RealGM

The idea here is things you think about that don't really warrant a thread, but you might like to discuss if others have interest. If nobody but me sees a use for this I will let it die and not just be my personal blog I promise.

I really think a Russell/Johnson for Westbrook deal is interesting.

I remember thinking Malik Monk was going to be the better Kentucky guard of he and Jamal Murray. File for crow thread. Still think Fox is better than Murray.

I really want to see a deal where Richardson goes to Indy, Dougie Buckets and Seth Curry go to Philly, but can't at all figure out how to make that make sense for Dallas. Unless its Dipo. Can't make it work.

I am very curious to see what the offseason brings as far as player trades.

On the one hand, this is a weak draft AND a weak free agency pool. If your win-now team wants to improve, your best bet is probably going to be the trade market. In a normal world, that would spur movement.

On the other hand, the whole COVID economy still has to play out. Many trades that add talent happen because you also take on money. Are aggressive teams going to be able to take advantage? Will *any* teams be all that aggressive?

All Westbrook trades should be DOA imo. Nobody wants to offer anything, they just want a top 10-15 player in the league for cap space. Houston didn't make that trade a year ago just to throw him away, along with any chance at getting Harden a title, a year later.

Texas Chuck wrote:I really think a Russell/Johnson for Westbrook deal is interesting.

I think a russell - Horford - Westbrook 3 way is even more interesting

loserX wrote:I am very curious to see what the offseason brings as far as player trades.

On the one hand, this is a weak draft AND a weak free agency pool. If your win-now team wants to improve, your best bet is probably going to be the trade market. In a normal world, that would spur movement.

On the other hand, the whole COVID economy still has to play out. Many trades that add talent happen because you also take on money. Are aggressive teams going to be able to take advantage? Will *any* teams be all that aggressive?

If teams like the Hawks, Hornets, Knicks, Pistons can add good value in this free agency, the deadline trade market could be very active. If they add severe overpays, it will hurt it.

Players like Harris, Gallinari, Bertans etc on reasonable deals could fetch a decent return from a contender wanting to shore up some weak spots.

Texas Chuck wrote:I really want to see a deal where Richardson goes to Indy, Dougie Buckets and Seth Curry go to Philly, but can't at all figure out how to make that make sense for Dallas. Unless its Dipo. Can't make it work.

The feedback i'm hearing from pacers fans are that they have tons of guards already so not sure how richardson fits there unless lamb and/or dipo is going out

KEMBAtheMETEOR wrote:All Westbrook trades should be DOA imo. Nobody wants to offer anything, they just want a top 10-15 player in the league for cap space. Houston didn't make that trade a year ago just to throw him away, along with any chance at getting Harden a title, a year later.

I love it. Counterpoint -- Houston was willing to move on from Chris Paul rather quickly. I think Houston is definitely open to moving him if they get win now pieces back and get some financial relief for their embattled owner. I don't think they just salary dump him though.

Also, is Westbrook still a top 15 player? I know he did make the 3rd team all-NBA which suggests he's in that mix, but I feel like I could name more than 15 guys I thought were better than him.

Godaddycurse wrote:

Texas Chuck wrote:I really want to see a deal where Richardson goes to Indy, Dougie Buckets and Seth Curry go to Philly, but can't at all figure out how to make that make sense for Dallas. Unless its Dipo. Can't make it work.

The feedback i'm hearing from pacers fans are that they have tons of guards already so not sure how richardson fits there unless lamb and/or dipo is going out

I don't think Lamb should be figured in to the mix. And I think they have some other rotation guys who could definitely be upgraded and Richardson would be an upgrade.

But yeah its definitely partly inspired by the notion that it frees up a Dipo trade while giving them a quality replacement.

Texas Chuck wrote:I really want to see a deal where Richardson goes to Indy, Dougie Buckets and Seth Curry go to Philly, but can't at all figure out how to make that make sense for Dallas. Unless its Dipo. Can't make it work.

Mavs get: J-Rich

76ers get: Seth Curry, McDermott

Pacers get: Pick 31 (form Mavs)

Sixers and Mavs get players. Pacers get to keep pick 31 and salary relief helps them hold Justin Holiday.
Not the same deal but interesting.

Godaddycurse wrote:

Texas Chuck wrote:I really want to see a deal where Richardson goes to Indy, Dougie Buckets and Seth Curry go to Philly, but can't at all figure out how to make that make sense for Dallas. Unless its Dipo. Can't make it work.

The feedback i'm hearing from pacers fans are that they have tons of guards already so not sure how richardson fits there unless lamb and/or dipo is going out

In that scenario he would fit as a replacement for Doug and Lamb given that he's out. I'd be concerned about resigning him though unless we're moving on from Vic.

Texas Chuck wrote:

Godaddycurse wrote:

Texas Chuck wrote:I really want to see a deal where Richardson goes to Indy, Dougie Buckets and Seth Curry go to Philly, but can't at all figure out how to make that make sense for Dallas. Unless its Dipo. Can't make it work.

The feedback i'm hearing from pacers fans are that they have tons of guards already so not sure how richardson fits there unless lamb and/or dipo is going out

I don't think Lamb should be figured in to the mix. And I think they have some other rotation guys who could definitely be upgraded and Richardson would be an upgrade.

But yeah its definitely partly inspired by the notion that it frees up a Dipo trade while giving them a quality replacement.

Lambs apparently on pace to be game cleared by December

But yeah, I’d like Richardson. If we play Warren more at the 4, a guard who could play the 3 would help a lot. If Justin Holiday doesn’t return, we could theoretically need another 2, possibly two. Or if McConnell gets moved. But if Oladipo gets moved I would think we’d need a starting 2 (or 1, with Brogdon moving to the 2) back and prefer to keep Aaron/Lamb as the 1/2 off the bench for a year or two.

Ideally a 2 that has size to play 3 would be nice, if Justin doesn’t return. If he does, that’s him.

Texas Chuck wrote:

KEMBAtheMETEOR wrote:All Westbrook trades should be DOA imo. Nobody wants to offer anything, they just want a top 10-15 player in the league for cap space. Houston didn't make that trade a year ago just to throw him away, along with any chance at getting Harden a title, a year later.

I love it. Counterpoint -- Houston was willing to move on from Chris Paul rather quickly. I think Houston is definitely open to moving him if they get win now pieces back and get some financial relief for their embattled owner. I don't think they just salary dump him though.

Also, is Westbrook still a top 15 player? I know he did make the 3rd team all-NBA which suggests he's in that mix, but I feel like I could name more than 15 guys I thought were better than him.

Giannis, LeBron, KD, Steph Curry, Kawhi, Harden, AD, Lillard, Jimmy Butler, Luka, Jayson Tatum, Jokic, KAT, Embiid, Ben Simmons, CP3 (ironic)

That’s 16 and I feel like I could add a few more.

Texas Chuck wrote:

KEMBAtheMETEOR wrote:All Westbrook trades should be DOA imo. Nobody wants to offer anything, they just want a top 10-15 player in the league for cap space. Houston didn't make that trade a year ago just to throw him away, along with any chance at getting Harden a title, a year later.

I love it. Counterpoint -- Houston was willing to move on from Chris Paul rather quickly. I think Houston is definitely open to moving him if they get win now pieces back and get some financial relief for their embattled owner. I don't think they just salary dump him though.

Also, is Westbrook still a top 15 player? I know he did make the 3rd team all-NBA which suggests he's in that mix, but I feel like I could name more than 15 guys I thought were better than him.

They gave CP3 a new contract, and gave him two years. Harden and Westbrook are also good friends, which was not the case with CP3.

And yes, Westbrook is definitely a top 15 player.

No order: LeBron Giannis Harden Steph Luka Davis KD Lillard Jokic Embiid Kawhi are the only 11 guys I think are easily better than him. I may be missing 1 or 2, but there definitely aren't 4.

I think this draft is going to end up being a lot better than this board thinks it is, both at the top and later in the first round. We lost the hype of the NCAA tourney, but there are still a lot of strong players coming out. And shrewd GMs will take advantage of lots of outside work watching film and scouting to find the guys whose stock hasn't risen because of the lack of national exposure.

Random thought unrelated to specific players, but more on fans and rebuilding, I really dislike the discussions around a team's window and timelines, and how there is often this expectation that a team should be built entirely of guys the same age. How their timeline is usually at least one year away.

MoneyTalks41890 wrote:I think this draft is going to end up being a lot better than this board thinks it is, both at the top and later in the first round. We lost the hype of the NCAA tourney, but there are still a lot of strong players coming out. And shrewd GMs will take advantage of lots of outside work watching film and scouting to find the guys whose stock hasn't risen because of the lack of national exposure.

Agreed, this draft doesn't have a surefire star at the top but there are guys I think will be really good players into the late teens/early 20s

KEMBAtheMETEOR wrote:All Westbrook trades should be DOA imo. Nobody wants to offer anything, they just want a top 10-15 player in the league for cap space. Houston didn't make that trade a year ago just to throw him away, along with any chance at getting Harden a title, a year later.

I'll see your take and raise you; 80% of trades here where the rationale for the other team is "saving money" are just excuses to add talent to your team for below market rate.