The (Where Ainges Fear to) Trade Thread, 2016-17 (1.0)

[Andrew McCeltic]

Would be on the hook for 8.5m per year for the next two years. Not good enough to justify. The new rules basically hamstring us from taking *anything* beyond this season. Even a guy making 3m or something would be dicey.

That's why you trade Bradley for him and Mclemore. Or Amir/Jae for Gay/Koufos. You can do cap neutral deals that way..

Well the goal of acquiring a low key rebounder is to do so without losing any of our main guys consisting of IT/Smart/Bradley/Horford/Crowder/Olynyk. Plus Bradley could get us a better guy than Koufos and McLemore.

I don't think we can do that. Rozier for Nurkic? Smart for Nurkic? Rozier for Noel? Bradley for Koufos/Mclemore gets us the center we desperately need in the short term, he gives us the ability to move Zeller or Amir, and Mclemore still has a 50% chance, IMO, to be better than Bradley. You can also give Avery's minutes to Smart, Mclemore and Brown, so we take a step back in the short-term but give meaningful developmental minutes to three young players. Bradley's going to come back down to earth, he always does.

[Curmudgeon]

Hell, I'd settle for Kris Humphries at this point. He's a better rebounder than anyone on the roster except possibly Horford.

[SMTBSI]

If we're talking bandaids, it seems likely to me that Amir stays put. I doubt we'll get anyone back who's clearly better than him, if we're not willing to put anything major on the table, so why reshuffle the deck chairs?

So, it's either going to be someone who can be salary matched by Jerebko and flotsam, or we wait until January when Zeller is eligible to be traded.

My money is on the latter - I think we're in for a couple months of data gathering before any moves are made. Better get comfortable...

[cellar-door]

If we're talking bandaids, it seems likely to me that Amir stays put. I doubt we'll get anyone back who's clearly better than him, if we're not willing to put anything major on the table, so why reshuffle the deck chairs?

So, it's either going to be someone who can be salary matched by Jerebko and flotsam, or we wait until January when Zeller is eligible to be traded.

My money is on the latter - I think we're in for a couple months of data gathering before any moves are made. Better get comfortable...

Yeah, waiting for Zeller to be eligible and Dallas to be out of it seems the most obvious path.

[Andrew McCeltic]

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1489534

Thread on trade board citing Sam Amico article about how Kings are "asking too much" for Cousins:

Original story at http://amicohoops.net/execs-offer-takes-on-kings-cousins-conundrum/

The Sacramento Kings are off to another lousy start, another start that makes the playoffs seem like a pipe dream — again.

So is this the season they finally trade All-Star center DeMarcus Cousins?

“I’d say it’s 50-50,” said one Western Conference executive. “If not, it’s not necessarily because they want to keep him.”

Instead, several team executives and general managers told Amico Hoops the Kings are only holding on to Cousins because they have no other choice.

“They’ll never get what they want in return,” said an East GM. “They think Cousins is worth more than he actually is. He hurts you every bit as much as he helps you. He’s like a cheeseburger, or booze. Too much and you’ll pay a price.”

A third team executive told Amico Hoops that Kings GM Vlade Divac and owner Vivek Ranadive have indeed explored moving Cousins, albeit in a “passive-aggressive” and “secretive” manner.

“They try to act like they would never ever trade him, but why not?” one GM said. “That team stinks. They have since (Cousins) got there.”

That GM later added, “the only good things Ranadive has done was to buy the team and keep it from moving to Seattle, and get those Kings bloggers in his backpocket. I’m convinced he pays some of them.”

When asked if he would want Cousins, the GM responded, “I’d be terrified with that guy on my team. They’ve asked me about him, what I’d give up. The answer is not much, no one that I value.”

The West team executive answered: “I’d take (Cousins), but you’d need a dominant personality to control him. I’ve been in that locker room. He’s a problem. They’d love to trade him, but can’t. So they act like they won’t. They would, though– tomorrow.”

Cousins, 26, is 6-foot-11 and in his seventh NBA season, all with the Kings. He has compiled career averages 20.3 points and 10.7 rebounds.

The Kings were 2-5 heading in to Sunday’s game at Toronto.

Reprinted at:

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nba-trade-rumors-kings-asking-202533557.html

Another NBA season has begun and so have the trade rumors circling the dismal Sacramento Kings and All-Star center DeMarcus Cousins.

"Boogie" is arguably the NBA's best center, but the Kings haven't won more than 33 games since his arrival in 2010. His attitude problems are well documented, but so is his dominance in the paint. With just one more season until Cousins is likely to walk, the Kings are running out of time for find a trade partner, which is easier said than done.

“They’ll never get what they want in return,” an East Conference general manager told Amico Hoops. “They think Cousins is worth more than he actually is. He hurts you every bit as much as he helps you. He’s like a cheeseburger, or booze. Too much and you’ll pay a price.”

Other team executives agree, telling Amico Hoops the Kings are only holding on to Cousins because they have no other choice.

"I’d be terrified with that guy on my team," one general manager said. "They’ve asked me about him, what I’d give up. The answer is not much, no one that I value.”

Cousins is averaging 26.0 points and 8.4 rebounds through seven games this season, though he's already been in trouble for throwing his mouthpiece into the stands. He was fined $25,000 and assessed a technical foul.

“I’d take (Cousins), but you’d need a dominant personality to control him," one Western Conference executive said. "I’ve been in that locker room. He’s a problem. They’d love to trade him, but can’t. So they act like they won’t. They would, though — tomorrow.”

I don't know about this one. I mean sure, I don't think Cousins is the easiest player to have, but I highly doubt it's 'all him'. Playing for the Kings certainly doesn't help.

Re dominant personality: This seems like a job for Russ.

[Andrew McCeltic]

I could imagine something big with Denver, unfortunately. Amir/Smart/Olynyk for Gallo/Nurkic, or add Faried to the mix, too. Depends on how close he thinks we are, and how good the Brooklyn picks will be.

[Asian Celtic]

where do you guys think DA is going with the C's?

a) Cash assets for that missing star player?
b) Continue to draft and release 1st round players?
C) Trade assets for more Ham and Eggers, still stay on the treadmill route?

Because clearly we are not yet a championship team.
Definitely not a tanking team.

[Curmudgeon]

They're playing like a tanking team. Involuntary tank.

[Ed Pinkney]

Hoopshype says the second year of Zeller's contract is guaranteed with no team or player option, does anyone know if this is accurate?

[Curmudgeon]

Hoopshype says the second year of Zeller's contract is guaranteed with no team or player option, does anyone know if this is accurate?

From Sportrac: 2017 non-guaranteed, fully guaranteed if not waived on or before 7/1/17
Contract Source: Steve Bulpett

[Ed Pinkney]

Hoopshype says the second year of Zeller's contract is guaranteed with no team or player option, does anyone know if this is accurate?

From Sportrac: 2017 non-guaranteed, fully guaranteed if not waived on or before 7/1/17
Contract Source: Steve Bulpett

That's good to know, thanks fella. Unfortunate that he can't be put in a trade until February though (I think).

[klemen4]

I see only 2 options:
- trade for Cousins, but it will take two or three of brown, smart, brk 17, brk 18.
- sign Hayward as FA and go with a lineup it/Bradley/Hayward/Crowder/horford

[cl2117]

Of course. I just threw it out there. Hayward is a free agent this summer if he chooses to be.. If Utah does not plan on resigning, or he plans to test the market, then it makes that an interesting situation where Utah doesn't have a boat load of leverage. Just interesting stuff to think about.

If I had to guess Utah will pay whatever it takes to keep him. About the leverage - Utah has about 45 million more leverages than any other team, but I doubt this would be his main concern if he want to leave. The main consideration for him I think will be whether or not he sees good future for the team and himself competitively. The only reason to trade him would be if he in no uncertain terms tells the FO that he leans towards leaving after the season. I see no other reason they would trade him at this current moment.

This is why I can't imagine a Hayward to Boston trade. If Hayward tells them in no uncertain terms that he's leaning towards leaving in free agency, I've got to think Boston has an inside track into signing him given the fit and the Stevens connection. So I think the gambler in Ainge would make him wait it out.

I know you then run the risk that another team trades for him and convinces him to stay or that Utah keeps him and does the same, but I like our chances if Hayward is leaning towards free agency and I'd be willing to risk not getting him to hold onto the assets it would require to obtain him, especially since I don't see the Jazz letting him go cheap no matter what.

[Curmudgeon]

Hoopshype says the second year of Zeller's contract is guaranteed with no team or player option, does anyone know if this is accurate?

From Sportrac: 2017 non-guaranteed, fully guaranteed if not waived on or before 7/1/17
Contract Source: Steve Bulpett

That's good to know, thanks fella. Unfortunate that he can't be put in a trade until February though (I think).

He becomes eligible to be traded on January 15th

[EJay33]

Hell, I'd settle for Kris Humphries at this point. He's a better rebounder than anyone on the roster except possibly Horford.

Horford has the length and the athleticism, but he doesn't have a legacy of being a great rebounder. He will help but this isn't an area where I expected him to have a major impact even in the best of outcomes.

[watsonthedragon]

I see only 2 options:
- trade for Cousins, but it will take two or three of brown, smart, brk 17, brk 18.
- sign Hayward as FA and go with a lineup it/Bradley/Hayward/Crowder/horford

Cousins for Smart, BKN '17, and BKN '18? Sign me up. We're not getting a player as good as Cousins with either of those picks, especially with how the Nets are playing.

[Banks2Pierce]

We're not getting a player as good as Cousins with either of those picks, especially with how the Nets are playing.

Panicking about the Nets being good this year or next is about the worst thing Danny could do right now. They're a bottom 4 or 5 team.

[watsonthedragon]

We're not getting a player as good as Cousins with either of those picks, especially with how the Nets are playing.

Panicking about the Nets being good this year or next is about the worst thing Danny could do right now. They're a bottom 4 or 5 team.

Oh, I agree, and I don't think trading them for Cousins would be panicking. I think that we would be lucky to get a player of Cousins level with either of those picks. He is absolutely dominant, young, and a great fit for our team needs. Now if you're in the boat that believes he's not a good locker room fit, not a winner, etc. then that's fine. I personally don't but to each their own.

[TheOGJabroni]

Unless Danny has some idea that a) Blake Griffin will sign here (I don't necessarily like Griffin more than Cousins but it would be without giving up assets) or B) Anthony Davis could be available for the right (albeit massive) price, I would trade for Cousins on January 15th. Hopefully the Nets don't look too good before then. I think they are better than anyone was wiling to predict.

In:
Cousins
Casspi

Out:
Brown
Rozier
Zeller
BK 17
BK 18

Thomas / Smart / Jackson
Bradley / Green / Young
Crowder / Jerebko / Casspi
Horford / Johnson
Cousins / Olynyk / Zeller

[Banks2Pierce]

Stein has this in his latest:

Keep an eye on Kings big man Willie Cauley-Stein. Word is Sacramento is open to moving the second-year big man, who wants more of a role than he has under new Kings coach Dave Joerger. …

Unfortunately wouldn't help our rebounding whatsoever, but is an intriguing talent and locked in for a few more years.