AirP. wrote:dean456 wrote:Houston gave up Caris LaVert and a 2nd rounder to get Dipo. Trading him a 3 months from now closer to his impending free agency isn't going to increase his value. At most we will lose maybe Nunn or Okpala a 2nd and some filler.
Also I don't understand peoples thinking that Christian Wood might be made available in a trade. They just signed him to a 3yr 13mil per year deal and the guy is averaging 23.1ppg, 10.1rpg while shooting 53% from the field.
They are tied up paying John Wall for the next 3yrs and they only own their 2022 pick so they likely not looking to tank. I highly doubt Wood's going anywhere.
Wait wait wait.. you think Houston traded LeVert for an expiring Oladipo and a 2nd round pick and think it's going to be inexpensive to acquire Oladipo from Houston? Houston could have kept LeVert who is making ~18 mil for 3 years for a solid scorer to go with Wall and Wood. This year for Brooklyn LeVert is averaging over 18 ppg in less then 28 minutes a night, LeVert is exactly the cost controlled player Houston would want unless they're looking to get good trade assets and/or a good young player with multiple years left on their rookie contract.
Right now, Oladipo is a prize for contender, he costs 21 million which should be somewhat easy to match but that contender who probably won't have cap space for a max/near max player will have his Bird right to retain him.
Indiana is trying to get better now so trading Oladipo for a younger player/draft assets doesn't make much sense for them, a younger cost controlled ~20 ppg SG does.
What Oladipo's team wants is different now that he's in Houston vs a playoff team in Indiana, Houston will be looking for longer term assets as in younger players and draft assets, Indiana wanted help now.
Would Morey look to add Oladipo with Embiid, Simmons, and Harris(or find a new home for Harris)? The 76ers could move Thybulle, Maxey, Curry, M.Scott and some draft assets to make it happen.
Would it make sense for Dallas to go after Oladipo and extending him? They could trade Hardaway Jr, a young PG like Brunson and whatever trade assets they have left like swaps and 2nd rounders? Then Dallas moves forward with Doncic, Porziņģis, Oladipo and Richardson as their long term core.
Here's some betting odds on where Oladipo would be traded, I'm sure most of those teams are still interested in acquiring him.
I haven't looked into the specifics of it, but I think it's pretty clear that the current priority of the Rockets is to stay away from any luxury tax
https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/rockets-owner-tilman-fertitta-is-hellbent-on-reducing-payroll-avoiding-luxury-tax-per-report/