2015-16 Fake Trade Thread

[JMAC3]

If the top 8 in no particular order are KAT, Okafor, Russell, Mudiay, WInslow, Hezonja, Johnson, WCS, and Porzingis is the guy that falls to us, would anyone trade Porzingis + Daniels/Hairston to OKC for Booker/Oubre + Lamb + PJIII?

Would anyone pull the trigger on Marvin + Hairston + 9th pick + future 1st w/ some protection for Landry + Stauskus + 6th pick, before the Kings make their selection?

Honestly, if that happened I would be more inclined to try to trade Porzingis + something to trade up in the draft then trade down to 14. I am not a fan or Lamb or PJIII, but neither seem like worth trading down 5 spots especially when we have to give away one of our best shooters. If we could not trade up, I would look to trade the 9th pick altogether for an established player, unless we had plans to take Hunter or Grant.

I would try to avoid trading a future first unless it is for a really really good vet or somehow it lands us Russell, KAT or Okafor. As high on Stauskus as I was last year, his value is way down in my eyes because his swag and confidence has to be at all time low. Also, I do not think Marvin has positive trade value and Landry seems like overkill at PF and we would never see Vonleh or small ball.

[JMAC3]

I highly doubt a trade will happen with us, and it is almost impossible to predict especially this early. But..... if we could pull of a trade, this would be my dream scenario...

Hornets trade Kemba and Lance to the Knicks for the 4th pick plus Calderon...

Why for Knicks?

They are upset they can not get Towns or Okafor and decide neither of the guards fit what they want to do especially since Russell will be gone more than likely. They bring in two big name guys, who have major history in the Big Apple and are still young enough to build around. They bring a lot of salary, but they still have roughly 17 mil or so left in free agency money to lure a big man of their choice and dump Calderon contract. With no pick next year they want to avoid a rebuilding phase, and if Lance does not work out they don't tender him and use the extra money from the cap increasing to add yet another big name in 2016.

Kemba
Hardaway Jr.
Lance
Melo
Free Agent Signing (Gasol, Aldridge, Deandre, Lopez, or Monroe)

Kemba gives them scoring, Hardaway Jr. is shooter, Lance is a one year risk who can give them defense and highlights, Melo will get buckets, and then hopefully they get either Gasol or Deandre to play defense. That team is a million times better than last years team and has some free agent appeal other than just playing NY.

Why for Hornets?

Hornets not only pick up a great draft pick, but they free up a ton of cap space on players, who are both making more than what they produce. With the 4th pick they pray Russell or Okafor are still there. If not they can take Mudiay, but I am for the strategy of taking Hezonja and then grabbing BPA at 9 or a PG (Most Likely WCS, Johnson, Payne, or Grant).

Grant or Payne- Calderon
Hezonja-
MKG-
Zeller- Vonleh
Big Al- Biz

or we could get risky. Take Mudiay at 4 and hope Hezonja is still available at 9, but most likely end up with Johnson or WCS.

Mudiay-Calderon
Stan Johnson
MKG
Zeller- Vonleh
Big Al- Biz

Also, by trading Kemba and Lance contracts we would open up a ton of cap space. Assuming Big Al resigns, Hendo opts out, We do not tender Taylor, pick up Biz option and take away Lance and Kemba money that leaves us roughly at 44 mil of the projected 67 mil cap. However, we would still have to pay 4th and 9th pick, which would be another 7 million or so bringing the total to just 51 leaving enough room to sign a big name free agent.

Edit: forgot to add in Calderon 7.5 million so that leaves just around 10 million in cap space.

For this final dream scenario lets say everything goes perfectly, we get exactly who we want in both the draft and free agency (Monroe to be Big Al replacement after next year), we could have a team of....

Russell- Calderon
Hezonja
MKG
Monroe- Zeller- Vonleh
Big Al- Biz

Now all of this is just speculation and I did a lot of best case scenarios to show what the team could possibly look like, but like I said a trade is very unlikely and this was mostly just for fun.

Also, most people will say the Knicks will want our 9th pick if they trade us the 4th, but I do not think we would be too interested in that scenario. We will not be desperate to trade up worst case we dump Lance at the end of the year and the organization seems fine with Kemba at the point, hence the extension. Trading Kemba and the 9th for the 4th seems like a step backwards and I am hinging this deal on New York willing to gamble on Lance improving along with the fan appeal of the deal. Plus by adding Kemba and Lance I think that is a more appealing team to join for a free agent vs. just adding an unknown rookie like Mudiay, Winslow or WCS.

I think this is an intriguing offer and if layed out to New York correctly they would have to give it some serious thought.

Denver may be another team to contact them about an offer, but even if they offer Lawson I think Kemba and Lance is more enticing. Also, Denver would be silly to offer the 7th and Lawson for 4, because they are basically just wasting the pick to get rid of Lawson, even if they take Mudaiy. Lawson plus Winslow or Hezonja is better than anything at 4 + Calderon.

P.S. Sorry for the long posts guys, I get an idea and just get on a roll then throw in I have been on the couch the last week since getting my tonsils removed and not a lot else to do.

[BeesWax]

Maybe I'm the crazy one but I think people are way, way underestimating Zeller. Like I can't believe people would trade him to move up a couple spots. We fell apart MKG style when Zeller got injured.

Zeller only worth mid first? Maybe to other teams, but he had the highest RPM and WARP of his draft class last year, and he's only 22 and is clearly improving. I think you'd have to be insane to want to trade him at this point.

Preach it my man. People say MKG is our MVP, which he is, but Zeller is just as important. I honestly think some posters want Zeller traded just so Vonleh will get more PT, and that is a bad way of thinking.

Zeller and MKG are not even in the same remote area of importance. We fell apart when MKG went down but with MKG and no Zeller we were still just fine. He is a fringe starter and if he got us a quality upgrade in this draft then trading him and keeping the much more talented Vonleh makes sense. The problem with this deal is there is not a clear upgrade in this draft unless we get to Russell.

[BeesWax]

Trading Zeller, Hairston and a future first would be laughed at in a very short amount of time. We would be fools to send that out for Hezonja.

I didnt necessarily mean all of that for him straight up. I would want something else from them if we sent out that much.

I do think you are overvaluing that package though. Zeller is a fringe starter atm and Hairston hasnt cracked our rotation and shot horribly this year. Pj has almost no value and Zeller might be worth a mid first round pick. You act like wed be trading the farm or something.

I do not think I am at all. You are giving away a future pick, young PF who's is a fringe starter already and a SG/SF coming off his rookie year. There is a ton of potential in that group. You are giving them up and not getting a clear upgrade from who we would likely get at 9. I do not see the value here. Maybe that is what they ask for to move up and if they do I stay where we are and get just as good a player for less money at 9.

[Braggins]

Trading Zeller, Hairston and a future first would be laughed at in a very short amount of time. We would be fools to send that out for Hezonja.

I didnt necessarily mean all of that for him straight up. I would want something else from them if we sent out that much.

I do think you are overvaluing that package though. Zeller is a fringe starter atm and Hairston hasnt cracked our rotation and shot horribly this year. Pj has almost no value and Zeller might be worth a mid first round pick. You act like wed be trading the farm or something.

I do not think I am at all. You are giving away a future pick, young PF who's is a fringe starter already and a SG/SF coming off his rookie year. There is a ton of potential in that group. You are giving them up and not getting a clear upgrade from who we would likely get at 9. I do not see the value here. Maybe that is what they ask for to move up and if they do I stay where we are and get just as good a player for less money at 9.

The only trades I've actually proposed either didn't having us giving up a 1st round pick with Zeller or had us receiving Stauskas and a decent Zeller replacement. I don't know if there is a reasonable deal to be made with Orlando. I just meant that those are the assets that would be on the table in a trade for me. I wouldn't simply trade Zeller, a pick, and Hairston, just for a pick swap. I don't know what Orlando could send us back in addition to the swap to even it out. I'm going to look into some Orlando deals because I'm bored. Maybe if we were to do a deal with Orlando it should be centered around swapping Al or Marv for Channing Frye's contract?

The talent level of the prospects between 5-9 is fairly close imo, however one of those prospects is an excellent fit while all the others are mediocre to bad. I think its worth looking into securing a Hezonja selection or trading for him after we make our pick. I still think the Kings trades I've suggested would be good for us and the Kings, but nothing will be certain until workouts.

[BeesWax]

I didnt necessarily mean all of that for him straight up. I would want something else from them if we sent out that much.

I do think you are overvaluing that package though. Zeller is a fringe starter atm and Hairston hasnt cracked our rotation and shot horribly this year. Pj has almost no value and Zeller might be worth a mid first round pick. You act like wed be trading the farm or something.

I do not think I am at all. You are giving away a future pick, young PF who's is a fringe starter already and a SG/SF coming off his rookie year. There is a ton of potential in that group. You are giving them up and not getting a clear upgrade from who we would likely get at 9. I do not see the value here. Maybe that is what they ask for to move up and if they do I stay where we are and get just as good a player for less money at 9.

The only trades I've actually proposed either didn't having us giving up a 1st round pick with Zeller or had us receiving Stauskas and a decent Zeller replacement. I don't know if there is a reasonable deal to be made with Orlando. I just meant that those are the assets that would be on the table in a trade for me. I wouldn't simply trade Zeller, a pick, and Hairston, just for a pick swap. I don't know what Orlando could send us back in addition to the swap to even it out. I'm going to look into some Orlando deals because I'm bored. Maybe if we were to do a deal with Orlando it should be centered around swapping Al or Marv for Channing Frye's contract?

The talent level of the prospects between 5-9 is fairly close imo, however one of those prospects is an excellent fit while all the others are mediocre to bad. I think its worth looking into securing a Hezonja selection or trading for him after we make our pick. I still think the Kings trades I've suggested would be good for us and the Kings, but nothing will be certain until workouts.

I am not giving up Hairston, Zeller and 9 for Stauskas and 6 because Hezonja isn't an upgrade at all over Johnson or Booker IMO. I like Nik but trading that much for him and a non upgrade makes no sense.

I am not taking on Fryes contract no matter what. That was a completely terrible deal. Stand pat and take one of Johnson, Hezonja, Winslow or Booker and be very happy that they are all on the same level and we did not have to waste assets.

[Braggins]

Ok, after actually trying to figure out a deal with us and Orlando I can say that I wouldn't trade them Zeller unless Russel was available at 5. I'd do both of these trades http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=mleygkg and http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=mfnym2p, for Hezonja. I'd throw in a second round pick or a super protected first. If Hezonja shows out in workouts I'd consider just lotto protection on the pick.

[Braggins]

I do not think I am at all. You are giving away a future pick, young PF who's is a fringe starter already and a SG/SF coming off his rookie year. There is a ton of potential in that group. You are giving them up and not getting a clear upgrade from who we would likely get at 9. I do not see the value here. Maybe that is what they ask for to move up and if they do I stay where we are and get just as good a player for less money at 9.

The only trades I've actually proposed either didn't having us giving up a 1st round pick with Zeller or had us receiving Stauskas and a decent Zeller replacement. I don't know if there is a reasonable deal to be made with Orlando. I just meant that those are the assets that would be on the table in a trade for me. I wouldn't simply trade Zeller, a pick, and Hairston, just for a pick swap. I don't know what Orlando could send us back in addition to the swap to even it out. I'm going to look into some Orlando deals because I'm bored. Maybe if we were to do a deal with Orlando it should be centered around swapping Al or Marv for Channing Frye's contract?

The talent level of the prospects between 5-9 is fairly close imo, however one of those prospects is an excellent fit while all the others are mediocre to bad. I think its worth looking into securing a Hezonja selection or trading for him after we make our pick. I still think the Kings trades I've suggested would be good for us and the Kings, but nothing will be certain until workouts.

I am not giving up Hairston, Zeller and 9 for Stauskas and 6 because Hezonja isn't an upgrade at all over Johnson or Booker IMO. I like Nik but trading that much for him and a non upgrade makes no sense.

I am not taking on Fryes contract no matter what. That was a completely terrible deal. Stand pat and take one of Johnson, Hezonja, Winslow or Booker and be very happy that they are all on the same level and we did not have to waste assets.

In a vacuum Hezonja isn't an upgrade over Johnson, but when you consider the context of our team he could be a pretty large upgrade. I'm fine with just taking Johnson at 9, but I don't actually think he or Hezonja will be available at 9 and Booker is a massive drop-off from those two imo. I would only be interested in Booker if we traded back. I also have no interest in Porzingis, who is the guy I think will fall to us.

edit: We were also getting Thompson from the Kings in all the trades that involved Zeller and their numbers are almost identical. The trade with Hairston was Marvin + PJ + 9th pick + lotto protected 1st for Landry + Stauskas + 6th pick.

[Butter]

Would the Hornets trade their #9 and dump Stephensons contract for Batum?

[Braggins]

Would the Hornets trade their #9 and dump Stephensons contract for Batum?

Maybe, if Hezonja, Johnson, and Winslow are all gone by 9 and you threw in Meyers Leonard.

[BeesWax]

The only trades I've actually proposed either didn't having us giving up a 1st round pick with Zeller or had us receiving Stauskas and a decent Zeller replacement. I don't know if there is a reasonable deal to be made with Orlando. I just meant that those are the assets that would be on the table in a trade for me. I wouldn't simply trade Zeller, a pick, and Hairston, just for a pick swap. I don't know what Orlando could send us back in addition to the swap to even it out. I'm going to look into some Orlando deals because I'm bored. Maybe if we were to do a deal with Orlando it should be centered around swapping Al or Marv for Channing Frye's contract?

The talent level of the prospects between 5-9 is fairly close imo, however one of those prospects is an excellent fit while all the others are mediocre to bad. I think its worth looking into securing a Hezonja selection or trading for him after we make our pick. I still think the Kings trades I've suggested would be good for us and the Kings, but nothing will be certain until workouts.

I am not giving up Hairston, Zeller and 9 for Stauskas and 6 because Hezonja isn't an upgrade at all over Johnson or Booker IMO. I like Nik but trading that much for him and a non upgrade makes no sense.

I am not taking on Fryes contract no matter what. That was a completely terrible deal. Stand pat and take one of Johnson, Hezonja, Winslow or Booker and be very happy that they are all on the same level and we did not have to waste assets.

In a vacuum Hezonja isn't an upgrade over Johnson, but when you consider the context of our team he could be a pretty large upgrade. I'm fine with just taking Johnson at 9, but I don't actually think he or Hezonja will be available at 9 and Booker is a massive drop-off from those two imo. I would only be interested in Booker if we traded back. I also have no interest in Porzingis, who is the guy I think will fall to us.

edit: We were also getting Thompson from the Kings in all the trades that involved Zeller and their numbers are almost identical. The trade with Hairston was Marvin + PJ + 9th pick + lotto protected 1st for Landry + Stauskas + 6th pick.

Outside of a vacuum Johnson is just as good for us as Hezonja and I would not be surprised at all if Booker was better than Mario in two years anyway. Booker is the most misvalued player on this board.

Both those trades are terrible. I am not giving up Hairston and a future first for Nik and I am not downgrading from Marvin the Landry either. Thompson is what he is and that is almost as good as Zeller now. His perimeter defense is worse than Zeller and he isn't getting better anymore like Zeller. If you trade so much potential you need to get a clear upgrade and I guess that is where we differ. I would put Johnson, Hezonja and Booker on the same level for us. I am fine with any at 9 and I am not giving up talent unless we get Russell.

[BeesWax]

Would the Hornets trade their #9 and dump Stephensons contract for Batum?

Maybe, if Hezonja, Johnson, and Winslow are all gone by 9 and you threw in Meyers Leonard.

Not even close to a good deal. Leonard is not worth close to the 9 and Batum is coming off a poor year. We don't need to dump Lance because he expires. The worst thing we can do is to use assets to dump Lance or stretch him. Both make zero sense.

[BlackOutBuzz]

No sense in "dumping" an expiring contract, let alone give away a top ten pick to do so.

[HornetJail]

Would the Hornets trade their #9 and dump Stephensons contract for Batum?

Maybe, if Hezonja, Johnson, and Winslow are all gone by 9 and you threw in Meyers Leonard.

Even then, I wouldn't. We'd have to find a way to do a sign and trade for Matthews instead of Batum.

If Batum agreed to an extend-and-trade, I'd do it though. Batum's impending free agency bothers me.

[Braggins]

I am not giving up Hairston, Zeller and 9 for Stauskas and 6 because Hezonja isn't an upgrade at all over Johnson or Booker IMO. I like Nik but trading that much for him and a non upgrade makes no sense.

I am not taking on Fryes contract no matter what. That was a completely terrible deal. Stand pat and take one of Johnson, Hezonja, Winslow or Booker and be very happy that they are all on the same level and we did not have to waste assets.

In a vacuum Hezonja isn't an upgrade over Johnson, but when you consider the context of our team he could be a pretty large upgrade. I'm fine with just taking Johnson at 9, but I don't actually think he or Hezonja will be available at 9 and Booker is a massive drop-off from those two imo. I would only be interested in Booker if we traded back. I also have no interest in Porzingis, who is the guy I think will fall to us.

edit: We were also getting Thompson from the Kings in all the trades that involved Zeller and their numbers are almost identical. The trade with Hairston was Marvin + PJ + 9th pick + lotto protected 1st for Landry + Stauskas + 6th pick.

Outside of a vacuum Johnson is just as good for us as Hezonja and I would not be surprised at all if Booker was better than Mario in two years anyway. Booker is the most misvalued player on this board.

Both those trades are terrible. I am not giving up Hairston and a future first for Nik and I am not downgrading from Marvin the Landry either. Thompson is what he is and that is almost as good as Zeller now. His perimeter defense is worse than Zeller and he isn't getting better anymore like Zeller. If you trade so much potential you need to get a clear upgrade and I guess that is where we differ. I would put Johnson, Hezonja and Booker on the same level for us. I am fine with any at 9 and I am not giving up talent unless we get Russell.

Really? Johnson fits our needs just as well as Hezonja? We are going to have like 4 million in cap and the mid-level exception at best to improve our shooting outside of our draft selection. If we take Johnson or Booker we are going to go into next season without having improved our shooting at all. Johnson likely won't be any better than Hendo initially and Booker wouldn't see the floor for us in year one. We'll be looking at Johnson(if hes left at 9), Lance, PJ, or whatever we can get with our minimal cap space at SG.

I'm getting the feeling you see Zeller as a future all-star or something. His ceiling is a high end role player. It wouldn't be the end of the world to trade a young role player to move up in the draft. Stauskas was a top 10 pick and has just as much potential as Zeller does. We need shooting more than we need defense. I'm not sure how you see Thompson, Hezonja, Stauskas, as way less value than Zeller, Johnson, mid 1st round pick... I agree the value is slightly in the Kings favor since Zeller is more valuable than Thompson and Hezonja/Johnson and Stauskas/mid 1st pick are basically washes, but the point of the trade is that we give up slight value to improve our biggest weakness (shooting) and get a better fit with our selection this year (I'm sorry, but we need Hezonjas shooting more than Stanleys D). Please explain to me how the value is terrible for us in that exchange.

Why would downgrading Marvin to Landry even matter, and is that even really a downgrade? Vonleh or someone else will have that spot in a year or two, if not next season. Stauskas is worth a mid first pick and PJ is easily worth moving up if we are getting a player that can help us more.

I really don't see how those trades are terrible. I can understand not wanting to do them if you don't think Hezonja is an upgrade over Johnson, but the value isn't too far off either way.

[Braggins]

Would the Hornets trade their #9 and dump Stephensons contract for Batum?

Maybe, if Hezonja, Johnson, and Winslow are all gone by 9 and you threw in Meyers Leonard.

Even then, I wouldn't. We'd have to find a way to do a sign and trade for Matthews instead of Batum.

If Batum agreed to an extend-and-trade, I'd do it though. Batum's impending free agency bothers me.

I probably wouldn't either, but that would at least get me talking.

[BeesWax]

In a vacuum Hezonja isn't an upgrade over Johnson, but when you consider the context of our team he could be a pretty large upgrade. I'm fine with just taking Johnson at 9, but I don't actually think he or Hezonja will be available at 9 and Booker is a massive drop-off from those two imo. I would only be interested in Booker if we traded back. I also have no interest in Porzingis, who is the guy I think will fall to us.

edit: We were also getting Thompson from the Kings in all the trades that involved Zeller and their numbers are almost identical. The trade with Hairston was Marvin + PJ + 9th pick + lotto protected 1st for Landry + Stauskas + 6th pick.

Outside of a vacuum Johnson is just as good for us as Hezonja and I would not be surprised at all if Booker was better than Mario in two years anyway. Booker is the most misvalued player on this board.

Both those trades are terrible. I am not giving up Hairston and a future first for Nik and I am not downgrading from Marvin the Landry either. Thompson is what he is and that is almost as good as Zeller now. His perimeter defense is worse than Zeller and he isn't getting better anymore like Zeller. If you trade so much potential you need to get a clear upgrade and I guess that is where we differ. I would put Johnson, Hezonja and Booker on the same level for us. I am fine with any at 9 and I am not giving up talent unless we get Russell.

Really? Johnson fits our needs just as well as Hezonja? We are going to have like 4 million in cap and the mid-level exception at best to improve our shooting outside of our draft selection. If we take Johnson or Booker we are going to go into next season without having improved our shooting at all. Johnson likely won't be any better than Hendo initially and Booker wouldn't see the floor for us in year one. We'll be looking at Johnson(if hes left at 9), Lance, PJ, or whatever we can get with our minimal cap space at SG.

I'm getting the feeling you see Zeller as a future all-star or something. His ceiling is a high end role player. It wouldn't be the end of the world to trade a young role player to move up in the draft. Stauskas was a top 10 pick and has just as much potential as Zeller does. We need shooting more than we need defense. I'm not sure how you see Thompson, Hezonja, Stauskas, as way less value than Zeller, Johnson, mid 1st round pick... I agree the value is slightly in the Kings favor since Zeller is more valuable than Thompson and Hezonja/Johnson and Stauskas/mid 1st pick are basically washes, but the point of the trade is that we give up slight value to improve our biggest weakness (shooting) and get a better fit with our selection this year (I'm sorry, but we need Hezonjas shooting more than Stanleys D). Please explain to me how the value is terrible for us in that exchange.

Why would downgrading Marvin to Landry even matter, and is that even really a downgrade? Vonleh or someone else will have that spot in a year or two, if not next season. Stauskas is worth a mid first pick and PJ is easily worth moving up if we are getting a player that can help us more.

I really don't see how those trades are terrible. I can understand not wanting to do them if you don't think Hezonja is an upgrade over Johnson, but the value isn't too far off either way.

Johnson and Booker both upgrade our shooting and Johnson upgrades our defense as well. Booker is a better shooter right now than Mario IMO. If we take either of them they help us as much if not more than Mario.

They are terrible because you are giving away assets for nothing at all. To me a future first and Hairston have way more value than Nik and Zeller has way more value than Thompson. Not because Zeller is a future all star but just because he already is better at what we need him to do and is still improving. Moving from 9 to 6 is worthless because Mario is no better than the other guys. So for me you trades are just sending out assets without gaining any bonuses. So yes not helping the team and dropping assets is the basic requirements of being terrible.

The problem here is we vastly disagree on the value of Hezonja. I won't get mad if we draft him but I would be just as happy with Booker or Johnson because I think both are better players. Booker is already a better shooter and smarter player and Johnson is a good shooter with a far better all around game.

[LofJ]

I'm on the boat with everyone saying that trading Zeller to move up 3 spots is too much. For the 6th pick I'd offer the Kings our 9th pick, a Marvin for Landry swap, and a lottery protected 2016 1st. I think that value is fair.

[BeesWax]

Not giving up a future first to slide up three slots and take on a worse contract for a less useful player.

[Snidely FC]

I woyuld do CHA 9 to BOS for Tyler Zeller + 16 (take whoever is left of Booker, Hunter, Dekker, Grant, Payne, Wright)

Win or lose Herr Zeller Bros would be mad entertainment value.