Is this in the ballpark for Okafor?

[wiff]

Thunder trade
Nick Collison 6.25mil two years left
DJ White a second year PF who looked very good once he recovered from jaw cancer
2010 Thunder or Phoenix draft pick which ever is higher unprotected
Chucky Atkins 3.48mil exp (20% guaranteed)
Earl Watson 6.6mil exp



Bobcats trade
Emeka Okafor 10.5mil 5 year deal
Vladi Radman 6.46mil two years left

Why for the Thunder? They finally land that ever elusive defensive Center they need.

Why for the Bobcats? They get a nice prospect in DJ White and a nice asset in Collison who can back up either the 4 or the 5. They are able to get immediate cap relief by cutting Atkins since his contract is only partially guaranteed. A large amount of cap space for 2010 and the best between two draft picks that is unprotected.

Is this deal close?

[Fred Williamson]

I want Harden.

[WaydownSouth]

No need for Watson or Atkins. Expiring contracts are nice, but not enough for Okafor. The only player that I'd be interested in is Collison, and no way would a Collison for Okafor be a positive move for the Cats.

The way things are looking I'm guessing that either the Thunder or Suns pick will be lottery bound.

I could possibly be swayed into a Krstic, Collison and 2010 unprotected 1st (higher of Thunder/Suns) for Vlad Rad and Okafor, but you'd need to be doing some real fast talking.

You can keep your expirings and DJ and the Cats would need to find another 3 ball threat.

There are some nice PF/C in the 2010 draft like Monroe, Aldrich, Davis, Brackens and Lawal.

[Fred Williamson]

Okafor+Henderson

for

Atkins+Collison+Harden ?

[BigSlam]

I want Harden.

[Bassman]

Given our dreadful cap situation, everyone here is placing too much value on Okafor. Look, NOBODY is willing to give equal value for him. I think Collison and next year's 1st rounder is a good deal. Perhaps they also include Atkins (then waived) plus White, and we throw in Vlad (to get out of more money). We get out from under long contracts, get our backup PF (who is capable of starting when necessary) and get a likely lottery pick in next year's deeper draft (versus no pick as ous gets surrendered for the Ajinca disaster).

Like it or not, we are STUCK in a rut with the contracts we have. The cap is going LOWER next year! We have NO BREATHING ROOM now! Everyone complains that trading Okafor leaves us with Diop, Nazr and Ajinca to hold down the 5 spot. Well, they are here anyway. You've gotta play these guys and utilize your assets versus watching dead money rot on the bench.

By making this move we could potentially sign an Allen Iverson (if desired) to a 1 year deal as our starter. Bring Bell off the bench, and take advantage of his expiring deal next year. I'd take my chances with:

PG - Felts, DJ
SG - Iverson, Bell, Henderson
SF - Wallace, Brown
PF - Diaw, Collison, White
C - Diop, Nazr, Ajinca

[BigSlam]

Given our dreadful cap situation, everyone here is placing too much value on Okafor. Look, NOBODY is willing to give equal value for him.

Before the draft Thunder fans were willing to give up the #3, #25 and Collison for #40 and EO50

That's the sort of impact he would have on their team and the value they placed on him.

[Rich4114]

I don't get why everyone sees Okafor as having a bad contract. I think he's getting what any other team would be willing to pay him. It's guys like Nazr and Vlad and Diop that destroy our cap space. The money they get Vs the value they bring to any team is not worth it... unfortunately there's tons of guys in the league just as bad or worse.

[WaydownSouth]

I like Okafor's contract, it's not small by any means, but I think it's fair. If LB can put a cracker up his clacker (Okafor clacker, not his own) and he starts performing on the offensive end whilst maintaining his defence they there is zero wrong with the money he's earning.

[fatlever]

its not that okafor has a bad contract, its just the bobcats as a whole have all their money tied up in a 40 win team with no real chance to get out of that for 3 years.

trade okafor and vlad for collison, 2010 1st and expiring contracts (watson/atkins).

i would seriously consider that trade.

however, i would rather wait to allstar break to see what this team is doing. i am all for blowing it up if we start slow again.

[wiff]

Given our dreadful cap situation, everyone here is placing too much value on Okafor. Look, NOBODY is willing to give equal value for him.

Before the draft Thunder fans were willing to give up the #3, #25 and Collison for #40 and EO50

That's the sort of impact he would have on their team and the value they placed on him.

In essence it's still a similar package.

Collison=Collison
#25<DJ White
#40<<<<<<<<<Atkins and Watsons expiring for the Thunder taking back Radman.
#3?????The future draft pick. This is supposed to be a deep draft.

[wiff]

Also DJ White isn't a scrub. He had a some decent numbers in limited minutes last year.

http://www.nba.com/playerfile/dj_white/ ... stats.html

The last game was his best. With 15pts, 11rebs, 2ast, 2stl, and 3blk in 24min.

But in some of the other games he had decent numbers as well in short minutes. 7pts and 4rebs in 12min.

The Thunder apparently did not make an offer to Milsap because they felt DJ White could be a similar player.

Just another $.02

[SWedd523]

I want Harden.

This.

You can have Mek. Just give me Harden

[BigSlam]

Given our dreadful cap situation, everyone here is placing too much value on Okafor. Look, NOBODY is willing to give equal value for him.

Before the draft Thunder fans were willing to give up the #3, #25 and Collison for #40 and EO50

That's the sort of impact he would have on their team and the value they placed on him.

In essence it's still a similar package.

Collison=Collison
#25<DJ White
#40<<<<<<<<<Atkins and Watsons expiring for the Thunder taking back Radman.
#3?????The future draft pick. This is supposed to be a deep draft.

Mmmmm, difference for me is Harden. The deal only made sense because of him in my world.

Who knows, maybe you guys explode next season like the Raps did a couple of years ago when they jumped from 27 wins to 47 wins and end next season with 50 wins essentially giving us a crappy pick in return?

[wiff]

If the pick was a top ten pick do you think it would work?

Because I have a feeling between either Phoenix or OKC one of them will be in the top ten.

Maybe this is something to revisit come the trade deadline?

[thruthefire]

I wish Harden would fix his grill. When I saw that photo of him on ESPN.com, I nearly gagged.

[dmutombo321]

its not that okafor has a bad contract, its just the bobcats as a whole have all their money tied up in a 40 win team with no real chance to get out of that for 3 years.

trade okafor and vlad for collison, 2010 1st and expiring contracts (watson/atkins).

i would seriously consider that trade.

however, i would rather wait to allstar break to see what this team is doing. i am all for blowing it up if we start slow again.

That line sums it up perfectly fats.

I'd consider it too. Its not a bad offer. The OKC and/or the rebuilding PHX selection is likely to be in the top 7. Given the improvement of other teams in the east while we've been sitting idle, I dont expect us in the post season -- so we'd have our pick retained for at least another year.

If OKC is in the position to eat salary and still complete the trade, I'd prefer we just as soon forgo Collison in favor of a second round pick. If not, they could just try to finangle the second out in addition to Collison.

DJ White can play and now that he's healthy, he has Brandon Bass / Milsap type potential.

Atkins can be bought out immediatly. If Watson shows any hint of being able to regain some of his old form, perhaps they could deal him to someone else who needs a back up guard for the post season for another second rounder. If Watson continues to be dead weight, just show him the door once he expires at year's end.

So, in a nut shell, we'd free up considerable salary to pursue a free agent the following off season or the ability take on a contract in a trade. We'd have a promising young PF in White under contract for next to nothing for the next 3-4 years. He could be something special and at the very least, he's still a great asset off the bench. But most importantly, we'd likely have two lotto selections (w/ one likely top 6 or higher) in next year's strong draft.

Starting in 2010, not even taking a potential FA/trade acquisition possible by the freed up cap space into consideration, we could look like

Felton / DJ
Evan Turner / Henderson
Wallace / UPS
Diaw / DJ White / Collison
Aldrich / Diop / Nazr

[Rich4114]

LOL - um no we can NOT have DJ White on his team. Our game threads would be dominated by me making jokes about his face being uneven.

[BigSlam]

Felton / DJ
Evan Turner / Henderson
Wallace / UPS
Diaw / DJ White / Collison
Aldrich / Diop / Nazr

You know that I do like me some Evan Turner dm!!

[BigSlam]

If the pick was a top ten pick do you think it would work?

Because I have a feeling between either Phoenix or OKC one of them will be in the top ten.

Maybe this is something to revisit come the trade deadline?

Would you make it both picks - yours and the Suns one?