RealGM

Make the Diaw trade a "good" trade for us? i.e. to make up for JRich's scoring?

Yes, you must, for the purposes of this thread, assume that Okafor's scoring will continue/be consistent and is linked directly to the acquisition of Diaw and how Diaw/Okafor fit into LB's system.

Is it 3 points a game more? 2? 5?

Currently he's about 6 more than his season average (13.5). Which is bonkers crazy.

If Okafor can average 19 ppg for the rest of the year... does that make the Diaw trade "good" or "excellent" or "fair" or what?

If you don't think Diaw has anything to do with Okafor's improved scoring don't respond to the thread. This is a theoretical... we are assuming is DOES relate.

from what i've seen, i think the diaw trade is a good trade regardless of how many points okafor averages. we've long needed a player of his skillset. jrich was a great complimentary player but he didnt not directly make others better through his play. he was simply a good enough player to, at times, carry a team on his back. while we still need a go to scorer who can do some of the things jrich did, i think we needed a player like diaw even more. diaw makes everyone around him better. we've never had a player like that.

but, it's obvious that okafor is getting more easy baskets thanks to diaw's passing in the lane. i think that it is realistic to expect okafor to average about 16-17ppg w/ diaw in the lineup. diaw/okafor/wallace seem to compliment each other perfectly.

I'm not entirely here (If you don't think Diaw has anything to do with Okafor's improved scoring don't respond to the thread. This is a theoretical... we are assuming is DOES relate), so I'll post anyway :

Having a willing passer in the front court has made it easier for Okafor to score because Diaw can create shots for others/himself, but his help on defense/the boards shouldn't be overstated. It's hard to focus on offense when you're busting ass on defense. If you look at the game logs though, Okafor has been scoring like this for the entire month of December, Diaw has boosted his average though b/c he draws defenders away and allows Wallace to play his natural position. Furthermore, I think it's more likely to continue because some teams would just clog the paint and make it impossible for Mek to beat us...Diaw makes that defensive strategy quite a bit more challenging.

Okafor needs to increase his career average by 3 points while Diaw and Wallace chime in for 14-15 each for this to be a fair trade (Okafor has essentially replace J rich's production, Diaw Okafor's while Wallace is constant).

Okafor needs to increase his career average by 6 points while Diaw and Wallace chime in for 14-15 each for this to be a good trade

For this to be an excellent trade the above needs to still be fulfilled while Bell and Diaw contribute enough to the perimeter defense to replace the loss of Diaw/2nd. This one is hard to judge, but I guess if our defensive efficiency stays high while the scoring requirements are met I'd consider that a win.

There should be some good discussion in this thread, nice job Fluff.

The question should be what does Diaw have to do to make it excellent and he is doing it with his 15 8 and 4-5 dimes.
Ill just answer the question though below as posted.


To make it the steal of the century Mek has to average 20.
Excellent 19 (yes 1 point makes a difference)
Very good trade 17-18
Good trade 16

Honestly Mek's scoring was gonna go up regardless because our top scorer left. Everybody's scoring should go up a little because there is more shots. With that said Diaw is making Mek better. They are truely benefitng from this trade with Diaw playing to his potential.
They got something they needed with Diaw but they also lost what they really need now which is a scorer who can create. Now believe it or not it is still a great trade because it is now easier in this league to get a scorer who can create then a versitle Diaw who can play 5 positions average high scorng rebounding and assists.
We did get a decent stop gap in Bell. He can be o.k. for now.

I just looked at the last 5 games of Mek's scoring and I know there's a chance it will go down although with LB working with him DJ being there and Diaw and him being the focul point of the offense it coud keep up but if Mek can keep up 21 points a game then Diaw will be the biggest steal of Bobcats history and maybe even though it was even for both it will just stand out as a hugh turning point.
I can't see us trading Diaw for Curry and Lee.
Curry doesn't make anybody better and Lee is to similar to Mek.
They need to keep Diaw and Mek together.

I was also wrong when I said it's also about Diaw's numbers more then Mek's. I saw it in the games but seeing that 21 number starring me in the face makes me realize it fully.