RealGM

Okoro
26 CLE 2nd
28 CLE 2nd

for

Smith

Cavs get a needed 3rd big and get a little apron room
Bulls grab a couple 2nds trading a big for a defensive wing

I'd be all for it and I think it would be better to do this than just dump Okoro's salary into a TPE or MLE, but I fear that the front office may want to bring Ty back more than is prudent.

Would the lakers want to trade kleber for okoro to get POA defender? Maybe split the 2nds up? Think bulls prefer expiring over another 2/3.

Value is good and makes sense for cleveland

Godaddycurse wrote:Would the lakers want to trade kleber for okoro to get POA defender? Maybe split the 2nds up? Think bulls prefer expiring over another 2/3.

Value is good and makes sense for cleveland

I thought about Kleber direct to Cleveland, but his health scared me off. Don't know why I didn't consider Maxi to Chicago. It's a nice touch.

I'm curious what Cavs fans think of Jalen Smith versus Dean Wade, the incumbent "3rd big"

From an outsider's perspective who hasn't watched a lot of either player, I'd put them in the same tier, with Smith maybe a bit better(?) -- but is Smith worth the extra $3M in salary (plus taxes) you'd pay for him.

oldncreaky wrote:I'm curious what Cavs fans think of Jalen Smith versus Dean Wade, the incumbent "3rd big"

From an outsider's perspective who hasn't watched a lot of either player, I'd put them in the same tier, with Smith maybe a bit better(?) -- but is Smith worth the extra $3M in salary (plus taxes) you'd pay for him.

Wade doesnt play C?

oldncreaky wrote:I'm curious what Cavs fans think of Jalen Smith versus Dean Wade, the incumbent "3rd big"

From an outsider's perspective who hasn't watched a lot of either player, I'd put them in the same tier, with Smith maybe a bit better(?) -- but is Smith worth the extra $3M in salary (plus taxes) you'd pay for him.

This about where I'm at; it's close. I don't have the perspective as to whether this fits the team direction for Chicago.

Godaddycurse wrote:

oldncreaky wrote:I'm curious what Cavs fans think of Jalen Smith versus Dean Wade, the incumbent "3rd big"

From an outsider's perspective who hasn't watched a lot of either player, I'd put them in the same tier, with Smith maybe a bit better(?) -- but is Smith worth the extra $3M in salary (plus taxes) you'd pay for him.

Wade doesnt play C?

Wade got a few rotations at C, particularly in the games Mobley missed. The only other option was Tristan Thompson, and he was too washed for the regular season.

I'd lean Smith with Mobley and Wade with Allen in bench units. Wade's the better spacer.

For the Bulls, I probably go ahead with this trade if they grab a big at #12. Any of Maluach, Queen, Sorber make him expendable.

Why do you think Okoro is going to play? Buzelis is going to start, he's the shot blocker, does Huerter start at the 3 because Billy D plays a lot of 3 guard sets, he can play defense, for all the hate Patrick Williams still plays defense, they've invested time in Julian Phillips at a lower price than Okoro.

Let's say they do trade Vucevic, you don't want to rely on Collins for 36 minutes and then play some rookie, they got Smith to be the backup center to Vuc now Collins why are they trading him for a pair of future who knows when SRPs?

ChettheJet wrote:Why do you think Okoro is going to play? Buzelis is going to start, he's the shot blocker, does Huerter start at the 3 because Billy D plays a lot of 3 guard sets, he can play defense, for all the hate Patrick Williams still plays defense, they've invested time in Julian Phillips at a lower price than Okoro.

Let's say they do trade Vucevic, you don't want to rely on Collins for 36 minutes and then play some rookie, they got Smith to be the backup center to Vuc now Collins why are they trading him for a pair of future who knows when SRPs?

One of the issues I think the Cavs will run into is that Okoro's not any team's Plan A, or even B. He's the guy who seems like a more palatable option towards the end of the summer after the draft and when FA peters out. He's the guy you could actually get calls on once it becomes clear during the season that teams need more help on defense than they hoped. The Cavs have to make a decision on Ty before that though, which is why they'd be open to attaching value to him to begin with.

I'm hoping Gilbert is okay with a giant tax bill for one year, but that may not be in the cards.

In isolation (no other CLE moves) I'd do the deal, and I like Okoro.

Someone asked about Wade as the 3rd big. He's a 3/4, not a 4/5.

As for dealing with CHI, if I'm CLE Ball is the target.