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http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/draft2009/insider/columns/story?columnist=ford_chad&page=DraftWatch-090521&action=upsell&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fnba%2fdraft2009%2finsider%2fcolumns%2fstory%3fcolumnist%3dford_chad%26page%3dDraftWatch-090521

Thunder trade #3 pick for JaValee McGee and #5 pick

LOVE THIS DEAL!

Westbrook, Harden, Durant, Green, McGee

i think this kind of trade is much more likely between the wizards and grizzlies. i don't think the wizards would want thabeet as much as rubio..

i like mcgee and think he'll be a starting quality center, but i think the wiz feel the same way and will be hesitant to trade him in a deal like this.

slick_watts wrote:i think this kind of trade is much more likely between the wizards and grizzlies. i don't think the wizards would want thabeet as much as rubio..

i like mcgee and think he'll be a starting quality center, but i think the wiz feel the same way and will be hesitant to trade him in a deal like this.

Nahh, grizzlies I'm sure wouldn't mind Mcgee, but what would they do with Harden when they already got Mayo? They need a PF much more than anything else, so I suppose they could make it work by drafting Jordon Hill at the #5. But I expect they will expend most of their energy trying to trade up for Griffin rather than down for a questionable prospect such as Hill.

I'd definitely be good with that. But I think in most people's mind, Thabeet isn't a sure-fire center prospect and therefore giving up a decent center prospect to move up just 2 slots to get a better one wouldn't be worth is to the wizards. I also think that the wizards, at one point, said it was basically Griffin/Rubio of bust in this draft. I could see them trading, but it would be trading to 2nd or 1st or out entirely.

wizkid27 wrote:I'd definitely be good with that. But I think in most people's mind, Thabeet isn't a sure-fire center prospect and therefore giving up a decent center prospect to move up just 2 slots to get a better one wouldn't be worth is to the wizards. I also think that the wizards, at one point, said it was basically Griffin/Rubio of bust in this draft. I could see them trading, but it would be trading to 2nd or 1st or out entirely.

Well if Memphis is scared away by the Rubio talk the Grizz might just draft Thabeet.

So the Wizard trade with OKC could still happen. I like the trade idea too.

I like this a lot. This easily would give us the best young core in the NBA.

I absolutely love this trade idea and it sounds Prestian. It hits two areas of need for the team (perimeter shooting and interior defense), adds youth and athleticism, and doesn't take away from the cap flexibility that the Thunder has cultivated. And probably since it makes so much sense it won't happen.

So I guess that Rubio would be the Wizards' target with this move. Would they be willing to do Harden and McGee for Rubio? I think I would be in to it from our side...

Harden will not be there at #5 with Kings at #4. Thats why any trade down needs to go through sacramento if you want harden.

I don't know that the Thunder specifically want/need Harden, just a convenient name to associate with the pick. It seems like with Martin at the 2 you're even more set there than with Thompson at the 4 (the reason several people are saying the Kings wouldn't take Hill). I think this far from the draft, it's hard to say what players will be where. Crazier things have happened than guys like Jennings/Derozan/Evans vaulting into the top 3-5 and guys like Thabeet/Rubio dropping to 10-15...

I like the trade, but why the heck the wizards want to make such a deal with the Thunder? McGee has the type of play similar to Tyson Chandler, I don't think the Wizards wnat make a pitch for Thabeet at #3 with McGee so promising. If their target is Rubio, then they should not trade for #3, expecting Rubio to drop out of the top 2 is not practical.

Yeah, which is why I don't see them making this deal.

I think #5 + Andray Blatche for #3 would be a better deal for both teams. Blatche can play 4 positions.

They need a center though. Blatche can't play center.