Rumors: Bobcats, Bulls, Kings three-team discussions

[AAU Teammate]

It feels like if we're willing to do this, why wouldn't they instead have matched Omer and kept that Charlotte pick?

I understand the poison pill aspect...but a deal like this means amnesty Carlos, which means paying some money for nothing....which is akin to tax paying, in a different name.

[patryk7754]

Not interested in Thompson while we have Taj and Mirotic on the way.

Thompson Can be our back center and once Mirotic comes over we get rid of either Taj or Boozer.

[BuffaloBull]

Thompson's not a bad player, especially going by the +/- data: he's had a positive effect on his team the past three seasons, and you always see an offensive bump when he is in. Now you can't carry this data across teams, but I'd rather have that than be talking myself into the opposite. And you'd have to think he could get a little bit better playing for us vs. dealing with the cesspool that is Sacramento. And his contract is long, but the money per year is pretty reasonable for a rotation big.

I could see him being a guy we could use. And then you'd use the 2 pick you'd have in the 2013 draft to add depth or combine and try and get the best wing you could find.

[Ice the knees]

Is it a huge leap to think that if a Thompson trade went down that it would be to solidify our biggest advantage vs the Heat this season while allowing the Bulls to amnesty/move Boozer in the offseason?

Well, it wouldn't strengthen our already biggest advantage by much, seeing as how Thompson wouldn't be one of our two best bigs. Then it would screw us out of flexibility in 2014, we'd lose our #1 or #2 long term prospect (Mirotic and bobcats pick are our biggest hope for the second half of Rose's career). Then why would we want to amnesty Boozer this offseason? He's better than Thompson without doubt IMO. Then further we might be losing RIP, probably our best SG this year AND next, just to upgrade our 4th big when the three we have now are the best 3 man big rotation in the league?

No thanks.

Ehhh, I think we are just going to disagree. I think maybe you are a little less high on Thompson than I am. He's not some scrub, he would have his place just like every other big. Almost 7 feet, out produces Taj on offense, and could play some PF/C with Taj playing PF/C. It makes us very versatile.

And I am a big believer in never having too many bigs. Give me a PF over a SG any day...even on this team. If it's between Rip at the guard or Thompson on the block, that's kind of a slam dunk choice for me.

We played 4 bigs last year and no one was saying "Man, I wish Asik wasn't on this team"

[League Circles]

It feels like if we're willing to do this, why wouldn't they instead have matched Omer and kept that Charlotte pick?

I understand the poison pill aspect...but a deal like this means amnesty, which means paying some money for nothing....which is akin to tax paying, in a different name.

EXACTLY. I have no source or proof, but I'll bet anyone that the Bulls will not add ANY 2014 salary for a non-impact/elite/star player. I'm sure the Bobcats would love to get their pick back, and sure they're trying to talk to teams like the Kings to help it get done. Only thing I trade that pick for is also a star/elite/impact player.

We have a contending team with no huge weaknesses (once Rose is back), and 3 major hopes for a top player for the long term (Rose's second act, so to speak):

1) 2014 cap space
2) Mirotic
3) Bobcats pick

Because we're a contender with what we have and because Derrick is so young, none of the 3 should be compromised unless it's for an elite player.

[aaqubed]

This really doesn't make sense. Is Charlotte really willing to give up their pick this year? Or, more likely, is it just Portland's pick, which is probably not going to be very good (probably a late lotto pick, if we get it this year).

I'd need more of a sweetener than Jason Thompson to downgrade from the Bobcats' future pick (top 12/10/8 protected the next three years, then unprotected) to the Blazers' future pick (top 12 protected for the next three drafts, then unprotected).

I would do it in a heartbeat if they replace it with their own pick, but that makes no sense for them.

[ChiCitySPORTS#1]

No real interest in either of these trades.

[League Circles]

We played 4 bigs last year and no one was saying "Man, I wish Asik wasn't on this team"

Of course not. Asik wasn't hurting anyone's trade value, and we weren't giving up our arguably best SG for two seasons PLUS a potential top pick for him. If we were, I'd say eff it an just play Taj at both spots off the bench.

[AAU Teammate]

Just my own opinion, but if Jason Thompson truly is in the discussion..one would think Boozer would have to be going somewhere in exchange for someone who is less years...no?

After all, all our moves as of late have been protective of the 2014 flexibility...and even if 2014 free agency is not our set goal, it still bears noting that we've made our share of sacrifices to maintain our flexibility. Not just Asik - also hardball played with Taj and his agent.

[patryk7754]

Our team next year could potentially be
Rose/Kirk/Jimmer
Macro/McLemore or Muhammad (both can have instant success in the NBA and could be all-stars)
Deng/Butler
Boozer/Taj
Noah/Thompson
plus our 1st round pick (another Euro or CJ Leslie?)

and then further down the line
Rose/Jimmer(hopefully not)
McLemore or Muhammad/Butler
Deng/Leslie
Mirotic/Taj
Noah/Thompson

We don't need much cap with the roster. With this trade we have a real chance of winning now and probably the best chance to win later down the road.

[patryk7754]

If the Bobcats do get their pick back what year do they get to use it?

[Salo23]

Jason Thompson is on a great value contract, $6M per year. Terrific size and his prime years are still ahead of him.

The problems I have with this trade are:
1) Jimmer is not good at all
2) It doesn't get us under the luxury tax
3) Puts a dent in 2014 cap space, which people mentioned earlier we might as well have matched Omer

Why would Sac acquire Gerald Henderson without shipping out Tyreke Evans, unless they plan on moving Evans in a separate deal.

If we are ditching the 2014 free agency plan we might as well make a push for Thompson + Evans.

2014 roster
C: Noah, Thompson
PF: Taj, Mirotic
SF: Deng, Butler
SG: Evans, Belli or someone else, maybe Redick?
PG: Rose, Teague

That team has youth, size, athleticism, playmakers, shooters etc.

[BuffaloBull]

Just my own opinion, but if Jason Thompson truly is in the discussion..one would think Boozer would have to be going somewhere in exchange for someone who is less years...no?

After all, all our moves as of late have been protective of the 2014 flexibility...and even if 2014 free agency is not our set goal, it still bears noting that we've made our share of sacrifices to maintain our flexibility. Not just Asik - also hardball played with Taj and his agent.

I think the Boozer amnesty out would remain the most likely option. It's the simplest mechanism to clear the decks if/when the time comes.

2014 flexibility is, to me, not about carving out pure capspace as it is making sure you aren't carrying dead money on your roster, so that if need be you can move some guys elsewhere or send them as ballast for trade matching purposes. I'd think Jason Thompson, on the deal he'd be on at that point, would qualify, especially if his play improved upon joining a winning franchise and showing he would contribute.

[Ralphb07]

Just my own opinion, but if Jason Thompson truly is in the discussion..one would think Boozer would have to be going somewhere in exchange for someone who is less years...no?

After all, all our moves as of late have been protective of the 2014 flexibility...and even if 2014 free agency is not our set goal, it still bears noting that we've made our share of sacrifices to maintain our flexibility. Not just Asik - also hardball played with Taj and his agent.

Thompson contract is still flexible though. He only makes likes 6 mil per. That is a moveable. If Houston didn't go 15 mil on us in year 3, Asik would be here. Also our 3 bigs are awesome but we do need a 4th. Foul trouble injury and our system really says we need 4 bigs...

We're also trying to find out the whole pick thing so keep looking at @nbarumorpress on twitter and as soon as we get full details it will be posted.

[biggestbullsfan]

What Im seeing is the Bulls looking for a way to dump Rip and Nazr as well as get a return on the pick.

Im not personally a fan of this trade. Charlotte is basically worried we will get their when they really need it and a really good prospect is coming.

At the same time, the pick could be a bust in a weak draft.

The Bulls will most likely go with the cheap option to not pay the tax. Im still betting we make that trade in this regard this year.

Im not huge in terms of Jason Thompson knowledge but Ive never been a Fredette fan. I thought he was overhyped in college.

But if we did this trade getting a mid round pick this year may work. We can hopfully package our pick and that pick and move up for a good scoring SG. A couple good prospects. As well as Bigs. No one great.

If we somehow landed Alex Len, I would be very happy even though we dont need a big. Seems like a Bulls type of pick.

[League Circles]

FWIW, I expect the Bulls this summer to either trade the TPE for a 5 mil big with one year remaining on his deal (retaining our 2014 cap space), or sign a 4th big with a one year 3 year MMLE deal.

[screwdriver]

I like Thompson; he's a nice young player with some room to grow, but he's no star. Not sure I see Jimmer doing well here, especially once Rose is back. Jeff Taylor is a nice role player as well, but is somewhat redundant with Butler already on the roster. Would the Kings be willing to include Marcus Thornton in the talks? What kind of contract is he on? Even though Thibs would hate his "D", I think that he would be a great SG to have coming off the bench, with Belinelli as a starter to provide spacing, and Butler as a defensive SG for certain match-ups. I might pull the trigger for Thornton, Thompson and a Blazers pick, although I am not sure that we can make the contracts work, even if Radmanovic and Muhammed are shipped out as well. Can someone run the numbers?

[Ralphb07]

FWIW, I expect the Bulls this summer to either trade the TPE for a 5 mil big with one year remaining on his deal (retaining our 2014 cap space), or sign a 4th big with a one year 3 year MMLE deal.

But if we can take RIP's contract and get that big now, we can then use the TPE for 5 million on a SG. I want to see what the pick details is all about. That's the key. If we're getting a 10th-15th pick in 2013, Jeff Taylor and Jason Thompson, IMO that's worth taking the chance on dealing the future pick of theirs. It's my guess but I'm thinking it's the Trailblazers pick which is top 12 protected, but even that a pick 13-15 with those players is good value.

[JDRochholz]

Ouch, Thompsen sucks....no thanks on this deal. NEXT!

[VolumePoster]

Thompson is certainly an intriguing player but at best he's just a reserve player, same with Jimmer. Are two reserve players worth giving up the Charlotte pick for? I've stressed in my posts in the past not to overvalue the Charlotte pick, but we certainly shouldn't undervalue it either.

I don't think Thompson, Fredette or Taylor + a first rounder from this year is undervaluing.

Agreed. Though the protection on the pick is essential. If it is unprotected - I think you take this and run. Otherwise, I might have to give it some thought.