RealGM

http://www.draftexpress.com/blog/Jonathan-Givony/

If somehow Mayo can fall to us to #4, Seattle would send Mayo and Chris Wilcox to Miami for Beasley and Blount

Do we do that?

I say yes.

even if we don't, we still get Mayo.

I hope Mayo is there at #4, although its not likely now.

I would do it.

I think a core of Durant Green and Beasley can coexist

Presti must have read my Trading for the Future post.

Rumor also has it the Lakers want a Seattle second round pick so they can take George Hill. He is projected to go in the middle of R2. Either #46 or #50 could go to the Lakers. The question is what do the Lakers give Seattle. They have traded their first round picks in 2008 and 2010 so they cannot deal another first until 2012. Their second round picks will not be as good as the one they acquire. That pretty much means the Lakers would need to deal a player to Seattle or cash for the pick. Would they send Ronny Turiaf or Sasha Vuchacic to Seattle? They need a roster spot for the guy, too. Personally, I would wait until 2012 for their first round pick.

First off about the Lakers rumor. If it is any of the 3 picks below #32 then I think it wouldn't take much for Presti to help out Mitch Kupchek(he is their GM isn't he?). By taking a cash swap for one of the picks it puts Presti in that "favor in the future" territory. We know that Presti is pretty good at gaining leverage, expecially when it doesn't cost him much.

With regards to the draftexpress rumor, this is very close to the proposal that McG brought up. I also feel that Minnesota is going to be the wildcard in the draft. If they are willing to draft a big such as Love or Lopez then this rumor makes sense. Miami gets Mayo(if that is who they do want) and dumps Blount to get salary relief, plus get Wilcox. Being the top of the three teams involved they should get a little more value then the others. Minnesota gets the player they want(if Love or Lopez are the ones, not Mayo), and a little payback for helping out. Seattle gets the player they covet(Beasley), but in return for that they have to take on a little weight in moving an expiring contract for a longer one. But Blount would be useful to them.

It does all make sense except that it doesn't resolve the pointguard situation. I think Presti would have to make huge offers if he were serious about Russel Westbrook, like another rumor says. Westbrook apparently has stopped all workouts and rumor has it he has a promise from a team, and the article in hoopshype says that team might be Seattle, who seemingly really like him. But it's all just rumors.

But Presti brought in two key pieces for the rebuild last draft. Can he bring in two more this year? Even if he has to give up all the picks in packages to get both Beasley and Westbrook it's worth it if he can bring in two highend players rather than a bunch of average ones.

That lineup of Westbrook, Durant, Green, Beasley, and Thabeet(next year), in a 3 year rebuild is indeed as impressive as you can get. It's a big stretch to think he could mange to pull it off but it isn't one of those impossible dreams.

What would we have to give up to get westbrook? #32 and Phoenix's 2010 pick?

Id pull the tigger on the trade, I think Blount is unrated but this contract is a little big.

I'm not sure if Ridnour/Watson #24 #32 could land us the Clippers pick to get Westbrook.

Patches theres a article on hoopshype about Vujacic saying he wants to be a Laker for life, and is probably going to be looking for Kapono type money.

I seem to be the only one saying I wouldn't do the Mayo & Wilcox for Beasley & Blount deal.

I'm not sure who's better, Mayo or Beasley. Or will be better. But I know I like Mayo's professionalism. I think Mayo will work harder on his game than Beasley.

Wilcox has value. Blount does not. Wilcox is an expiring. Blount is way overpriced for two years. Wilcox could be used in a future trade for a center. Blount is an albatrose.

yearsago wrote:http://www.draftexpress.com/blog/Jonathan-Givony/

If somehow Mayo can fall to us to #4, Seattle would send Mayo and Chris Wilcox to Miami for Beasley and Blount

Do we do that?

I say yes.

even if we don't, we still get Mayo.

I hope Mayo is there at #4, although its not likely now.

I'm not really sure about that one. I like Beasley but i'm not sure why we should draft yet another tweener forward and would rather keep Mayo then. Though, if Presti believes that Beasley is going to fit in and if it only costs us trading Wilcox and taking on Blount's contract(who could come off the bench) then i wouldn't mind it.

Patches Pal wrote:Rumor also has it the Lakers want a Seattle second round pick so they can take George Hill. He is projected to go in the middle of R2. Either #46 or #50 could go to the Lakers. The question is what do the Lakers give Seattle. They have traded their first round picks in 2008 and 2010 so they cannot deal another first until 2012. Their second round picks will not be as good as the one they acquire. That pretty much means the Lakers would need to deal a player to Seattle or cash for the pick. Would they send Ronny Turiaf or Sasha Vuchacic to Seattle? They need a roster spot for the guy, too. Personally, I would wait until 2012 for their first round pick.

The Lakers would most likely just send a future 2nd round pick or cash to the Sonics, if we're only talking about the #46, #50 or #56. Though, i've read that they want an early 2nd rounder and i'd be pretty upset if Presti throws away yet another high 2nd round pick for next to nothing, just like last year.

BTW: The Lakers wouldn't have to send a player to Seattle, even if they'd be over the limit. They only have to have 15 on their roster when the season starts in November. Also, Turiaf and Vujacic are RFA's and couldn't be traded on draft night.

Any concerns about Mayo's resignability?

It looks like he needs to play in the Big City.

I also like that Beasley wants to play with KD. (or likes to play with KD). And they already have some chemistry together.

I would do the trade in a heartbeat. I've been the one hyping Mayo up all year, but even so I'd take the opportunity to grab Beasley. I agree, Wilcox has value, enough value to move up from #4 to #2 if need be. However, he can not grab us a useful center.

Lets say a trade like this goes down, where would we get a PG? #24 to get Mario Chalmers? #32 to get Kyle Weaver or George Hill? It becomes a sticky situation, however I think if the draft went

Beasley, Hibbert, Weaver or Hill or Chalmers I would be MORE than pleased.

Any thoughts of trading up to get Westbrook will be impossible if we make this trade as Wilcox would surely be needed to facilitate any sort of deal.

Yeah Mayo would like to play in a bigger city, but I dont think he would pass up a chance to play with Durant and Green. I think hes already said he would have no problem playing here.

If we get Beasley instead of Mayo or Bayless, we trade Watson and we give Ridnour a chance to raise is value. Even if we pick up Westbrook too (longshot IMO), he can back up Ridnour while Ridnour hopefully raises his value.

I'd totally be down for getting Beasley by trading Mayo + scraps. Beasley is not a tweener forward, he's a combo forward. He has the quickness and agility to play small forward but the length and athleticism to play PF at only 6'8''. Collison could continue his roll as a backup center/PF, and Durant spends time at both SG and SF and Green is our SF. Between the #24 and #32 and our three other 2nd round picks I'm sure we could potentially get something to bolster our guard rotation.

Just remember that we rarely get a source of any rumors. 90% of them are just some outsider making them up. Even so they do show that there are alot of options and Presti probably is having alot of conversations with other Gm's to see what possibilities there are for the Sonics.

Only come draft day will we see if any of these rumors had any teeth behind them. I remember vividly the year they took Ridnour and Collison. Miami was supposedly after the #10 pick and Radmanovic in return for their pick(Wade). Also it was rumored that Toronto was ready to give up their pick(Bosh) in return for the #10 and Radmanovic. The rumors said the sticking point was that Rick Sund refused to throw in Brent Barry. I mean c'mon, looking back at it how dumb would that have been for the Heat and Raptors.

And finally, even if there is any truth at all to the rumors, Gm's never let it out even after the fact that those sort of talks took place. The closest these things are to the truth is usually that the rumored teams did actually have a phone conversation. It's only the rumor monger that makes the assumption which players were discussed.

The only PG we could get with one of our later picks that I could actually see significantly contributing would be Chalmers. I think he could even be better than Westbrook in the long-run, with the fact that he actually shoots the jumper at a high % AND plays great defense.

I never thought I'd say this, but even if we make a run at Beasely and end up not drafting a PG I won't be all that upset. Watson was better than league average for starting PG's last year and he could entertain another trade-bait year as we wait for our 2009 Top 5.

You know, outside of Chicago picking Beasley (I don't see it, remember when Ewing went to his hometown with the #1? Too much publicity to pass up) I think we have a great shot at trading for this guy. And yes, as long as don't have to take back Banks I do this trade without blinking and then laugh all the way home.

Not to repeat things, but MN likely takes Mayo if he is there are 3. I am not speaking as a fan, rather from what the vibe is from sources in MN. So if there was a trade down with either Sea or Mem then MN would need to be involved in order to secure Mayo.

^^Interesting thought. A three team deal involving Love + Mayo + Beasley? I just sense we'd have to give up some valuable assets to make it work. Maybe MN would be interested in one or two of our many future first rounders? I think that's why Presti has those after all.