by TNBT on Wed Jun 13, 2012 9:07 am
I've been strongly against trading Deng so far this off-season, but the more I look at the financial situation of the team, the more I think we may not have much of a choice. We really have four contracts big enough to make much of an impact by moving; Rose, Noah, Boozer and Deng. Now I'm pretty sure that we all agree that Rose and Noah shouldn't be moved (unless it's in a rediculously one-sided deal in our favor of course), and no one is likely to give us much in return for Boozer other than also bad contracts, so that wont really help us. That leaves Deng as the only real viable trade asset that we have who cound help us by being moved. I love the guy as a player and would love to see him stay, but we are close to the tax limit and if we can get a high pick in return for him, we can use that to replace him at SF with a rookie who will be a lot cheaper, whilst being able to use the remaining savings created to add help elsewhere.
At this point, if we could do the Kings deal that was mentioned, I would have to accept. Adding Evans and the #5 pick (Barnes?) would give us the long-term solutions at both SG and SF for the forseeable future. Rose, Evans, Barnes, Noah, Gibson, Asik, Butler, Mirotic and whoever we pick at #29 would give us one hell of a young nucleus to build around.
So basically, I'm still not in favor of blowing the team up for multiple picks, but I am open to the idea of moving Deng if we can get a good deal, such as the Kings deal mentioned. Obviously that is assuming that we can't move Boozer for a worthwhile return -- if we can then of course we move Boozer instead of Deng.
Lets go Bulls, Blackhawks and 49ers!