CP3 trade (almost) done!? Maybe...no one knows.

[phonzadellika]

Gordon is a restricted free agent. The Hornets don't need to trade him.

Sure, they don't need to, but I bet if we offered DWill and some other nice assets for Gordon and Okafor that they would really think about it. Stern stated that he is motivated to dump salary.

[Worm Guts]

If I were them, this trade wouldn't interest me. They can dump Okafor (or Kaman) without using their best assets.

[Narf]

If I were them, this trade wouldn't interest me. They can dump Okafor (or Kaman) without using their best assets.

I'd happily let them "dump" Okafor on us. As far as I'm concerned, he's better than Nene and Jordan and paid a similar amount to them. Darko/Webster/Ellington/Hayward/NJ and Denver 2nd round picks for Okafor would make me happy.

[Worm Guts]

He's not better than Nene, but yeah I'd take him.

[shrink]

If they didn't own the MIN pick ..

Do I think NOH would trade Eric Gordon for Derrick Williams?
Probably. Young, got more publciity, locked in longer.

Do I think NOH would trade Okafor for Pekovic + cap relief?
Probably. Owners don't want to pay 3 year deal when fans won't show up.

However, WITH the MIN pick, it's hard to get a deal done. If they did the first two trades, MIN might make the edge of the play-offs, and drastically reduce the value of that pick. Moreover, if they trade it to MIN, MIN can only compensate it for what it's worth .. say, the MEM pick, another borderline play-off team.


The way to get around this is to demonstrate that MIN is going to devalue that pick, whether NOH trades with MIN or not. Adding Crawford could help, or other bigger trades would do the same thing. If NOH knows that's coming, they may step in to deal with us to get Derrick Williams and cap relief, rather than keep a middling MEM pick, and Gordon only for a few years before he forces his way out.

This is tough though. MIN can't complete the big trade first, because it would use up assets NOH wanted, and replace them with assets they don't (productive vets). MIN needs to show NOH that they have the first deal in their pocket, but they'd deal with NOH instead if they make a better offer. NOH will get ripped in the media (and stern may even cancel a deal), because the media won't see that the MIN pick was being devalued anyway.

[Narf]

He's not better than Nene, but yeah I'd take him.

Nene's a significantly better offensive player.
Okafor is a significantly better defensive player and a slightly better rebounder.

I guess it depends on what you value more in your center. I suppose Nene's defense is above average, so all around he's probably better. Okafor seems like a better fit on the Wolves though.

[moss_is_1]

^ I think you're underrating Nene. He's a pretty good defender, way more mobile then Okafor as well.

[Narf]

Just for fun, I looked up their stats on 82games.com

http://www.82games.com/1011/10DEN17.HTM#bypos
Nene outscored the other team's center by +327 points. On defense, the guy he guarded had a .527 eFG% and an 18.2 PER scoring 18.3 points on 14.3 FGAs per 48 minutes. Nene also gets out-rebounded by 2.6 rebounds per 48 by the other team's center.

http://www.82games.com/1011/10NOH19.HTM#bypos
Okafor outscored the other team's center by +144 points. On defense, the guy he guarded had a .495 eFG% and a 14.4 PER scoring 16.4 points on 13.6 FGAs per 48 minutes. Okafor out-rebounded the other team's center by 1.8 boards per 48.

I take back my former statement that Okafor is better, I agree Nene is the better all around player due to his elite offense at the position. But I still think Okafor's defense is significantly better.