GrandAdmiralDan wrote:Yes, the "more" is the only thing at play here. It is Sessions/Alexander for Conley. The plus is what is at stake, and I imagine (this part is still a guess) that we are making a case that the financial/marketing bonus of Alexander being in the dunk contest should allow us to come out of this deal in more favorable financial terms than if he doesn't get in, as in Gadz for Darko, or cash, etc.
It has nothing to do with Kohl being unwilling to part with Alexander if he makes it into the dunk contest, as far as I can tell. Someone involved in these negotiations seems to think that the dunk contest angle should impact some of the trimmings on this trade.
Thanks GAD. It makes more sense that Alexander's potential marketability impact is coming from the Bucks' end.
As to your point about trying to squeeze as much out of Memphis as possible and putting the trade at risk compared to the Mo situation, I think these are two extremely different sets of circumstances. As you know, Hammond decided that Mo simply had to go and he was going to get rid of him. So there was a sense of urgency to that trade because the market for Mo was dreadful and there was a chance (perhaps a strong one) nobody else was going to make the Bucks an offer for Mo and then the team would have been stuck with him. Hammond didn't want that and it's probably safe to say Skiles didn't want that either. So perhaps Hammond can be accused of blinking first, but it's a blink he had to make and as we've seen the trade has benefited the Bucks greatly.
With regard to Sessions, I'm not getting the sense Hammond and Skiles want to be rid of him and are doing everything they can to get rid of him. It appears to be more a sense that they aren't convinced he's the PG they want and given his RFA status, they might as well move him now. And if Conley is someone they are really high on, then the deal makes sense. But if the deal falls through, Sessions is young and talented with plenty of upside. Combine that with a very questionable market next summer (potential for a reduced salary cap; perhaps not as much heavy interested in RFAs etc.) and it isn't likely to paralyze the team if Sessions is still on the roster.
I'm also curious if Hammond wants anything to do with Darko given their history and whether Gadz/Darko is in play or if the Bucks are insisting upon the higher of the Grizzlies' draft pick or maybe even something else.
Nothing will not break me.
For those that aren't aware (I think YOU are, but am not sure) he is Hammond's Assistant GM here.
