BOS-LAC-OKC Blockbuster that should have happened
Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2013 11:11 pm
Boston trades: Rondo, KG, Pierce
Boston receives: Westbrook, Jordan, Odom, Butler
Why Boston does it: They aren't winning anything with the current group, so Ainge blows it up. Westbrook gets to lead his own team, not live in Durant's shadow and would be best when the first scoring option. The Celtics turn from being a slow, veteran team to an exciting, young, running team. Westbrook's poor shot selection can be cured by Doc Rivers' leadership. Jordan is the young center with potential to be a defensive anchor for years to come, and obviously incredibly athletic. Butler is the outside shooting veteran, who could get a lot of open looks from deep when Westbrook uses his speed to penetrate the defense, with an expiring contract. Odom is there as filler and an expiring contract.
Boston depth chart:
PG: Westbrook/Terry
SG: Bradley/Lee/Crawford
SF: Butler/Green/Williams
PF: Bass/Wilcox/Odom
C: Jordan/Melo
Clippers trade: Jordan, Odom, Butler, Bledsoe
Clippers receive: Pierce, Garnett, Reggie Jackson
Why the Clippers do it: They immediately become true contenders, and possibly favourites to come out of the West. Pierce is the intelligent scorer, and will enjoy playing with Chris Paul. Garnett waives his no-trade clause to play with Pierce and to chase a ring, and anchors an otherwise average defensive unit. Can effectively run the pick and pop with Paul. Reggie Jackson is the back-up point with Bledsoe leaving. They also get the chance to dump Odom's salary.
Clippers depth chart:
PG: Paul/Jackson
SG: Billups/Crawford/Green
SF: Pierce/Barnes/Hill
PF: Griffin/Thompkins
C: Garnett/Turiaf/Hollins
Thunder trade: Westbrook, Reggie Jackson
Thunder receive: Rondo, Bledsoe
Why the Thunder do it: They finally get the true point guard they need. Durant would be much better served by playing with a true point guard like Rondo, as opposed to the scoring Westbrook. Rondo further improves the Thunder's perimeter defense and rebounding also. Obviously, the Thunder are disadvantaged this season, so pick up Bledsoe to help with their point guard play until Rondo comes back. While Bledsoe is more of a Westbrook-type player than a true point guard, he is perfectly adequate as a fill-in PG. When Rondo recovers, Bledsoe could be kept to form the best 1-2 punch in the league at any position, let alone point guard (with Bledsoe possibly being shifted over to the 2 at times), or, more likely, traded for more assets, probably a rebounding and defensive center, maybe Gortat or Varejao.
Thunder depth chart:
PG: Rondo/Bledsoe
SG: Sefolosha/Martin/Liggins
SF: Durant/Lamb/Brewer
PF: Ibaka/Collison
C: Perkins/Thabeet/Orton
Picks involved, probably going from the Clippers and the Thunder to Boston.
Boston receives: Westbrook, Jordan, Odom, Butler
Why Boston does it: They aren't winning anything with the current group, so Ainge blows it up. Westbrook gets to lead his own team, not live in Durant's shadow and would be best when the first scoring option. The Celtics turn from being a slow, veteran team to an exciting, young, running team. Westbrook's poor shot selection can be cured by Doc Rivers' leadership. Jordan is the young center with potential to be a defensive anchor for years to come, and obviously incredibly athletic. Butler is the outside shooting veteran, who could get a lot of open looks from deep when Westbrook uses his speed to penetrate the defense, with an expiring contract. Odom is there as filler and an expiring contract.
Boston depth chart:
PG: Westbrook/Terry
SG: Bradley/Lee/Crawford
SF: Butler/Green/Williams
PF: Bass/Wilcox/Odom
C: Jordan/Melo
Clippers trade: Jordan, Odom, Butler, Bledsoe
Clippers receive: Pierce, Garnett, Reggie Jackson
Why the Clippers do it: They immediately become true contenders, and possibly favourites to come out of the West. Pierce is the intelligent scorer, and will enjoy playing with Chris Paul. Garnett waives his no-trade clause to play with Pierce and to chase a ring, and anchors an otherwise average defensive unit. Can effectively run the pick and pop with Paul. Reggie Jackson is the back-up point with Bledsoe leaving. They also get the chance to dump Odom's salary.
Clippers depth chart:
PG: Paul/Jackson
SG: Billups/Crawford/Green
SF: Pierce/Barnes/Hill
PF: Griffin/Thompkins
C: Garnett/Turiaf/Hollins
Thunder trade: Westbrook, Reggie Jackson
Thunder receive: Rondo, Bledsoe
Why the Thunder do it: They finally get the true point guard they need. Durant would be much better served by playing with a true point guard like Rondo, as opposed to the scoring Westbrook. Rondo further improves the Thunder's perimeter defense and rebounding also. Obviously, the Thunder are disadvantaged this season, so pick up Bledsoe to help with their point guard play until Rondo comes back. While Bledsoe is more of a Westbrook-type player than a true point guard, he is perfectly adequate as a fill-in PG. When Rondo recovers, Bledsoe could be kept to form the best 1-2 punch in the league at any position, let alone point guard (with Bledsoe possibly being shifted over to the 2 at times), or, more likely, traded for more assets, probably a rebounding and defensive center, maybe Gortat or Varejao.
Thunder depth chart:
PG: Rondo/Bledsoe
SG: Sefolosha/Martin/Liggins
SF: Durant/Lamb/Brewer
PF: Ibaka/Collison
C: Perkins/Thabeet/Orton
Picks involved, probably going from the Clippers and the Thunder to Boston.