Dragic back to Houston with OKC

[Texas Chuck]

Okay so I posted in another thread an aside about Dragic back to Houston and it was met with both Dbrandon and Mr. E approval. Now I know when I have suggested Dragic trades previously Heat fans have been strongly against it. And I do understand that, but I think with Wade having moved on, things have to be seen differently and if I can get them a good asset in return....?

Heat deal:
Dragic

Heat get:
Ilysova
Cam Payne

Thunder deal:
Ilyasova
Payne

Thunder get:
Ariza
Beverley

Rockets deal:
Ariza
Beverley

Rockets get:
Dragic

Rockets do this to unite Dragic with MDA. Biggest downside is losing a key forward with no great options to replace him(Brewer,Beasley, Dekker, McDaniels)

Heat gain a bunch of cap space next year--and are a team who can definitely lure free agents and get a very nice young PG. Downside is this team really needs Dragic this year, tho I don't think they are serious contenders either way.

Thunder gain two very solid veterans who fit beautifully. Beverley hits shots and defends behind and next to Westbrook and Ariza is the perfect swing forward for them. Downside is they have given up their best young asset for a couple role players.

So how bad is this?

[MoneyTalks41890]

Beverely will simply never play for the Thunder after what he did to Westbrook. At least not as long as Russ is there.

Love the idea of Ariza though. But trading Ily leaves a hole at PF as well, so...

[bondom34]

Yeah, I'm the same with Bev. I also think Payne just will end up better.

[BBallFreak]

You know what I'm going to say, Chuck. Is pass every time. We want to see what we have with Bosh potentially returning, before we even consider this kind of trade. We're not trying to rebuild in spite of what people may think.

[Chinook]

This trade is technically illegal until the conditions on Ersan are lifted, but ignoring that, I'd be willing to have the Spurs throw in Mills and Simmons to prevent OKC from having to suffer the injustice of Beverly joining their roster.

[Texas Chuck]

Beverely will simply never play for the Thunder after what he did to Westbrook. At least not as long as Russ is there.

Love the idea of Ariza though. But trading Ily leaves a hole at PF as well, so...

Ariza plays PF, no?

And I always forget about the Beverley/Westbrook history.

[bondom34]

Beverely will simply never play for the Thunder after what he did to Westbrook. At least not as long as Russ is there.

Love the idea of Ariza though. But trading Ily leaves a hole at PF as well, so...

Ariza plays PF, no?

And I always forget about the Beverley/Westbrook history.

I'd call Ariza a SF, but I think Sabonis will be ready pretty early on honestly and would risk that. The Bev part is my hangup.

[MoneyTalks41890]

I think OKC still has a few mil left in cap space?

The trade I would deal Payne for (I know it's not realistic but I get bored just standing pat) would be Payne, Ily, Singler out and Knight and Ariza in. I think that makes the team a lot better now and into the future, adds shooting, etc.

Russ/Knight/Price
Dipo/Abrines
Ariza/Morrow/Huestis
Roberson/Sabonis/Collison
Adams/Kanter/McGary

[Andre Roberstan]

I actually like this, and don't know that the Beverley thing would be that big of a deal. I don't recall Russ vocalizing a grudge like he did with Reggie. Payne being one of our young potential pieces makes me hesitate, but Ariza/Bev make us better.

[jbk1234]

I really don't like it for any team involved.

For OKC, their bench scoring would be even worse than last year and given the fact that they lost Durant (and Waiters who could at least create his own shot) this would be Westbrook trying to outscore the other team every night.

Value is okay but not great for the Heat. This is definitely a call-me-back-at-the-deadline type of deal for them.

As far as the Rockets, swapping Dragic for Beverly and Ariza essentially means they aren't ever going to try on defense. They'd have to average like 60% shooting to be an above .500 team.

[Andre Roberstan]

For OKC, their bench scoring would be even worse than last year and given the fact that they lost Durant (and Waiters who could at least create his own shot) this would be Westbrook trying to outscore the other team every night.

So...last year's bench lineup (that is, if we were playing an all-bench lineup) was Foye/Waiters/Singler/Collison/Kanter.

This year's bench lineup would be Beverley/Abrines/Roberson/Collison/Kanter.

None of those 2015-16 guys we lost are exactly lighting the world on fire. Heck, if you're worried about points, slot Morrow in Roberson's spot and just forget defense exists. My worry with that bench would be the incredible lack of playmaking unless Abrines shows some chops. But I'd be shocked if we ran all-bench lineups.

[jbk1234]

For OKC, their bench scoring would be even worse than last year and given the fact that they lost Durant (and Waiters who could at least create his own shot) this would be Westbrook trying to outscore the other team every night.

So...last year's bench lineup (that is, if we were playing an all-bench lineup) was Foye/Waiters/Singler/Collison/Kanter.

This year's bench lineup would be Beverley/Abrines/Roberson/Collison/Kanter.

None of those 2015-16 guys we lost are exactly lighting the world on fire. Heck, if you're worried about points, slot Morrow in Roberson's spot and just forget defense exists. My worry with that bench would be the incredible lack of playmaking unless Abrines shows some chops. But I'd be shocked if we ran all-bench lineups.

Payne got some run with the second unit and showed flashes. He'd be replaced by Beverly. Also, is Illy gone or do they plan to keep him? Because he's still a serviceable stretch big man.

[Andre Roberstan]

For OKC, their bench scoring would be even worse than last year and given the fact that they lost Durant (and Waiters who could at least create his own shot) this would be Westbrook trying to outscore the other team every night.

So...last year's bench lineup (that is, if we were playing an all-bench lineup) was Foye/Waiters/Singler/Collison/Kanter.

This year's bench lineup would be Beverley/Abrines/Roberson/Collison/Kanter.

None of those 2015-16 guys we lost are exactly lighting the world on fire. Heck, if you're worried about points, slot Morrow in Roberson's spot and just forget defense exists. My worry with that bench would be the incredible lack of playmaking unless Abrines shows some chops. But I'd be shocked if we ran all-bench lineups.

Payne got some run with the second unit and showed flashes. He'd be replaced by Beverly. Also, is Illy gone or do they plan to keep him? Because he's still a serviceable stretch big man.

In the OP post Ilya is headed out. And I agree with you on Payne vs Beverley, though Beverley's a little better player atm. If we did do something like that Rockets trade, I'd sign Lance to add another ballhandler on the wing—he's not a good primary ballhandler, but he's a solid secondary one.

If you're talking bench based on what the team has currently, it'd be Payne/Abrines/Singler/Sabonis/Kanter, which is a defensive sieve. But the starters are looking like Westbrook/Oladipo/Roberson/Ilyasova/Adams, which is a really good defensive unit. Probably better once Sabonis gets to the point where he's starting—he looks like a plus defender in FIBA, and Ilyasova isn't. Of course, that also makes the bench worse on defense.

I think we're still short a playmaker unless Abrines proves capable, and we'll need to shore up our bench defense.

[ThaFranchize84]

You know what I'm going to say, Chuck. Is pass every time. We want to see what we have with Bosh potentially returning, before we even consider this kind of trade. We're not trying to rebuild in spite of what people may think.

I agree with this. Cap space does not guarantee anything especially with the top players resigning with their teams leaving really only B Griffin left. If Bosh plays we have no need for him. Rather keep Dragic on his bargain contract. Now if it was amended to get the Heat someone like B Knight and Ariza I would do it as a Heat fan.

[MoneyTalks41890]

I disagree about Russ not holding a grudge with Bev his body language when they play is pretty loud.