Crazy Trade Idea

[BIG EDDIE]

Ok I know this is quite crazy but I was thinking about OKC's future salary situation, that soon we'll have to either extend both Harden and Ibaka or let at least one of them go...or maybe both.

Then I had this trade scenario as an idea:

Westbrook and Perkins for Nash and Gortat.

Nash could be signed for a 2-3 year deal after this season for about 6 mill/season.
This would give the flexibility to sign both Harden and Ibaka.
After Nash retires, Eric Maynor would be able to take over as a starting PG.

Also, Gortat would be quite an upgrade from Perk, who would bring inside scoring, while he brings at least the defensive presence that Perk has and also he is a slightly better rebounder.

[bbms]

Maynor is not starting quality PG and will never be.

[sonictecture]

I proposed a similar trade involving Harden instead of Westbrook in the, "Does anyone want Nash" thread that went largely ignored.

Your idea is a kind of slap in the face to Westbrook in my mind. Trading a player as talented as Westbrook for a short term solution in Nash doesn't make sense to me and doesn't go with Presti's history. I think Nash is going to ask for the same salary he's got now, unless he absolutely wants to play for a certain team incapable of giving him 10M a year.

Do you have any statistical data that shows that Gortat plays the same level of defense as Perkins. Although Gortat is pretty active, my own eye test indicates the results are different. This seems like a good opportunity to mention that I've noticed that Perkins has improved his rebounding over the last 5 games.

[BIG EDDIE]

I dont have any stats that underline that Gortat is a better defensive player than Perkins.
Im also not saying that its a clear advantage. Actually I think they are about on the same level.
I remember Gortat from his Orlando days, where he was Dwight's backup and a lot of times he gave a defensive spark to the team when he was on the floor, and remember that he was replacing the best defender in the game in Dwight.

What I do know is that he is a better rebounder (and yes, Perkins averages almost 11 rebs for the past 5 games I think). So there is one advantage, but the biggest one is on the other end of the floor.
Gortat is a much bigger offensive threat than Perk. Perk is pretty much useless there, while Gortat can easily put up 12-14 point per game. Now he has 15, but I would guess that would decline a bit with an other PG than Nash. Still, if a center can give you 5-6 easy buckets under the basket per night, plus the other team has actually to defend him, not like Perk, thats a huge plus.

[sonictecture]

Gortat is a better offensive player than either Ibaka or Perkins, I agree, but I disagree that he is a much better rebounder or defender than Perkins.

The usage rate and skill level of Westbrook and Durant is so high at this point of their careers that everyone else's numbers suffer. I think if you put Gorat at center he averages half the points he is right now with Phoenix. I think his rebounding numbers go down because of the team rebounding from Westbrook and Durant.

Would you be willing to offer a package centered around Ibaka for Gortat?

[Balkman32]

Stop it! Westbrook is 22 yrs and a top 20 player in this league.

[BIG EDDIE]

No, I would not be willing to offer Ibaka.
However, Im still arguing with you about the rebounding question.
Perk is a nice rebounder, but he never was and never will be a 10+ rebounder. Even with Boston he never averaged more than 8.1 rebs.
If you compare the two careers, Gortat averages 15.5 rebs/48 minutes.
Perk has 13.3

I also disagree with you saying that Gortat who averages 16 points per game would only have 8 on our team.
Yes, I also said that his scoring would go down, but to 12-14 points and not 8.
So even if his numbers decline to say 12 points and 9 rebounds, he would be still far better than Perk, who has 4.4 pts and 6.4 rebs.
I love Perk and he clearly brings more to this team than stats, just like Collison, but I dont think its even close who the better player between him and Gortat.

[Balkman32]

I dont think it is worth trading a top 20 player for a Gortat. Gortat is nice, and he will fill the stat sheet. But, how would his d-game effect Ibaka?

[JimboSlice]

Only way I would do this is in a three team deal where we get all of Charlotte's first round picks unprotected for the next decade as well as Phoenix's for the next 3 years unprotected and Larry Brown out of retirement to replace Brooks at Brooks' introductory salary. And both teams have to take turns having Lazar Hayward on their teams for 10 game stretches for whenever we play them and he has to start and guard KD.

But seriously, this is a really bad trade.