Cleveland and Indiana

[JJ_PR]

Cleveland receives: Obi Toppin and Johnny Furphy
Indiana receives: Dean Wade and Sam Merrill

Why?
Cleveland adds size at the wing.
Indiana gets out of Toppin's contract. Wade is non-guaranteed for next season.

[mcfly1204]

I'd prefer to just stick with Wade and Merrill in Cleveland. Wade is a better two way player than Toppin, while also being cheaper. Health is the primary concern.

[jbk1234]

The entire trade is dependent on how you view Furphy and he was on the board when the Cavs took Tyson. I just don't think they're going to give up Wade for this when neither Toppin nor Furphy are ever going to be as good defensively.

The reality is that LeVert, Niang, Okoro have all been shopped pretty hard at this point. Everyone outside of our core 4, Tyson, and Wade are likely available, but we're limited so far as picks so fans are going to have to be patient.

The closer we get to the deadline, the more valuable LeVert's expiring is going to be, the less negative Niang's contract will look, and the less eager potential trade partners will be to *wait for a better offer.*

It's easy to get angry that front offices and fanbases of lottery teams want a first for every role player on there roster, but they're usually right to wait before setting. There's always a chance that a desperate team panics like the Heat did. There's always a chance that a team like the Mavs feels the need for a Mulligan and you can get a first by trading a good role player and eating an unwanted contract.

However, if you're a week before the deadline and that offer hasn't materialized, it's probably not going to. That's when lottery teams have to make tough decisions, especially about keeping guys who may want to play for a team trying to compete.

[Crymson]

Cleveland receives: Obi Toppin and Johnny Furphy
Indiana receives: Dean Wade and Sam Merrill

Why?
Cleveland adds size at the wing.
Indiana gets out of Toppin's contract. Wade is non-guaranteed for next season.

Indiana signed Toppin to his current contract in July. Why in the world would they want out of it already?

[Texas Chuck]

It's easy to get angry that front offices and fanbases of lottery teams want a first for every role player on there roster, but they're usually right to wait before setting. There's always a chance that a desperate team panics like the Heat did. There's always a chance that a team like the Mavs feels the need for a Mulligan and you can get a first by trading a good role player and eating an unwanted contract.

Good chance its Dallas literally lol. And as a fan of that team while its frustrating that they keep making mistakes they have to rectify by trading first round picks, I do love that Dallas is one of the few teams that ignores sunk costs, ignores public perception and just addresses the current need. More teams should follow Dallas' example in this regard.

Now Dallas needs to follow a number of other teams examples on taking the draft seriously so they don't have so many holes to fill via trade all the time. They have the odd hit in Josh Howard or Jalen Brunson, but basically drafting Dirk and Luka hides just what a trainwreck of a drafting team they have been for a really long time.

[psman2]

Cleveland receives: Obi Toppin and Johnny Furphy
Indiana receives: Dean Wade and Sam Merrill

Why?
Cleveland adds size at the wing.
Indiana gets out of Toppin's contract. Wade is non-guaranteed for next season.

Indiana signed Toppin to his current contract in July. Why in the world would they want out of it already?

Yep, I don't think any GM is going to have buyers remorse before the player has even played a game on his new deal. I don't think the legend of Dean Wade has spread outside of Cleveland yet.

[Scoot McGroot]

Cleveland receives: Obi Toppin and Johnny Furphy
Indiana receives: Dean Wade and Sam Merrill

Why?
Cleveland adds size at the wing.
Indiana gets out of Toppin's contract. Wade is non-guaranteed for next season.

Indiana signed Toppin to his current contract in July. Why in the world would they want out of it already?

Yep, I don't think any GM is going to have buyers remorse before the player has even played a game on his new deal. I don't think the legend of Dean Wade has spread outside of Cleveland yet.

Obi cant be traded until 12/15 anyway, so at least teams will have an idea of how everything is fitting or young guys are playing. If Walker takes minutes from Obi early in the season, then yeah, I think we could consider an Obi/Wade swap?

But also, Wade is all but $2m guaranteed for the last year of his deal.

[Crymson]

Obi cant be traded until 12/15 anyway, so at least teams will have an idea of how everything is fitting or young guys are playing. If Walker takes minutes from Obi early in the season, then yeah, I think we could consider an Obi/Wade swap?

But also, Wade is all but $2m guaranteed for the last year of his deal.

He was signed using Bird rights, so his trade ineligibility ends on January 15th.

[Scoot McGroot]

Obi cant be traded until 12/15 anyway, so at least teams will have an idea of how everything is fitting or young guys are playing. If Walker takes minutes from Obi early in the season, then yeah, I think we could consider an Obi/Wade swap?

But also, Wade is all but $2m guaranteed for the last year of his deal.

He was signed using Bird rights, so his trade ineligibility ends on January 15th.

Well, yeah, you’re right. He’s January 15 instead of December 15, but not just because of Bird Rights. It’s because he got more than a 20% raise using Bird Rights. Lots of Bird Rights guys are tradeable after December 15. I totally messed up what Obi was paid last year, and mistakenly thought he was paid more than he was as a lotto pick (albeit late lotto pick, which is where the difference came in). Mea culpa. You’re right.

[Wizop]

I think if the Pacers make a trade before the deadline it will be a win-now trade to get a defensive SF taller than Nesmith to defend OG, PG, JBrown, etc. This trade doesn't do it for me.

I know Scoot is high on trading Obi. I think the more likely trade is a wing, but I'm willing to be more patient until next summer.