WOJ/SHAMS: Nuggets trade Barton and Morris for KCP and Ish Smith

[Frichuela]

Wow...Monte Morris had the best DRPM amongst guards last year, per ESPN:

http://www.espn.com/nba/statistics/rpm/_/sort/DRPM/position/1

[truwizfan4evr]

Barton is going to be a chucker. I'd rather those minutes go to Kispert & Davis. Maybe Barton gets traded at the deadline for a team who needs scoring and a future 2nd.

Would Orlando be agreeable for a Barton for Ross swap? Ross wants out.

Ross also a chucker and on a huge decline

[Gig18]

I'm verklempt.
KCP played better at the end of last year than he ever had for us.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but it looks like Morris plays in slow motion.
Also gets bailed out because the Joker is their real PG...

[dckingsfan]

Adrian Wojnarowski: Washington is finalizing a trade to acquire Denver’s Will Barton and Monte Morris for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Ish Smith, sources tell ESPN.

Yossi Gozlan: Wizards need to throw in another small salary to have this trade executed before the end of June. Doing so would allow Denver to generate a $15.6M trade exception by sliding Ish Smith into the $8.2M JaMychal Green trade exception.

Isaiah Todd

I say Gill over Todd. Todd may not have shown anything yet, but I'd prefer to see what another year of development gets us.

I can understand that... my thought is to move Todd to make room for a different youngster that has more potential.

My opinion of Todd may be off - but I see very little potential.

I also hope that Barton doesn't start but rather is a backup. I wouldn't mind moving Barton for a backup C or another backup PG to "force" the usage of Avidja and Kispert.

[FAH1223]

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[prime1time]

Much like I talked about in the Rui trade after he greatly improved his 3-point shooting, it's silly to argue how good a role player. This guy is marginally better than that guy. That guy is marginally better than this guy. None of that matters. What matters is fit next to the teams star. And the reality is that KCP fits better next to Jokic than Barton. KCP is a 3 and D player.

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[Kanyewest]

Isaiah Todd

I say Gill over Todd. Todd may not have shown anything yet, but I'd prefer to see what another year of development gets us.

Gill is a RFA so I guess it'll be Todd. Sigh - what a waste of 31st pick.

I'm going to go with Vernon Carey.

[nate33]

The trade will work if we reroute Barton to Indy and we also send Kuzma to Indy, while getting back Brogdon. Not sure Indy will go for it. Ultimately it's just expiring contracts for Brogdon, unless they see real value in Kuzma's Bird Rights. But if they agree, our lineup would be:

PG Brogdon/Morris
SG Beal/Davis
SF Kispert/Avdija
PF Avdija/Rui
C Porzingis/Gafford

That would be another Tommy Sheppard special. Makes us better in the short term without sacrificing future picks. But it also keeps us from tanking and actually having hope to ever acquire a superstar talent.

[prime1time]

I don't know enough about Morris to have an opinion. But on the surface, I think he's a backup pg and I hope he doesn't start. A starting backcourt of Morris and Beal is not big enough to defend in this league.

[prime1time]

The trade will work if we reroute Barton to Indy and we also send Kuzma to Indy, while getting back Brogdon. Not sure Indy will go for it. Ultimately it's just expiring contracts for Brogdon, unless they see real value in Kuzma's Bird Rights. But if they agree, our lineup would be:

PG Brogdon/Morris
SG Beal/Davis
SF Kispert/Avdija
PF Avdija/Rui
C Porzingis/Gafford

That would be another Tommy Sheppard special. Makes us better in the short term without sacrificing future picks. But it also keeps us from tanking and actually having hope to ever acquire a superstar talent.

This looks good but there's no way Avdija's starting over Rui lol.

[80sballboy]

I don't know enough about Morris to have an opinion. But on the surface, I think he's a backup pg and I hope he doesn't start. A starting backcourt of Morris and Beal is not big enough to defend in this league.

Agree that why Delon Wright or a trade to get Brogdon makes more sense.

[prime1time]

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[nate33]

I say Gill over Todd. Todd may not have shown anything yet, but I'd prefer to see what another year of development gets us.

Gill is a RFA so I guess it'll be Todd. Sigh - what a waste of 31st pick.

I'm going to go with Vernon Carey.

We kinda need Carey as a 3rd string center though. We can't count on Porzingis to play 82 games. I guess we could sign another center for the vet minimum.

[nate33]

The trade will work if we reroute Barton to Indy and we also send Kuzma to Indy, while getting back Brogdon. Not sure Indy will go for it. Ultimately it's just expiring contracts for Brogdon, unless they see real value in Kuzma's Bird Rights. But if they agree, our lineup would be:

PG Brogdon/Morris
SG Beal/Davis
SF Kispert/Avdija
PF Avdija/Rui
C Porzingis/Gafford

That would be another Tommy Sheppard special. Makes us better in the short term without sacrificing future picks. But it also keeps us from tanking and actually having hope to ever acquire a superstar talent.

This looks good but there's no way Avdija's starting over Rui lol.

I think it's possible. My logic is that, alongside Porzingis, I like Deni's ball-handling and playmaking around KP's high screen. When the second unit is in the game, Gafford will be rolling to the rim on screens, making it more important to have dead-eye shooters like Rui around him.

[prime1time]

The trade will work if we reroute Barton to Indy and we also send Kuzma to Indy, while getting back Brogdon. Not sure Indy will go for it. Ultimately it's just expiring contracts for Brogdon, unless they see real value in Kuzma's Bird Rights. But if they agree, our lineup would be:

PG Brogdon/Morris
SG Beal/Davis
SF Kispert/Avdija
PF Avdija/Rui
C Porzingis/Gafford

That would be another Tommy Sheppard special. Makes us better in the short term without sacrificing future picks. But it also keeps us from tanking and actually having hope to ever acquire a superstar talent.

This looks good but there's no way Avdija's starting over Rui lol.

I think it's possible. My logic is that, alongside Porzingis, I like Deni's ball-handling and playmaking around KP's high screen. When the second unit is in the game, Gafford will be rolling to the rim on screens, making it more important to have dead-eye shooters like Rui around him.

The problem is that how much will Avdija be handling the ball with Brogdon and Beal? Not to mention that Rui would provide spacing that Avdija couldn't. Avdija would be much more likely to handle the ball and initiate the offense on the 2nd unit. Now, if Avdija significantly improves his 3-point shooting it's a different question but 31.7% isn't going to get it done. Perhaps Avdija could get the nod over one of Rui or Kispert if we need a defensive stopper. But to close out games, I expect to will be Rui/Kispert and not Avdija given that defenders will just help off of him and try to stop Beal or KP. Tbh, that lineup doesn't look that bad. One of the better squads we have had. Hopefully, we don't have to give up to much to get Brogdon.

On a side note, I don't know if Avdija is an NBA-caliber player if he can't at least get his 3-point % into the mid-30s. As much as he has improved at other aspects of his game, to see his 3-point % go from 31.5% in his rookie year to 31.7% his Sophomore year is very disappointing.

[NatP4]

The trade will work if we reroute Barton to Indy and we also send Kuzma to Indy, while getting back Brogdon. Not sure Indy will go for it. Ultimately it's just expiring contracts for Brogdon, unless they see real value in Kuzma's Bird Rights. But if they agree, our lineup would be:

PG Brogdon/Morris
SG Beal/Davis
SF Kispert/Avdija
PF Avdija/Rui
C Porzingis/Gafford

That would be another Tommy Sheppard special. Makes us better in the short term without sacrificing future picks. But it also keeps us from tanking and actually having hope to ever acquire a superstar talent.

That’s brilliant. Finish it out with signing Jalen Smith to the full MLE and you have a really good roster.

Brogdon Morris
Beal Davis
Avdija Kispert
Rui Smith
Porzingis Gafford

[prime1time]

The trade will work if we reroute Barton to Indy and we also send Kuzma to Indy, while getting back Brogdon. Not sure Indy will go for it. Ultimately it's just expiring contracts for Brogdon, unless they see real value in Kuzma's Bird Rights. But if they agree, our lineup would be:

PG Brogdon/Morris
SG Beal/Davis
SF Kispert/Avdija
PF Avdija/Rui
C Porzingis/Gafford

That would be another Tommy Sheppard special. Makes us better in the short term without sacrificing future picks. But it also keeps us from tanking and actually having hope to ever acquire a superstar talent.

That’s brilliant. Finish it out with signing Jalen Smith to the full MLE and you have a really good roster.

Brogdon Morris
Beal Davis
Avdija Kispert
Rui Smith
Porzingis Gafford

Interesting, I'd want to look at all the possible free agents but I do like the fit. I also like that we can bring Davis along slowly. But I would point out one problem. We have been linked to Victor Oladipo.

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If I'm Smith I'm going to a playoff contender like the Nets or the Warriors. Showcase my talents and then get paid. Would love to have him though. Still not clear what happened in Phoenix.

[dckingsfan]

Barton to Sac for Holmes and filler... problem with that trade is that we are out one more year on the contract. But Holmes would be very good insurance for Porzingis injury "issues" and it wouldn't temp Wes to not play Kispert and Avdija.

Agreed with those that think that Avidja won't start if we have Brogdan, Beal and Porzingis on the court. They will put our two best 3 point shooters with those guys - Kispert and Rui. Avdija will get his PT when one or two of those guys is off the court.

Reminder, Avdija will only be 22 next year and this is his first summer to develop his skills. Let's see where he is at the end of the 22-23 season.

[NatP4]

If I’m Jalen Smith, I’m going to a team that lets me play. He exploded in Indiana when finally given a chance to actually see the floor. We’ve had rumored interest in him multiple different times, and of course the DC ties. I think it’s a perfect fit after we ship out Kuzma.

No thanks on Oladipo. He’s way too up and down at this point in his career.

[nate33]

On a side note, I don't know if Avdija is an NBA-caliber player if he can't at least get his 3-point % into the mid-30s. As much as he has improved at other aspects of his game, to see his 3-point % go from 31.5% in his rookie year to 31.7% his Sophomore year is very disappointing.

Remember that Avdija was hurt last offseason and was presumably unable to practice.