Fake Trade Thread

[LofJ]

I agree that moving Dwight is a must, ideally for a player that can pass and shoot. I also think that Lamb should start and MKG should be moved to power forward. That means Marvin also needs to be traded, again for a player than can pass and shoot. If we can't trade for another big that moves the ball and can shoot it a bit we should experiment with starting Frank at center. And then switching MKG/Cody depending on the matchup.

Maybe something like this would work:

https://basketball.realgm.com/tradechecker/saved_trade/7040435

We essentially swap Marvin for Fournier and save money this season by dumping Dwight for the expiring Vuvevic and Jerebko.


Kemba/Monk
Lamb/Bacon
Batum/Fournier
MKG/Zeller/Jerebko
Kaminsky/Vuvevic/Willy

[Vanderbilt_Grad]

MKG's offensive skillset might match what a PF needed 10-15 years ago. It doesn't work in 2018+. Ideally a PF will either pass well or shoot well at range. MKG can't do either. Cody is a bit better at both, but he just doesn't seem to have confidence in his 3 shot in live game situations. I wouldn't want either to play PF next year unless we had a hot tub time machine or something.

I'm cool with Vuvevic and a number of other Dwight trades, but money probably has to be cut somewhere at some point before resigning Kemba.

[Braggins]

MKG's offensive skillset might match what a PF needed 10-15 years ago. It doesn't work in 2018+. Ideally a PF will either pass well or shoot well at range. MKG can't do either.

Then Nic is the PF. These distinctions don't matter as much as how the players fit together. Nic will more often be guarding the slower/bigger players, while MKG will often be checking positions 1-3 on defense even when starting at PF.

MKG is currently the only player on the roster that has a chance guarding the top perimeter scorers in the league. He needs to be in the starting lineup until we can get a better defender or a two way player. I think his ideal role is a poor mans Igoudala backup role, but we aren't in a position to play him there until we make changes to the roster (hopefully draft Mikal Bridges).

I might try to go a different route than LofJ and just start Willy at C (if his 3pt shot is real) with Kemba/Lamb/MKG + a PF in a more traditional starting lineup, but use lots of small ball throughout the game. I would totally be open to the MKG/Frank or MKG/Willy frontcourt idea if we got the right players like in the scenario he proposed, though. Nic's length, sneaky rim protection, and rebounding, makes cross matches a lot more doable since he is actually pretty well suited to guard a lot of PFs in the league right now, and his lack of foot speed often makes him guarding bigger/slower players a bit of a necessity.

[bravor]

It's gonna be hard to trade Howard in the offseason (at least for a good return). At this point, it might be better to keep him and unload him before february 2019 deadline.

Next free agency has plenty of decent veterans that would be useful for this team, even non veterans (Napier, Mbah a Moute, ..) knowing their current franchise can't overpay for most of them.

For my part i think Marvin has to be traded. He was a key player for Clifford, but his age does not fit the new core (Kemba-Cody-Monk).
As for MKG, if you plan to develop Monk, you have to keep the defense honnest and MKG can't cover all of his teammates mistakes (knowing the second part of last season was very disappointing for his own part). Need another 3D here. Or Lin (or his "bball clone"). We will see how Kupchak and his new coaching staff see Monk (combo, pg?, undersized sg?) as next draft & free agency should give a few hints.

But i have zero interest in watching a team that can't guard anyone from opponent's backcourt. I really hope that Kupchak has the defense in mind when he will fix this roster. Individually, this team is loaded with good shooters/cutters and even bigs are reliable at the line if Howard is gone (or considered gone after next season at worst).

Maybe the bulls would agree to take Batum for Asik (the 'bad' counterpart, knowing his last year is partially guaranteed) and Lopez without having to give away any 1st. For instance Batum+Willy could work (+ maybe a 2nd).
Orlando might be a good partner, but i would try to get Simmons.

[yosemiteben]

One helpful thing with Dwight is that he didn't torpedo his value like Whiteside is in the middle of doing.

[Lwcasu]

One helpful thing with Dwight is that he didn't torpedo his value like Whiteside is in the middle of doing.

Dwight actually has been close to a model player for us. For all the hate he got in LA and Houston, I think a lot of that was overblown by the media. So, I think he's best suited for a small market. I also wouldn't be surprised to see him be as productive for another 2 possibly 3 seasons.

I know a lot of people think he's our problem or one of them, but I think the bigger issue is MKG, Batum, and Marvin at this point. We need wings who can score to compliment Kemba.

[LofJ]

One helpful thing with Dwight is that he didn't torpedo his value like Whiteside is in the middle of doing.

Dwight actually has been close to a model player for us. For all the hate he got in LA and Houston, I think a lot of that was overblown by the media. So, I think he's best suited for a small market. I also wouldn't be surprised to see him be as productive for another 2 possibly 3 seasons.

I know a lot of people think he's our problem or one of them, but I think the bigger issue is MKG, Batum, and Marvin at this point. We need wings who can score to compliment Kemba.

We have a wing that can score, Jeremy Lamb, and he needs to start.

[Lwcasu]

One helpful thing with Dwight is that he didn't torpedo his value like Whiteside is in the middle of doing.

Dwight actually has been close to a model player for us. For all the hate he got in LA and Houston, I think a lot of that was overblown by the media. So, I think he's best suited for a small market. I also wouldn't be surprised to see him be as productive for another 2 possibly 3 seasons.

I know a lot of people think he's our problem or one of them, but I think the bigger issue is MKG, Batum, and Marvin at this point. We need wings who can score to compliment Kemba.

We have a wing that can score, Jeremy Lamb, and he needs to start.

100% agree

[JDR720]

Zeller for Marcus Smart

[Electric_Monk]

Ok I know this won’t go over well but I just read that the Thunder would very much like to trade Carmelo Anthony. How about a Batum Melo trade straight up? I believe Melo has a no trade but if he wanted to leave it might be worth looking into. He does have a horrible contract but it does have two years less than Batum’s. What do y’all think?

[HornetJail]

I'd do it if our other targets to get a long term #2 scorer fell through. Melo was NOT in a good situation for him last season, and I think he'd be better in another system where he'd be the clear #2 guy- like him or not, he would be the best #2 scorer Kemba has had since Big Al in 2014. That plus his money coming off the books when Kemba, Dwight, Lamb, Frank, and possibly MKG or Marvin do would be a nice incentive. I'm not in favor of dumping Batum for smaller bad contracts just to shave off the final year of it, but a productive expiring would have my attention.

[JDR720]

Ok I know this won’t go over well but I just read that the Thunder would very much like to trade Carmelo Anthony. How about a Batum Melo trade straight up? I believe Melo has a no trade but if he wanted to leave it might be worth looking into. He does have a horrible contract but it does have two years less than Batum’s. What do y’all think?

I would do that simply to get out of Nics contract. Melo would probably throw a fit if he was traded here though, he is in the ring chasing part of his career. would need to buy him out after probably.

[Liver_Pooty]

Batum for Carmelo would be amazing for financial reasons alone

[LofJ]

Batum for Carmelo would be amazing for financial reasons alone

And for kickstarting a rebuild because that's what this trade would imply.

[HornetJail]

Batum for Carmelo would be amazing for financial reasons alone

And for kickstarting a rebuild because that's what this trade would imply.

I disagree- I don't believe Melo is dead yet. An awful fit on a super-team with a particularly ball-dominant superstar and another top 15 player? Absolutely. But I think we'd improve slightly with him as our #2. He's definitely not high on my list of targets but I would consider that a retooling, creating flexibility and staying competitive move. It's a move I'd make if nothing else came our way

[316Hornets]

Lol, Melo has been done for awhile. If he wanted to come here and start for our tanking team, then we should do it. This guy would make sure that we don't win any close games. Howard and Melo would be 2 of the best tank commanders in the league.

[Electric_Monk]

Ok that’s getting a better response than I thought. That’s kind of my thinking as well, he’s a Jordan brand guy so you know Mike is all for him. He would be fun to watch but I’m not sure he would be ok with that trade unless we were more of a contender. Kemba, Melo and Dwight would definitely sell tickets.

[Lwcasu]

Ok that’s getting a better response than I thought. That’s kind of my thinking as well, he’s a Jordan brand guy so you know Mike is all for him. He would be fun to watch but I’m not sure he would be ok with that trade unless we were more of a contender. Kemba, Melo and Dwight would definitely sell tickets.

It would be a stealth tank move, but at the same time, I wouldn't be surprised if we got slightly better. A line-up of Kemba, Lamb, Carmelo, Kaminsky, Howard would be more fun to watch then what we had last season. I still think we'd be capped at the 9th seed, but if a team or two had significant injuries we could get lucky. Bring Marvin and MKG off the bench with Monk, and go get a SGA in the draft. We sell tickets, while we at the same time develop the future, and the possibility of the 8th seed. I guess that is better than just the possibility of the 8th seed (basically what we've been doing the last 3 years.

[Braggins]

Melo is awful at this point and he wont accept a bench role. The only thing he is good at is catch and shoot and he won't commit to just being a floor spacer and he won't play defense. If we traded for him we'd likely need to buy him out if we aren't tanking. I might still trade for him if it got rid of Batum's contract without giving up picks.

12.7 per
-1.1 vorp
-3.8 bpm
50% ts%
-.61 rpm

[JDR720]

Evidently Melo has a no trade clause according to someone on the T&T board. yea, we would definitely have to buy him out for him to come here.