Fake Trade Thread #3

[vtime]

They could just run it back. They lost to the eventual champions in rd 2. It was a strong season. They don’t have to do anything. Really good players can be found on the waiver wire like Duncan Robinson, Kendrick Nunn, Christian Wood, Hassan Whiteside, and Fred VanVleet all experienced.

They can't just run it back if Harden wants out. There was speculation Harden asked out privately, Morey bolted and Russell Westbrook stayed out in front of the news to become the first to publicly voice his desire for separation. It's like middle school when you hear you're about to be dumped then announce to everyone you're dumping that person. Then both are like, I DUMPED YOU FIRST. I dumped you. NO. I dumped YOU.

Harden doesn't want to play with Westbrook,. That to me makes more sense than the other way around. Harden opens space for Westbrook. Westbrook destroys space for Harden. Both want to dominate the ball so both are unhappy. But I suspect Harden initiated the breakup. He wants to play with Kyrie and KD but the Nets don't have the assets. Morey knows Philly does have the assets. So I think Harden for Simmons is destined to happen. But the Rockets have to get Josh Richardson + pick 21 and maybe Thybulle in the deal so they have some assets to attach to Westbrook. I don't think a single team has offered the Rockets expiring contracts alone or else they would've dumped Westbrook and kept Harden. They don't have that option I don't think.

They CAN run it back. The season starts in a month. If they don’t the trade offers, you run it back. They are under contract. AD wanted a trade at the 2019 deadline, they didn’t like the offers and kept him until the summer. Aldridge asked out of San Antonio, ended up being extended. Their new GM has zero obligation to put himself in a rebuilding position. They were a 4 seed despite having guys miss time with injury and being short handed. Harden said ant a guy to load. He’s highly competitive and doesn’t miss games. Russ competes. They’ll give you everything they have.

[Soul Rebel]

FWIW, Rockets just received the 16th pick in the draft by trading Covington to the Blazers.

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I don't see Westbrook coming here, but the 16th pick and a '21 FRP are enticing assets to attach to Westbrook in any deal to offset that contract.

[Braggins]

That seems pretty steep for Covington unless the 2nd pick is one of those super heavily protected 1sts that will probably end up being a 2nd. RoCo is a great fit on Portland, though.

This trade seems like it could be a signal that the Rockets are going to trade Harden and rebuild. If thats the case then it might not make much sense to attach picks to Westbrook to move his contract. They might be better off trading everyone else they can for picks and then let Westbrook chuck away while they wait out his contract and rebuild through the draft.

[316Hornets]

We might have some significant trade value with Rozier by the looks of things.

[Lwcasu]

FWIW, Rockets just received the 16th pick in the draft by trading Covington to the Blazers.

Read on Twitter

I don't see Westbrook coming here, but the 16th pick and a '21 FRP are enticing assets to attach to Westbrook in any deal to offset that contract.

With all do respect I hope you’re wrong. Westbrook surrounded by shooters and Wiseman in the lineup would be a fun team.

[LofJ]

Even if Westbrook isn't coming here, we can get some draft assets by sending out Batum, Rozier, and, or Zeller with a another player on a 3rd team coming back.

I think a Harden trade is the priority though. They'll move him for the best deal they can get and likely keep Westbrook (at least until the deadline) to see if he can recoup some of his value.

[KembaWalker]

I'm okay with WB if we get Wiseman or Edwards. Wiseman is the perfect fit with that, and Edwards I think could learn a lot from a couple years under WB like Oladio did. If we get Ball, it would be a mess

[stinger14]

You really think if we had Harden and 60 million in cap space next summer we are doomed and nobody would sign to live in a professional city with good weather?

I think the nature of nobody wants to sign in Charlotte is overblown. We have never had a star and money to spend in same offseason.

I agree with this. One example, say the Clippers fail again this year. Kawhi has an opt out after this season. If we have Harden and $60m in cap, we could go hard after Kawhi and still have money to fill out tge roster. Kawhi would certainly entertain playing with Harden if he opts out after another failed year in Clipper land. Kawhi knows that he and Harden would be a dolce on the east.

Now, I doubt we even come close to making something like this happen, but I agree that Harden would draw another star and good filler options.

[LofJ]

A player that I'm like 95% confident will be moved before the season starts is Lonzo Ball. He isn't the Ball brother everyone wants, but I'd take him off New Orleans' hands for the 32nd pick.

[Rich4114]

The way teams are tossing future firsts around right now in trades is insane. I really hope we are one of the teams to acquire the future picks rather than get rid of them. Especially with the depth in the next two drafts.

[MasterIchiro]

It really looks like Houston can just attach pick 16 + the 2021 pick to Westbrook and build around Harden. Harden wants out of Westbrook but they may deal WB and circle back with Harden to see how see how Harden feels about staying. You never know until you move WB. With CP3, Jrue and Shröder gone, seems like WB is next.

[BlackOutBuzz]

I don't see Westbrook coming here, but the 16th pick and a '21 FRP are enticing assets to attach to Westbrook in any deal to offset that contract.

The breadth of values being thrown around for Westbrook are astounding. Just yesterday it was being reported that he had no market, yet The Ringer felt it necessary that Charlotte "probably" wouldn't trade the 3rd pick for him.

I think if Houston can move him for a shorter-term bad money deal + a young player that's a win, but those picks are the break glass scenario.

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[Rays Pompadour]

Charlotte is in an enviable position with expirings and caps space. Kupchak has said he'd use those resources to acquire additional picks and/or young players.

Frankly, I'll be surprised if he actually does this in 2020. The compressed season, rushed 2021 season start in December and the fact that the Hornets are targeting next season ('22) as a 'start' to the end of their rebuild make me think the Hornets will stay close to home.

[JMAC3]

Reason Roco was worth so much is because 1. he plays a premium position, plays both ends and can shoot 10 threes a game without blinking. Ultimately though it was cost controlled contract that was so valuable (baseball really values cost controlled players more than any other sport). You have Roco on a cheap deal for 3 years at 11 million per, it is super easy to build a team when you have that locked in for that long.

Zeller isn't bringing anything close to that value in a deal, Zeller may have value at the trade deadline once teams realize their bargain centers and drafted centers aren't working out (Boston/Dallas/Toronto) and they will offer up some assets for the playoff run.

[James Gatz]

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[Rays Pompadour]

Can't imagine Kupchak trading up for need when he specifically said that the team isn't good enough to target needs.

If that #1 overall player, presumably Wiseman, was projected by the Hornets to be the move-the-needle prospect, well, then a trade up would be something to consider. But Wiseman isn't that, so the logic doesn't follow to trade up.

All these draft guys are guessing Charlotte as a trade-up due to long-ago reports the Hornets really like Wiseman. I'm sure they do. But motivated to trade up...? I don't see it.

[Diop]

It really looks like Houston can just attach pick 16 + the 2021 pick to Westbrook and build around Harden. Harden wants out of Westbrook but they may deal WB and circle back with Harden to see how see how Harden feels about staying. You never know until you move WB. With CP3, Jrue and Shröder gone, seems like WB is next.

Durant has been whispering sweet nothings in hardens ear, hardens going to do his best to go to Brooklyn.
Why can’t Durant at least attempt to win without a super team

[MasterIchiro]

I won't count out Philly on Harden. And it's still possible we take on Horford for pick 21 and Westbrook for pick 16, sending out Batum + Rozier + Zeller + 32

[DY_nasty]

horford is one of the worst contracts in the league. why bro

[yosemiteben]

If that #1 overall player, presumably Wiseman, was projected by the Hornets to be the move-the-needle prospect, well, then a trade up would be something to consider. But Wiseman isn't that, so the logic doesn't follow to trade up.

If they trade up, then obviously they disagree with you on that.