2015-16 Fake Trade Thread

[BeesWax]

I just don't think that it's realistic for Al to be traded without his consent.

If that is true and he can't be traded stand pat and take BPA at 9 because making short term fixes to fit around Al is just dumb by the front office. The goal should be to get him out of here ASAP or start building for 2016 when we don't have his anchor around our necks.

[BeesWax]

I'm having trouble making a version that seems fair to all teams involved but I would love to see the Hornets trade for 2 of Kevin Martin, Shabazz Muhammad, or Chase Budinger for the #9 pick and whatever parts are needed to make it work.

I do think that it's probably easier to bring in a 3rd team like Sacramento - they want Marvin Williams and can send a PF to Minnesota to replace the likely retiring KG.

How about:

#9
Henderson
Williams

for

Dieng
Muhammed
Martin

This gets us a big to pair with Biz long term or a safety net if we lose him this off-season. They have Pek and playing the two together is not a great pairing. This I would consider because it makes us improved enough for me to justify trading the #9.

[LofJ]

I'd like Al a lot more if Clifford wasn't so stubborn about adjusting for his limitations. He isn't the type of player that makes others better on offense because he's not a good passer, so he isn't a guy that you can build around on that end. He's a really good strategic player to have though if we would use him correctly. That role is off the bench when we are going up against quick athletic teams and starting only when we play teams with big frontcourts like the Grizzlies. His minutes should be limited to under 30 regardless, but if we keep Al and Clifford is as stubborn as he usually is when it comes to him then I foresee us parting with one or both of them by the end of next offseason. Their fates are tied together, either adjust Al's role or go down with the ship.

Edit: Going off Clifford's end of season comments it looks like he wants to go down with the ship, so I'm definitely in favor of trading Al.

[HornetJail]

I'm having trouble making a version that seems fair to all teams involved but I would love to see the Hornets trade for 2 of Kevin Martin, Shabazz Muhammad, or Chase Budinger for the #9 pick and whatever parts are needed to make it work.

I do think that it's probably easier to bring in a 3rd team like Sacramento - they want Marvin Williams and can send a PF to Minnesota to replace the likely retiring KG.

How about:

#9
Henderson
Williams

for

Dieng
Muhammed
Martin

This gets us a big to pair with Biz long term or a safety net if we lose him this off-season. They have Pek and playing the two together is not a great pairing. This I would consider because it makes us improved enough for me to justify trading the #9.

Send out Al instead of Hendo/Williams, or find a separate deal to ship out Al for shooters, and I'd do this. I like Shabazz. Not as high on Dieng though, long-term Vonleh is going to be a lot better than him and he's 6 years younger.

[BeesWax]

I'm having trouble making a version that seems fair to all teams involved but I would love to see the Hornets trade for 2 of Kevin Martin, Shabazz Muhammad, or Chase Budinger for the #9 pick and whatever parts are needed to make it work.

I do think that it's probably easier to bring in a 3rd team like Sacramento - they want Marvin Williams and can send a PF to Minnesota to replace the likely retiring KG.

How about:

#9
Henderson
Williams

for

Dieng
Muhammed
Martin

This gets us a big to pair with Biz long term or a safety net if we lose him this off-season. They have Pek and playing the two together is not a great pairing. This I would consider because it makes us improved enough for me to justify trading the #9.

Send out Al instead of Hendo/Williams, or find a separate deal to ship out Al for shooters, and I'd do this. I like Shabazz. Not as high on Dieng though, long-term Vonleh is going to be a lot better than him and he's 6 years younger.

I think Dieng is a center where Vonleh is more of a PF. I actually think they would compliment each other very well. I would love to send out Al and if I could I would do the Portland trade instead and move Al there. The premise of this move was that we could not trade Al and instead have to deal with him here. In that case I made a move to get an additional back C and a couple wings.

[Vanderbilt_Grad]

We can fake trade Al all we want, but the odds of it actually happening are pretty slim. On the other hand actually giving Cliff non-rookie shooters and letting him go down with his ship while we've added players that can help long term after he and Al are gone seems sensible to me.

My criteria was contract must be at least 2+ years and must be able to shoot 3s for main players involved in any trade of #9 KM & Shabazz meet that. Budinger can shoot 3s even though he would be a 1 year rental ... but I would consider KM to be the main guy being traded for.

[californiadude]

Question/trade idea, If Hezonja isn't their at 9 would you guys do Barnes/30 for 9.

[Benjamin Linus]

I think we would be giving up too much for Harrison Barnes. Maybe add a future first, but not sure if that would be enough... then again, I'm not really much of a Barnes fan. I sure others may be more inclined.

[yosemiteben]

Question/trade idea, If Hezonja isn't their at 9 would you guys do Barnes/30 for 9.

I wouldn't. I think Johnson and Oubre both (and maybe Dekker too) have the potential to be better than Barnes.

[californiadude]

Question/trade idea, If Hezonja isn't their at 9 would you guys do Barnes/30 for 9.

I wouldn't. I think Johnson and Oubre both (and maybe Dekker too) have the potential to be better than Barnes.

That's fair. I don't know if Decker or even Johnson will end up a better player then Barnes, pretty sure if they were all coming out of college at the same time Barnes would go before any of those 3. But I can definitely understand how unknown/untapped potential is more enticing then a guy who's already been in the league 2/3 years. I do really like Oubre.

[LofJ]

Oubre reminds me a lot of Barnes actually.

[Braggins]

Batum is easily the best player in that Portland deal. I would give up Al for scraps so I have no problem with the deal due to him being in it. I still don't know if the #9 pick is worth Batum/Mccollum/Leonard. It probably is unless we can get Hezonja at 9 or make a move up for him or Russell.

Kemba/Mo
Batum/Hairston
MKG/Lance
Zeller/Vonleh
Biz/Leonard

Thats way better than our roster this season imo. The problem will be when Batums %'s tank in our system and he ends up struggling to shoot over 30% from deep while the board calls for his head and demands better shooters for Clifford to work with.

[yosemiteben]

That's fair. I don't know if Decker or even Johnson will end up a better player then Barnes, pretty sure if they were all coming out of college at the same time Barnes would go before any of those 3. But I can definitely understand how unknown/untapped potential is more enticing then a guy who's already been in the league 2/3 years. I do really like Oubre.

Meh, I think Barnes underwhelmed in college and is still underwhelming. He was the top prospect in his high school class and was voted a pre-season All American his freshman year. I think when he was drafted people still envisioned him having that really high ceiling, but expectations have come down for him because he hasn't been great.

[Liver_Pooty]

That's fair. I don't know if Decker or even Johnson will end up a better player then Barnes, pretty sure if they were all coming out of college at the same time Barnes would go before any of those 3. But I can definitely understand how unknown/untapped potential is more enticing then a guy who's already been in the league 2/3 years. I do really like Oubre.

Meh, I think Barnes underwhelmed in college and is still underwhelming. He was the top prospect in his high school class and was voted a pre-season All American his freshman year. I think when he was drafted people still envisioned him having that really high ceiling, but expectations have come down for him because he hasn't been great.

Barnes is a great athlete, but doesn't move like a pure fluid athlete (kind of hard to explain, just seems rather robotic at times). I'd welcome his shooting, though.

[yosemiteben]

My view is that Cliff will have a very valid point if we take away Al and expect reliable scoring and spacing from Batum and then still get upset at not having consistent offense.

Giving Biz starter minutes and plugging in Batum is not a good solution to fix our offense IMO.

[BeesWax]

My view is that Cliff will have a very valid point if we take away Al and expect reliable scoring and spacing from Batum and then still get upset at not having consistent offense.

Giving Biz starter minutes and plugging in Batum is not a good solution to fix our offense IMO.

He has had Al for two years and other than Al playing out of his mind for a small stretch last year he hasn't developed a good offense yet. That argument doesn't fly after this season.

[yosemiteben]

My view is that Cliff will have a very valid point if we take away Al and expect reliable scoring and spacing from Batum and then still get upset at not having consistent offense.

Giving Biz starter minutes and plugging in Batum is not a good solution to fix our offense IMO.

He has had Al for two years and other than Al playing out of his mind for a small stretch last year he hasn't developed a good offense yet. That argument doesn't fly after this season.

I get that point, but that small stretch from Al was a better, longer, and more dominant period than anyone on this new theoretical roster will have had in their entire careers, and I think this board significantly underestimates how difficult it will be to generate consistent offense without bringing in a major scorer. If we are trading Al and the 9 as a package (which I think everyone knows we aren't because it would probably need to be done after the draft because of Al's option), it needs to be to bring in reliable scoring production.

It's just my opinion. I get that you and a few other folks think that Al is terrible and completely unsalvageable. No one is going to change anyone's mind at this point.

[Braggins]

I think our offense would be better after the Batum trade than it has been with Al (not counting his run). I don't think it would propel us to being a top offensive team or anything like that but there is no reason Cliff shouldn't be able to make that team at least close to mediocre offensively instead of flat out garbage like we have been for most of the last two seasons. Clifford is still the biggest issue in my opinion. The only time we haven't been basically the worst offensive team in the league under Clifford has been when Al was putting up insane numbers. I wouldn't be surprised if we were still awful offensively with Batum/CJ/Leonard, but it would be because we have such a terrible offensive scheme. A good coach could make the Batum version of our roster at least manageable on offense imo.

[Liver_Pooty]

Batum is better than Henderson, but is he really THAT much better to essentially give up the 9th pick in the draft?

I don't think so, especially after this season.

[Braggins]

Batum is better than Henderson, but is he really THAT much better to essentially give up the 9th pick in the draft?

I don't think so, especially after this season.

That is what it really comes down to. I think it depends on if we have any opportunities to move up and who ends up being available at 9. If we can't trade up and Hezonja is gone before 9 then I might consider that Portland package over taking someone like Johnson, Kaminsky, or WCS with the pick. Maybe Johnson impresses in workouts and we end up just happily taking him 9th, but I really don't think anyone else likely to be available at 9 is very good or would have much chance of helping us anytime soon.