Trade Loco

[tlifeset]

I didn't see a dedicated thread to "trade ideas" on your message board, but I've been thinking about ways to improve the Nets roster. I actually think you are in a very interesting situation where you have a ton of leverage with your cap room, you just need to play the game. Here's the whacky, border-line insane idea I came up with to make you instant finals contenders next year.

1. Trade for Chris Paul
I know ... duh. Well, I think the advantage that the Nets have that other teams are not interested in is absorbing a bad contract. Every other team with cap room wants to keep their cap room to sign FAs. Perhaps the Nets do to, but as many readers have said--there's no real allure to coming to NJ right now. They need to create that allure. The two bad contracts (and I use that loosely) on New Orleans are Okafor and Peja. Under normal circumstances, the contract to go after is Peja ... it's an expiring deal and immediately becomes an asset going into this season. However, I like Okafor. Don't get me wrong, it's a hard contract to swallow. But, as the Lakers showed, it takes size to win in this league. And Okafor can play and has all the attributes you want in a center. He's the type of player who would highly succeed on a smart veteran team yet have trouble taking the Bobcats or injury plagued Hornets to the playoffs. Plus, he makes about $7M less then Peja, which helps with my accounting. That's almost $28M annually the Hornets can shed off their books. The Nets would have to give up Favors, Yi and probably Lopez. It's painful in some regards, but it gets us to step 1 ... make the Nets alluring in some way. Can't think of a better way than to get the best PG in the league and a top 10 player.

2. Sign Dirk Nowitzki
He's opting out. I know everybody and the entire Mavs front office thinks he's staying in Dallas, but there are some things to take into consideration... he mostly has bad memories from Dallas (including losing as a #1 seed, blowing the finals and most recently losing to an aging Spurs team). mark cuban can pretend he's a player in this FA market but I just don't see much of a S/T lure with Dampier's voidable contract and Caron Butler. He's on an aging roster that's on the down slope. He had a much maligned public situation with his girlfriend. Closely related, he's single and in dallas. And finally his owner has settled down and is now a family man. The Nets offer opportunity to play with the best PG (Paul), NYC for a single guy (and more germans), a billionaire owner who will let Dirk borrow the yacht for a month and a new opportunity in the East to finish what he tried to do so many times in Dallas. Not to mention, I think any team that avoids the Lebron circus and positions that as part of their pitch ... i.e. your owner and GM are trying to sway Lebron's camp to come here and they are just leaving you dangling out here because they presume you're coming back ... is ripe for taking someone like Dirk. Let everyone else buy a ticket to the Lebron Lottery--I make the full steam pitch to Dirk on a yacht in the Mediteranean with Chris Paul by my side. Phase 2 complete ... hook, line, sinker. And with that we're just about capped out on the big boys--but we still have a nice asset ...

3. Trade Devin Harris for Danny Granger
The Pacers are so desperate for a PG--I'm pretty sure they already offered something similar to the Nets albeit with the #3 pick included. This might be a tough sell, but I think you could probably throw the Pacers either a future pick and have them at least consider it. I think this deal makes a lot of sense for the Pacers as any GM worth his weight knows that it all starts with the PG unless you're running the triangle. This might be a stretch ... but I'm booking it for now.

Ladies and Gentlemen, your 2010 New Jersey Nets ...

Chris Paul
Courtney Lee
Danny Granger
Dirk Nowtizki
Emeka Okafor

Bench: TBD (hopefully veteran mins looking for a ring)

Look, I know it's a pipe dream but if anybody told a Celtics fan in 2007 that they would trade for Ray Allen and then trade for Kevin Garnett they would have punched you in the face as they cried about losing out on Oden/Durant. I think with a little innovation (which has no choice to go up with the dismissal of mr. old school Rod Thorn), this team could turn it around quickly with a motivated owner who wants to win now.

I think I have a headache.

[Preludepunk27]

^^^^

I'm not trading Favors and Lopez in a deal for Chris Paul. No way, no how. I'd rather take out chances clearing Yi/Hump than do any of this no offense.

[Morthello]

^^^^

I'm not trading Favors and Lopez in a deal for Chris Paul. No way, no how. I'd rather take out chances clearing Yi/Hump than do any of this no offense.

+1

[Rockice_8]

Seems like a good team but way too many things have to happen for us to get there. I think Lopez is almost 100% untouchable.

The only way I see us getting 2 max guys is a S&T for Bosh and then signing LBJ

I'm hoping Yi, T-Will, Hump and future picks can get it done but if we have to do Favors, Hump and Yi then I will.

Harris/Dooling (resigned vet min)
Lee/?
LBJ/DJ
Bosh/Favors
Lopez/?

[tlifeset]

I can appreciate your immediate reaction to this deal. Thank you for commenting. However, you sound incredibly similar to the Celt's boards in 2007 when the idea of Al Jefferson and Gerald Green getting packaged together in a deal for KG was mentioned. And the #5 pick (Jeff Green) for Ray Allen. All of us have a major problem at overvaluing our team's prospects. We all want to have that homegrown kid who sticks around and finally gets us that ring. It's just so damn rare.

I'll say to you what I said then ... teams don't win in the NBA without a top 10 player. It's as simple as that. I like Favors and Lopez, both can be very good possibly great. But you have to look at the big picture. Is it better to keep Favors and Lopez and then be stuck having to use your cap space on guys like Rudy Gay and Joe Johnson? Will that ultimately hurt your young players development? The goal in the NBA is to win titles, not develop young players. Because more times than not--your guy is just starting to figure it out in the final year of his contract and then you have to make a decision to spend a lot of money on them versus just getting the real thing via trades.

Anyway, we're all entitled to our opinion ... but it's hard for me to imagine anyone choosing your option over mine despite the possible fictional nature of mine.

[vincecarter4pres]

I didn't see a dedicated thread to "trade ideas" on your message board, but I've been thinking about ways to improve the Nets roster.

The Official Rebuildation Thread

I can appreciate your immediate reaction to this deal. Thank you for commenting. However, you sound incredibly similar to the Celt's boards in 2007 when the idea of Al Jefferson and Gerald Green getting packaged together in a deal for KG was mentioned. And the #5 pick (Jeff Green) for Ray Allen. All of us have a major problem at overvaluing our team's prospects. We all want to have that homegrown kid who sticks around and finally gets us that ring. It's just so damn rare.

I'll say to you what I said then ... teams don't win in the NBA without a top 10 player. It's as simple as that. I like Favors and Lopez, both can be very good possibly great. But you have to look at the big picture. Is it better to keep Favors and Lopez and then be stuck having to use your cap space on guys like Rudy Gay and Joe Johnson? Will that ultimately hurt your young players development? The goal in the NBA is to win titles, not develop young players. Because more times than not--your guy is just starting to figure it out in the final year of his contract and then you have to make a decision to spend a lot of money on them versus just getting the real thing via trades.

Anyway, we're all entitled to our opinion ... but it's hard for me to imagine anyone choosing your option over mine despite the possible fictional nature of mine.

I see where you going with this and in general you're right, but Lopez is going nowhere and even if I'm wrong and he is traded, the 3rd pick and Lopez for Paul and Okafor's putrid contract is too much value to give up and it doesn't leave us with the cap room to sign Dirk anyway.


Dampier's contract will likely bring back something very good as well and I don't see Dirk leaving, especially not to come to play for Avery and with Devin.

[ecuhus1981]

I'd rather not make a single move this offseason, than do this "rebuild". EVERYTHING we've done over the last 2+ years has been building toward this moment. There's only one word I can think of to describe the idea of copping out and giving up on the chance to sign one or more max FAs, and I can't say it on this board.

We're already as alluring as we need to be. I cannot believe how many of my fellow Nets fans are ready to let go of the rope at this stage. WE'RE ALMOST THERE! Thank God our FO have nerves of steel and an appetite for greatness.

[tlifeset]

I'd rather not make a single move this offseason, than do this "rebuild". EVERYTHING we've done over the last 2+ years has been building toward this moment. There's only one word I can think of to describe the idea of copping out and giving up on the chance to sign one or more max FAs, and I can't say it on this board.

We're already as alluring as we need to be. I cannot believe how many of my fellow Nets fans are ready to let go of the rope at this stage. WE'RE ALMOST THERE! Thank God our FO have nerves of steel and an appetite for greatness.

Ecuhus, I'd love to know where this "promise land" is where you think your team is headed? You have 4 players on your roster under contract and you almost broke the record for losses in one season. Is the goal to end up with 1 player on your roster and not win one game all season? YOU'RE AT THE DAMN MOMENT OF CHANGE my friend! The best players in the league are FAs and the NBA is headed for a lockout the end of next year. As some might say ... it's "go time."

But it all starts with a decision. Maybe you're right? Maybe my moves are a little too out there? You've got to pick a direction and I think what I'm proposing might end up being more reasonable than waiting for the LBJ shoe to drop.

[enetric]

OK. Let me set ya straight. This team you created is absolutely IMPOSSIBLE.

First off...

No way in how we are getting Dirk. He has 10 years in...so his max is going to be about 20mil. So get him out of your head right now. And the Damp contract? ABSOLUTELY valuable. Without question. They can go several ways as for as how they use it.

Next...your trade for Paul while making everyone nuts that you offered the #3 pick and top big in this draft plus the best young big man prospect in the NBA...wasnt what bugged me most. No, it wasnt even that you even swallowed Okafor's horrid contract as well. For me it was that you think you can swallow 26.5 mil in contracts with 27mil in cap space while sending out 5.8mil...and then having the 20mil left for Dirk. Something seriously wrong with the math there.

As for giving up both bigs...I agree with you about the need for a top 10 player. I have said it for years...this is a superstars league. But comparing Gerlad Green as a prospect at that point to EITHER of these guys is nuts. The KG deal would be more like sending Brook and C.Lee...and then Favors for a veteran all star in a separate deal....see Ray Allen, and Favors is actually a better prospect than Jeff Green, but you get the idea. Fans do overrate their prospects...doesnt mean that you werent guilty of underrating them in your argument, while of course designing moves that cannot be done even if we wanted to. And if we did give up that much compensation why do we have to also suck on Okafor for the next few years? Who exactly was the horrid contract the Celtics ate in that story? That has a price as well. More crap you eat, the less you compensate with true assets.

Last trade you failed to salary match as well. But even if you did...why you think the Pacers would be content to trade their franchise guy for Devin alone...and that they wont want a top tier prospect for their troubles mixed in...shows that in that case..you either overrated Devin, or overestimated their desire for a PG.

[vincecarter4pres]

I'm actually starting to wonder if there will be some legs to a swap centered around Granger for Harris if we say got Chris Paul and Posey for Favors/T Will/Yi/Humps, struckout on Lebron, but signed one of the big time 4's?

[enetric]

I cant see landing both in trades. I think both would absolutely have to have Favors in any deal for a player of that magnitude.

[vincecarter4pres]

I cant see landing both in trades. I think both would absolutely have to have Favors in any deal for a player of that magnitude.

I don't know. Granger is a really nice player, but is there that much that seperates him from Devin Harris trade value, or even player value wise?
I think something like Harris/GSW 1st might be enough, although I do doubt it myself, but hey, it could be possible IMO, it's not absurd.

I also think NOH might rather have T Will and a future 1st instead of Harris and I also think Thorn is balking at the thought of absorbing Okafor's contract and wants to take back Posey and if you look around the league, what teams legitimately have the assets to get Paul, the cap space to provide major instant salary relief to go with long term and the market, pieces remaining after the trade to convince Paul to like a trade to said destination and resign?
Very few.

I still think Favors/T Will/Humps/future 1st(2011) for Paul and Posey is a hell of a package as far as blockbuster trades go.

It provides them massive instant cap relief, solid long term relief and 2 very big time prospects/players, along with a small, movable expiring and a future 1st.

Then something along the lines of Harris/GSW 1st for Granger.

[ecuhus1981]

I cant see landing both in trades. I think both would absolutely have to have Favors in any deal for a player of that magnitude.

Ugh, e, I can't believe you treat Favors in such a cavalier fashion. I kind of follow your logic on Paul; I mean, he's younger and a lot better than Devin. There's a huge difference between a star and a superstar. That said, Granger isn't a superstar.

What has Granger done that Harris hasn't? Both are one-time All-Stars that are entering their prime. Devin has a better defensive reputation, and is alot more affordable. There are much easier and more cost-efficient ways to fill the SF position with players at least comparable to Granger than this. For instance, we just might land the ultimate FA prize in LeBron. Or, we could throw a Granger-sized deal at Gay. It could even be front-loaded, similar to the type of deal Portland offered Millsap, where Rudy would get 40% of his 1st-year money on signing day. Like Utah, Memphis could match for their coveted RFA, but you never know unless you try. Beyond that, there are quality SFs that teams are actually trying to move for little to no RoI. Deng comes to mind, and others may present themselves as the season progresses.

BTW, you're the one who is adamantly against signing Rudy Gay, but he's a better option IMO than trading Favors in a Granger deal. Personally, I'd rather have the healthy, all-world athletic and defensively sound 23yo Gay than the 27yo injury-prone Granger. But at least you have to admit that you'd rather have Gay+Favors than Granger. You have to concede that much, man.

[vincecarter4pres]

I cant see landing both in trades. I think both would absolutely have to have Favors in any deal for a player of that magnitude.

Ugh, e, I can't believe you treat Favors in such a cavalier fashion. I kind of follow your logic on Paul; I mean, he's younger and a lot better than Devin. There's a huge difference between a star and a superstar. That said, Granger isn't a superstar.

What has Granger done that Harris hasn't? Both are one-time All-Stars that are entering their prime. Devin has a better defensive reputation, and is alot more affordable. There are much easier and more cost-efficient ways to fill the SF position with players at least comparable to Granger than this. For instance, we just might land the ultimate FA prize in LeBron. Or, we could throw a Granger-sized deal at Gay. It could even be front-loaded, similar to the type of deal Portland offered Millsap, where Rudy would get 40% of his 1st-year money on signing day. Like Utah, Memphis could match for their coveted RFA, but you never know unless you try. Beyond that, there are quality SFs that teams are actually trying to move for little to no RoI. Deng comes to mind, and others may present themselves as the season progresses.

BTW, you're the one who is adamantly against signing Rudy Gay, but he's a better option IMO than trading Favors in a Granger deal. Personally, I'd rather have the healthy, all-world athletic and defensively sound 23yo Gay than the 27yo injury-prone Granger. But at least you have to admit that you'd rather have Gay+Favors than Granger. You have to concede that much, man.

I don't think E was condoning or agreeing with trading Favors for Granger, he was just stating his opinion that that is what it would take to land him.

[enetric]

I cant see landing both in trades. I think both would absolutely have to have Favors in any deal for a player of that magnitude.

Ugh, e, I can't believe you treat Favors in such a cavalier fashion. I kind of follow your logic on Paul; I mean, he's younger and a lot better than Devin. There's a huge difference between a star and a superstar. That said, Granger isn't a superstar.

What has Granger done that Harris hasn't? Both are one-time All-Stars that are entering their prime. Devin has a better defensive reputation, and is alot more affordable. There are much easier and more cost-efficient ways to fill the SF position with players at least comparable to Granger than this. For instance, we just might land the ultimate FA prize in LeBron. Or, we could throw a Granger-sized deal at Gay. It could even be front-loaded, similar to the type of deal Portland offered Millsap, where Rudy would get 40% of his 1st-year money on signing day. Like Utah, Memphis could match for their coveted RFA, but you never know unless you try. Beyond that, there are quality SFs that teams are actually trying to move for little to no RoI. Deng comes to mind, and others may present themselves as the season progresses.

BTW, you're the one who is adamantly against signing Rudy Gay, but he's a better option IMO than trading Favors in a Granger deal. Personally, I'd rather have the healthy, all-world athletic and defensively sound 23yo Gay than the 27yo injury-prone Granger. But at least you have to admit that you'd rather have Gay+Favors than Granger. You have to concede that much, man.

I think you misunderstood. I didnt say we SHOULD deal Devin and Favors for Granger. In fact...I WOULDNT like that deal at all. What I am saying is...I cannot see Indy trading their franchise 25 point per game scorer for a lesser player who isnt on a rook contract unless they got a big chip in there. I am saying...it would take more than Devin to motivate the Pacers to make that deal. I just dont think Devin straight up or with a filler contract is enough from their perspective.

[enetric]

BTW, you're the one who is adamantly against signing Rudy Gay, but he's a better option IMO than trading Favors in a Granger deal. Personally, I'd rather have the healthy, all-world athletic and defensively sound 23yo Gay than the 27yo injury-prone Granger. But at least you have to admit that you'd rather have Gay+Favors than Granger. You have to concede that much, man.

I don't think E was condoning or agreeing with trading Favors for Granger, he was just stating his opinion that that is what it would take to land him.[/quote]


Yeah...what he said...lol. (I was just replying at the same time)