DanTown8587 wrote:So Taj's trade value is now equal to Goran Dragic, a guy who just was voted to the All-NBA third team, was a runaway winner for MIP, and just put up a season of 20-6 and had a season that rivals Derrick's MVP years in numbers.
Taj honestly is one of the best Power Forwards in the game. Anthony Davis, Kevin Love, Blake Griffin, Alridge, Ibaka, Nowitski (getting close to end of career), Bosh (questionable), in time Monroe, Millsap. So I have about 6 for sure right now (Nowitski basically for 1 more year), Bosh who might be now as a #1 scorer for team (but not by much), Monroe not yet, but with right coaching, that might change, Millsap slightly more but if Tajywoo had Millsap's role last year, I would think he might put up similiar numbers with better d and less rebounding. I put Taj above David Lee and West considering West is downhill and Lee is a scorer but not impactful one. Therefore, you have Taj as a top 10 PF, probably the third best defender in the group if including Davis/Ibaka in terms of impact, someone while 29 does not have a ton of mileage (think of someone more like 27 in terms of playing days. Then I am talking about throwing in one of Snell/Butler (preferably Snell) and a number 1 pick for Dragic and one of the Morris twins (since they don't need 3 PF's). Add this to the fact that other than maybe Millsap, what type of power forward that is this good gets paid what Taj does?
Dragic is pretty good, but in a typical year, not 3rd team all NBA. Also, outside of Phoenix, he struggled (but Houston also did not give him a fair shake). Maybe Phoenix holds out for something better, but this is a pretty good deal for both teams. Taj is one year older than Dragic and Phoenix is now explosive athletically at every position besides the small forward (unless they get Butler too).
So yes, I make the trade and I think Phoenix thinks hard about it. Taj would start for probably for 80% of NBA teams and is an impactful player. The Suns just signed I. Thomas so I don't see the need for Dragic as he is strictly a 2 guard that is a free agent coming up. The Bulls while Gasol is injury prone and Mirotic is a rookie, is somewhat crowded. If we can get a less impactful but useful Morris twin, we still have depth, but more of what we need and Suns get a really good Taj on a cheap contract, a possible project in Snell who has a game but needs to put it together, and a first round pick that could be really good.