Help! Who Would You Trade For?

[Mattya]

the point is it saves a team that is having money problems an extra 12million dollars in salary, make them a worse team, so they can go into full rebuild mode in 1 year.

[Mattya]

I don't see Indiana as a serious playoff contender. They won't be beating the Clevelands and Orlandos, they don't have much to offer in terms of trades imo to drastically improve their nucleus either

[Worm Guts]

They could still get value back for him. A player who grabs 12 boards a game and shoots 45% from distance is worth more than expiring contracts.

[Mattya]

so how much more in your opinion would it take to get him and Granger, throwing in Rubios rights?

[Biff Cooper]

I don't see Indiana as a serious playoff contender. They won't be beating the Clevelands and Orlandos, they don't have much to offer in terms of trades imo to drastically improve their nucleus either

I am of the opinion that Hibbert is going to be a dominant player on both ends of the court if he ever learns how to stay away from fouls. Granger is already a star. Rush and Hansburogh have potential. Ford, Dunleavy and Murphy are interesting vets. I don't think they contend for the eastern conference title this year, but I think they make the playoffs and are a team on the rise.

[shrink]

A few thoughts on Indiana

1. We aren't getting Danny Granger unless he gets frustrated with the Pacers and demands a trade. He's the face of that franchise and their reason for any optimism. Pacer fans have said many times they'd turn down a trade of Granger for Al Jefferson, and that's more than we'd be willing to pay.

2. Even with 12 RPG and 45%, Troy Murphy could still have negative trade value with a deal paying him $25 mil over the next two years. He's not young, no defensive stud, and offers no room for growth/upside. He's not a marketing draw.

3. The reason I posted is to point out that you may see IND try to trade a guy like Murphy for expirings, because of the declining economy. We talk a lot about the salary cap shrinking, but the lux will shrink even more. IND already has $62 mil of salary on the books in 2010-11, with ten players, and not counting their first round draft pick. We could quite possibly see a lux at $62 next year, and IND management is already pleading poverty, and looking for help. In february they announced they've lost money in 9 of the last 10 years.

[ChazzleDazzle]

Totally agree with point #1 Shrink. Granger is a pipe dream to me, if an extremely pleasant one.

Not so sure about point #2. I agree that he may have slight negative value, but if Indy trades him for expirings, I think they'd at least demand productive expirings. I feel like they'd want someone to replace some of his rebounding in return, otherwise they'll suffer through the contract. Probably.

I think you wrote point #3 just to use the word "shrink" as much as possible. A little narcissistic, doncha think?

[Foye]

I can see why some think Indy won't make a big trade. I guess they are on the way to their first playoff appearance for a few years. But lets be realistic. There is just no way how their team will contend with Boston, Orlando and Cleveland in the next few years. In the best case they will make it 4th seeded to the playoffs and lose in the second round to one of the first three teams. They have even tough competition for that 4th spot in Chicago, Miami and Washington for years to come.
Honestly, I just can't see how their current roster will be enough to contend even if they add a few pieces...especially Orlando is light-years ahead of them and their roster isn't even old...even without Turkoglu they are the team to beat in the east for some years once Boston starts to decline. The pacers seem to me like a prime Tim Duncan or Kevin Garnett away from contending in the east.

[Wolves2011]

I can see why some think Indy won't make a big trade. I guess they are on the way to their first playoff appearance for a few years. But lets be realistic. There is just no way how their team will contend with Boston, Orlando and Cleveland in the next few years. In the best case they will make it 4th seeded to the playoffs and lose in the second round to one of the first three teams. They have even tough competition for that 4th spot in Chicago, Miami and Washington for years to come.
Honestly, I just can't see how their current roster will be enough to contend even if they add a few pieces...especially Orlando is light-years ahead of them and their roster isn't even old...even without Turkoglu they are the team to beat in the east for some years once Boston starts to decline. The pacers seem to me like a prime Tim Duncan or Kevin Garnett away from contending in the east.

Take a look at his link:

http://dberri.wordpress.com/2009/07/26/ ... n-2008-09/

Talks about most overrated players in the NBA.

Granger is 5th on that list.

Green is on that list

Gay is on that list.

OJ Mayo is on that list

Wilson Chandler is on that list...

So I'd be very cautious pursuing any of these guys....and especially make sure you don't overpay.

[Worm Guts]

A few thoughts on Indiana

1. We aren't getting Danny Granger unless he gets frustrated with the Pacers and demands a trade. He's the face of that franchise and their reason for any optimism. Pacer fans have said many times they'd turn down a trade of Granger for Al Jefferson, and that's more than we'd be willing to pay.

2. Even with 12 RPG and 45%, Troy Murphy could still have negative trade value with a deal paying him $25 mil over the next two years. He's not young, no defensive stud, and offers no room for growth/upside. He's not a marketing draw.

3. The reason I posted is to point out that you may see IND try to trade a guy like Murphy for expirings, because of the declining economy. We talk a lot about the salary cap shrinking, but the lux will shrink even more. IND already has $62 mil of salary on the books in 2010-11, with ten players, and not counting their first round draft pick. We could quite possibly see a lux at $62 next year, and IND management is already pleading poverty, and looking for help. In february they announced they've lost money in 9 of the last 10 years.

Murphy gets 23 million over the next two years, and if he gets traded for expiring it only saves approximately 12 million. I guess I don't think it makes sense to cling to Granger, who's entering his prime, then give away the legitimate talent around him.

[ChazzleDazzle]

OK, here's what I've got as my best bet for improving the team, for this year and the future.

MN Trades:
Corey Brewer, Damien Wilkins (exp)

Golden State Trades
Acie Law, Anthony Morrow(exp), Kelenna Azubuike



MN
1 - Sessions/Flynn/Law
2 - Morrow/Pavlovic/Ellington
3 - Azubuike/Gomes/Pavlovic
4 - Love/Pecherov/Cardinal
5 - Jefferson/Hollins/Blount


This gives us options in Azubuike and Morrow who fill needs (swingmen who are potentially undervalued by their current team, who could develop into solid players and who can hit an outside shot) at the expense of very little. GS potentially does this as it trims Law's contract off of payroll for them this year, though we may have to toss in a pick to really make it happen. Morrow sounds like he's barely in their plans, and Brewer replaces Azubuike for them, at least defensively.

We have to eat Law's extra year, but it's not a huge contract and (without running the exact numbers) should leave us the ability to sign a high level (though not max) FA. Both Morrow and Azubuike were top 25 in 3pters made, and they were 1-2 in 3 pt %.

EDIT: Since I wrote this I came upon a thread on the Warrior's board that suggest that Morrow's preseason performance has earned him some avid fans. Might cost a bit more than I'd surmised to pry him away. But if, at midseason, Nellie's rotations have set him aside, then let me at him.