OKC/PHO
Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2012 7:42 pm
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.
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.