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We need a backup C and apparently New Jersey is offering Houston's first rounder in exchange for someone taking Johan Petro off their hands. LINK

Petro isn't particularly coveted, and he stretches the definition of "impact player" too far. Nevertheless, I've heard his name come up in myriad scenarios. Why? The Nets need to clear him off their roster to make room for whomever they sign in free agency this summer, and they're willing to offer the Rockets' first-round pick that they have to the team willing to take him into their cap room.

His contract is 3.25 million this year and 3.5 million next year. That's not ideal, but I don't think it cuts into our cap space next season enough to cause problems. He fills our need for a backup in the short term and we pick up an extra pick.

The Houston pick is lottery protected every year through 2016 and if it hasn't been conveyed by then (i.e. if Houston is a lottery team every year until 2016) the pick just evaporates. Currently, Houston is 2 games up on their nearest playoff contender which is Minny and I don't think Minny is making a run without Rubio.

Let's grab a backup center and a pick unless someone wants to break down how making this deal makes it impossible for us to offer Gordon a max contract or ensure that we can hold onto Hibbert.

granger05 wrote:We need a backup C and apparently New Jersey is offering Houston's first rounder in exchange for someone taking Johan Petro off their hands. LINK

Petro isn't particularly coveted, and he stretches the definition of "impact player" too far. Nevertheless, I've heard his name come up in myriad scenarios. Why? The Nets need to clear him off their roster to make room for whomever they sign in free agency this summer, and they're willing to offer the Rockets' first-round pick that they have to the team willing to take him into their cap room.

His contract is 3.25 million this year and 3.5 million next year. That's not ideal, but I don't think it cuts into our cap space next season enough to cause problems. He fills our need for a backup in the short term and we pick up an extra pick.

The Houston pick is lottery protected every year through 2016 and if it hasn't been conveyed by then (i.e. if Houston is a lottery team every year until 2016) the pick just evaporates. Currently, Houston is 2 games up on their nearest playoff contender which is Minny and I don't think Minny is making a run without Rubio.

Let's grab a backup center and a pick unless someone wants to break down how making this deal makes it impossible for us to offer Gordon a max contract or ensure that we can hold onto Hibbert.

Would do that in a heartbeat just for the 1st round pick. Petro is serviceable for a few minutes and he'd be an expiring contract next season. I'd do it

Info on the Houston pick

LINK

2012 first round draft pick to New Jersey
Houston's own 2012 1st round pick to New Jersey (top 14 protected in 2012, top 14 protected in 2013, top 14 protected in 2014, top 14 protected in 2015 and top 14 protected in the 2016 Draft). If New Jersey does not receive a 1st round pick from Houston by the 2016 Draft, then Houston will convey their own 2017 2nd round pick and cash to New Jersey. [Houston - Los Angeles Lakers - New Jersey, 12/15/2010]

I was wrong in that it doesn't go away altogether, it just becomes a 2nd rounder which I view as not much.

The salary of the 1st round pick (assuming Houston ends up around pick 16) is about 1.7 million so altogether this deal would cost us ~$5 million in cap space next season.

granger05 wrote:Info on the Houston pick

LINK

2012 first round draft pick to New Jersey
Houston's own 2012 1st round pick to New Jersey (top 14 protected in 2012, top 14 protected in 2013, top 14 protected in 2014, top 14 protected in 2015 and top 14 protected in the 2016 Draft). If New Jersey does not receive a 1st round pick from Houston by the 2016 Draft, then Houston will convey their own 2017 2nd round pick and cash to New Jersey. [Houston - Los Angeles Lakers - New Jersey, 12/15/2010]

I was wrong in that it doesn't go away altogether, it just becomes a 2nd rounder which I view as not much.

Guess if we make the trade, We'll have to pull for the Rockets to make the 8th seed just one time in the next few years. Getting an extra first round pick for taking on a center who only has more season on his contract is worth the risk. It's a free first round pick if things go according to plan.

Get to it Larry!

Right now Houston is the eighth seed in the West They have made it clear they want to get better with the Gasol rumors, so I am inclined to believe they would not tank it to purposely miss the playoffs. Basically it can be no higher than a 15.

All that said, I'd take on Petro, if given the heavily protected-1st. As of right now it is a 2012 1st, and I imagine both picks (mid-teens/mid-twenties) would have crazy value. We could use them in a package for a star, or we could possibly trade up.