Nick Young traded to Clippers/McGee to Denver/Nene to DC

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Sean Grande@SeanGrandePBP
Nene (back spasms) out tonight. (I'll pause while you say a silent prayer of thanks). Kevin Serphain will start against Garnett.

Well, he made some Boston fans happy tonight.

[tontoz]

And how many games do you think Nene is going to miss over the next 4 years?

In the games Nene misses i still expect the Wizards to play far better defense then they would with Mcgee.

[Zonkerbl]

Denver has totally fallen apart since the Nene trade.

In their first game (without McGee playing), they lost at home to OKC in a blowout. The final score was 103-90 but Denver was down by 19 with 2:30 to go.

In their second game (also without McGee), they beat the Celtics at home 98-91 in their only respectable performance.

In their third game (again, no McGee), they got blown out at home by Dallas 112-95. They were down by 22 with 3 minutes to go.

In their fourth game without Nene (and first with McGee playing), they squeaked out a win at home against the lowly Pistons 116-115. How do you give up 115 to Detroit? McGee was +2.

In their fifth game, they got blown out by Utah on the road, 121-102. McGee was -7.

In their sixth game, they got blown out by Chicago on the road, 117-100. They were down 22 with 2:30 to go. McGee was -12.

So in their 6 games without Nene, 4 of which were at home, they are 2-4 and their average point differential is -10. They're giving up 111 points a game.

Wow.

[Rafael122]

Sources said that the Hornets did engage in discussions last week with Washington on a deal that would have featured Kaman, Landry and Trevor Ariza going to the Wizards for center JaVale McGee, veteran forward Rashard Lewis and a future second-round pick. But Washington opted to deal with Denver instead, sending McGee to the Nuggets as part of a three-team swap with the Los Angeles Clippers that routed Nene to the Wizards.

Interesting. Kaman and Landry would have been expiring contracts so essentially it would have been McGee for Ariza. Lots of cap space, but then again, who would play here? Cap space is fine as long as you got players willing to come here.

[TGW]

I would have prefered Kaman and Landry to be honest. I like Landry's game.

[nate33]

I would have prefered Kaman and Landry to be honest. I like Landry's game.

I can't for the life of me understand why EG even considered that deal. Kaman and Landry are expiring contracts with no RFA rights. They have no value at all. We'd essentially be giving up RFA rights on McGee just to facilitate a Lewis for Ariza swap. And Ariza is actually owed more in his remaining 2 years than Lewis is owed in his remaining one year.

If we wanted cap room, we'd be better off just standing pat. It's better than being stuck with Ariza at $7M a year through 2013.

[Dat2U]

Denver has totally fallen apart since the Nene trade.

In their first game (without McGee playing), they lost at home to OKC in a blowout. The final score was 103-90 but Denver was down by 19 with 2:30 to go.

In their second game (also without McGee), they beat the Celtics at home 98-91 in their only respectable performance.

In their third game (again, no McGee), they got blown out at home by Dallas 112-95. They were down by 22 with 3 minutes to go.

In their fourth game without Nene (and first with McGee playing), they squeaked out a win at home against the lowly Pistons 116-115. How do you give up 115 to Detroit? McGee was +2.

In their fifth game, they got blown out by Utah on the road, 121-102. McGee was -7.

In their sixth game, they got blown out by Chicago on the road, 117-100. They were down 22 with 2:30 to go. McGee was -12.

So in their 6 games without Nene, 4 of which were at home, they are 2-4 and their average point differential is -10. They're giving up 111 points a game.

Wow.

I'm sure it was completely McGee's fault too for every game. Even the one's he didn't play, lol.

And the only reason reason Pistons scored 115 is because McGee couldn't stick with Ben Gordon on the perimeter and allowed him to go off for 48.

And I bet if McGee played more than half the time in any game, Denver would have given up a 150 ppg.

[TGW]

I would have prefered Kaman and Landry to be honest. I like Landry's game.

I can't for the life of me understand why EG even considered that deal. Kaman and Landry are expiring contracts with no RFA rights. They have no value at all. We'd essentially be giving up RFA rights on McGee just to facilitate a Lewis for Ariza swap. And Ariza is actually owed more in his remaining 2 years than Lewis is owed in his remaining one year.

If we wanted cap room, we'd be better off just standing pat. It's better than being stuck with Ariza at $7M a year through 2013.

Good point. I didn't realize the lack of RFA rights...that's probably why he didn't do it.

[nate33]

Denver has totally fallen apart since the Nene trade.

In their first game (without McGee playing), they lost at home to OKC in a blowout. The final score was 103-90 but Denver was down by 19 with 2:30 to go.

In their second game (also without McGee), they beat the Celtics at home 98-91 in their only respectable performance.

In their third game (again, no McGee), they got blown out at home by Dallas 112-95. They were down by 22 with 3 minutes to go.

In their fourth game without Nene (and first with McGee playing), they squeaked out a win at home against the lowly Pistons 116-115. How do you give up 115 to Detroit? McGee was +2.

In their fifth game, they got blown out by Utah on the road, 121-102. McGee was -7.

In their sixth game, they got blown out by Chicago on the road, 117-100. They were down 22 with 2:30 to go. McGee was -12.

So in their 6 games without Nene, 4 of which were at home, they are 2-4 and their average point differential is -10. They're giving up 111 points a game.

Wow.

I'm sure it was completely McGee's fault too for every game. Even the one's he didn't play, lol.

And the only reason reason Pistons scored 115 is because McGee couldn't stick with Ben Gordon on the perimeter and allowed him to go off for 48.

And I bet if McGee played more than half the time in any game, Denver would have given up a 150 ppg.

No need to get sarcastic. I'm not going out of my way to take a shot at McGee. The main point was that Denver fell apart without Nene, not so much that McGee has made matters worse.

McGee certainly hasn't made matters better though. You can't just excuse the fact that Denver has given up 115, 121 and 117 points in McGee's 3 games. You know as well as I do that McGee plays terrible team defense and is a disaster on the pick and roll. It's a good bet that his defense was a factor in the Detroit game. McGee muffs up the pick and roll defense, the rest of the team is forced to rotate, and Ben Gordon is left alone to nail a 3.

[Nivek]

Can't remember where we had the conversation about Rashard's contract. I got some additional details, and this seems as good a place as any to post them.

It works out like this: If Lewis is on a roster after June 30, he's guaranteed $22.7 million. If he's released by June 30, he gets $13.7 million.

Kinda interesting: his base for next year was to be $10 million. He earned the additional $3.7 million because of Orlando's team success (stuff like regular season wins, reaching the conference finals, reaching the NBA finals).

[tontoz]

Denver IS getting blown-out by Minny who are w/o Rubio and Pekovic...they aren't even using a Center.

No Rubio, no Pekovic, no problem. Minny still scored 117 points.

[tontoz]

Can't remember where we had the conversation about Rashard's contract. I got some additional details, and this seems as good a place as any to post them.

It works out like this: If Lewis is on a roster after June 30, he's guaranteed $22.7 million. If he's released by June 30, he gets $13.7 million.

Kinda interesting: his base for next year was to be $10 million. He earned the additional $3.7 million because of Orlando's team success (stuff like regular season wins, reaching the conference finals, reaching the NBA finals).

Thanks for the info. Bye Shard. At least now they can use that roster slot on someone who might actually contribute.

[Severn Hoos]

Can't remember where we had the conversation about Rashard's contract. I got some additional details, and this seems as good a place as any to post them.

It works out like this: If Lewis is on a roster after June 30, he's guaranteed $22.7 million. If he's released by June 30, he gets $13.7 million.

Kinda interesting: his base for next year was to be $10 million. He earned the additional $3.7 million because of Orlando's team success (stuff like regular season wins, reaching the conference finals, reaching the NBA finals).

So - sounds like they'll hang on to him through the Draft. You never know when he might facilitate a bigger trade as teams start to make moves again. Then, as soon as Adam Silver says "Thank you for coming, good night." they fax over the paperwork for his release.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

No need to get sarcastic. I'm not going out of my way to take a shot at McGee. The main point was that Denver fell apart without Nene, not so much that McGee has made matters worse.

McGee certainly hasn't made matters better though. You can't just excuse the fact that Denver has given up 115, 121 and 117 points in McGee's 3 games. You know as well as I do that McGee plays terrible team defense and is a disaster on the pick and roll. It's a good bet that his defense was a factor in the Detroit game. McGee muffs up the pick and roll defense, the rest of the team is forced to rotate, and Ben Gordon is left alone to nail a 3.

All I have to say is the Wizards made the wrong move signing Nene. He is going to be the most highly paid player who sits out injured, watching games in a suit, in the NBA for years to come.

The deal that fell through which would have sent expiring and Ariza would have been much, much, much better.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

And how many games do you think Nene is going to miss over the next 4 years?

In the games Nene misses i still expect the Wizards to play far better defense then they would with Mcgee.

I will accept that. So, the objective was to improve the defense by getting rid of McGee and added Nene?

In that case a better option would have been to let McGee go for nothing in return and to use the extra cap space on a desirable, young, not oft-injured FA like Ersan Ilyasova, Ryan Anderson, or Nicolas Batum. Washington still could have signed a C like Asik, or they could have drafted from among Ezeli, Melo, or possibly Withey if he comes out.

No, make that on two of them--the Wizards would have had the cap space.

[JAR69]

Can't remember where we had the conversation about Rashard's contract. I got some additional details, and this seems as good a place as any to post them.

It works out like this: If Lewis is on a roster after June 30, he's guaranteed $22.7 million. If he's released by June 30, he gets $13.7 million.

Kinda interesting: his base for next year was to be $10 million. He earned the additional $3.7 million because of Orlando's team success (stuff like regular season wins, reaching the conference finals, reaching the NBA finals).

So - sounds like they'll hang on to him through the Draft. You never know when he might facilitate a bigger trade as teams start to make moves again. Then, as soon as Adam Silver says "Thank you for coming, good night." they fax over the paperwork for his release.

Yup. But that does cut it a little tight - draft is June 28 at night.

[Rafael122]

Cap space to do what exactly? We have all this money to burn and no one to burn it on. The guys the team would be interested in are RFA and will probably match any offer.

I would have been livid if we did that Hornets trade. It would have been CCJ kind of pissed off, that's the mood I would have been in. 2 pending free agents and a 3 who can't shoot and is on the books for the next 2 years. Pass.

[nate33]

Can't remember where we had the conversation about Rashard's contract. I got some additional details, and this seems as good a place as any to post them.

It works out like this: If Lewis is on a roster after June 30, he's guaranteed $22.7 million. If he's released by June 30, he gets $13.7 million.

Kinda interesting: his base for next year was to be $10 million. He earned the additional $3.7 million because of Orlando's team success (stuff like regular season wins, reaching the conference finals, reaching the NBA finals).

I assume that if we amnesty him, that $13.7M figure applies. So Ted owes him $13.7M but he costs nothing against the cap.

If we amnesty Lewis and keep Blatche, we'll have about $18M in cap room this summer. If we amnesty Blatche and cut Lewis, we'll have about $12M in cap room this summer (plus have Blatche permanently gone from the books). I think the best move is to amnesty Blatche.

It wouldn't surprise me if they did neither. They might just cut Lewis and keep Blatche for another year without using the amnesty provision. We'd still have about $5M in cap room to sign a shooter. The goal would be to rehabilitate Blatche's value and try to move him for an expiring contract at the Trade Deadline - or maybe amnesty him in 2013. By then, assuming he played a little better next season, he would be less likely to clear waivers (meaning another team will pick up some of the 2 remaining years on his contract).

It really depends on how much Ted wants to spend on free agency this offseason. If the plan is to spend less than $5M, there's no compelling financial reason to amnesty Blatche or Lewis.

[tontoz]

And how many games do you think Nene is going to miss over the next 4 years?

In the games Nene misses i still expect the Wizards to play far better defense then they would with Mcgee.

I will accept that. So, the objective was to improve the defense by getting rid of McGee and added Nene?

In that case a better option would have been to let McGee go for nothing in return and to use the extra cap space on a desirable, young, not oft-injured FA like Ersan Ilyasova, Ryan Anderson, or Nicolas Batum. Washington still could have signed a C like Asik, or they could have drafted from among Ezeli, Melo, or possibly Withey if he comes out.

No, make that on two of them--the Wizards would have had the cap space.

Letting McGee walk and trying to use the capspace on someone else was certainly a viable option. I can't say with confidence that the trade was better than that scenario.

It is certainly a risk taking on a contract that big. Frankly i would have been fine with Seraphin/Booker as starters next season.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I would have prefered Kaman and Landry to be honest. I like Landry's game.

I can't for the life of me understand why EG even considered that deal. Kaman and Landry are expiring contracts with no RFA rights. They have no value at all. We'd essentially be giving up RFA rights on McGee just to facilitate a Lewis for Ariza swap. And Ariza is actually owed more in his remaining 2 years than Lewis is owed in his remaining one year.

If we wanted cap room, we'd be better off just standing pat. It's better than being stuck with Ariza at $7M a year through 2013.

nate, I can't believe you think Nene at $13M through 2015 with (recently) a bad back, Achilles, calf, and also a history of knee surgeries is a better value than Trevor Ariza at 7M.