assets into a deal, they need to fix more than their center situation.

What about this?

Marcin Gortat, Jared Dudley, and Kendall Marshall for Kendrick Perkins, Jeremy Lamb, Eric Maynor, DAL 1st, TOR 1st

Maybe OKC adds Perry Jones too.

OKC gets Dudley, a decent defending SG who can consistently knock down open shots. He would be a definite upgrade in the starting line-up over Seflosha who no one bothers to guard. They get Gortat to pick and roll. They also get a new back-up PG on a rookie contract, which is good because they probably wont be able to afford to pay Maynor.

Phoenix gets a bunch of promising young players and picks. I also think that if they wanted to trade his 3 years deal for a worse player on a 2 year deal, they probably could. (I'm looking at you, Andris Biendrins)

[1UPZ]

Adding Dudley?

Then Thunder have a clogged rotation at SG with Martin, Dudley and Sefalosha. Although Dudley can and is better at SF.

And Telfar has been a nice energy Play maker off the bench so far and would be more contributor to Thunder NOW... So.

I still prefer a third team for Perkins.... but maybe deal after.

SUNS
IN: Lamb (SG) + Jones (SF/PF) + Maynor (SG) + Perkins(C) + Raptors 2013 1st
OUT: Gortat (C) + Dudley (SG/SF) + Telfair (PG)

THUNDER new rotation

C: Gortat
PF: Ibaka
SF: Durant
SG: Dudley
PG: Westbrook
Bench
SG: Martin
SG/SF: Sefalosha
PF/C: Collison
PG: Telfair

That's deep as...



SUNS / CELTICS do some trade to bring Perkins back to Boston... They can use him...

[phx#7]

I still prefer a third team for Perkins.... but maybe deal after.

SUNS
IN: Lamb (SG) + Jones (SF/PF) + Maynor (SG) + Perkins(C) + Raptors 2013 1st
OUT: Gortat (C) + Dudley (SG/SF) + Telfair (PG)

No one wants Perkins, the only way a team will take him is if given incentive or if they are giving back an equally bad contract(like Tyrus Thomas).

Maynor is a PG and I really don't see the need to swap him and Telfair as I'm sure both teams prefer the one they have. Also it seems unlikely for the Thunder to give up all the young prospects they added this offseason for Gortat and Dudley. Removing Jones or adding Marshall might make it more equitable.

[AdonisDeMarion]

Suns laugh and hang up

[koolcrud]

I think the Thunder would prefer to keep Jones as opposed to the DAL pick, just to move up a year in the development of a young prospect on a team built to win now. I feel like it wouldn't be a deal-breaker for PHO. 2 lotto picks and another 1st rounder is quite a haul.