ATL/DEN/ CLE

[FCNATL85]

Bibby+ Zaza + 1st +2nd to CLE for Mo Williams + 2nd

After the Melo trade, Smoothe + Thomas + 2nd for Nene

Williams - Teague- JC1
JJ- JC1-JC2
Marvin- Mo Evans-Wilkins
Horford- Powell- Williams
Nene- Collins- Horford

We might have to sign a big or two but I like the starting 5, especially with both Nene and Al shooting in the 60%

[D21]

I don't know exactly why, but I think that we wouldn't be better with Williams at PG than Bibby.
I would like to see Bibby being our backup PG, but I don't see the team improving with Williams instead of Bibby.
If we loose Zaza in the same trade, it's even worst. I prefer to keep them, maybe for other trades possibilities, but not for Williams.

[killbuckner]

If Denver trades Carmelo and is looking to get under the luxury tax and start a full rebuild then Josh, Crawford, Teague, and Evans for Nene, Billups, and JR smith would both give them a nice rebuilding piece in Josh Smith and save the Nuggets 5 million in salary. For the Hawks it would dramatically upgrade Center, PG, and give them a nice replacement for Crawford in JR Smith. It would unfortunately put the Hawks into the tax so I don't think they would do it.

[D21]

It would unfortunately put the Hawks into the tax so I don't think they would do it.

The sad part is that it would not be big tax, we would still pay less than teams like ORL, DAL... but at least would have more chances to be on the same level.

Is there anyway to be on the same level without paying tax ?
No, or it was needed to build like DET did in the past, or SAS, and Joe at 124M is not the right way to do it.
Josh and Al have contract that shoudl fit this way, but not Joe, so we are set to stay on this level unless we trade him or owners decide to pay tax.

[azuresou1]

Why would we give a pick if we're shipping Smoove for Nene? At the very least it should be pick-neutral, if not having a pick headed our way.

Also, Chauncey is so overrated it's crazy. The guy is a chucker who kills all sorts of offensive flow with his fastbreak pullup threes, and is now a pretty mediocre defender as well. Have you guys been watching any Denver games this year? Denver looks better with Lawson in than Chauncey; statistically, they are as well (albeit marginally so).

[killbuckner]

Billups has looked good after coming back from his wrist problem. I think its a whole lot more likely that the injury was affecting him than the idea that his play completely cratered this season. His style of play should age gracefully. I think his is about the perfect PG for this team. Good defender and a very good help defender from the PG postition. He can knock down open shots to space the floor. He is smart with the ball and doesn't need to have the ball in his hands to be a threat. And while BIbby is exposed as a starter- he would be a great backup PG.

[killbuckner]

I'll just point out Chauncey's statline from last night as some evidence that he still can help this team.

36 pts on 9/14 fg, 6/6 3pt, 12/13 ft

[aniloman]

Why not try for Melo? A package around JJ and J-Smoove...

[aniloman]

Why not try for Melo? A package around JJ and J-Smoove...

[evildallas]

Why not try for Melo? A package around JJ and J-Smoove...

Because Carmelo would likely not resign meaning that it would be a rental and rebuild situation. Fans might be willing to risk such a move, but a GM would be risking his job on convincing Carmelo to stay and the owners would have to believe enough in the move to agree. Atlanta's ownership still has too many moving parts to pull of something that risky.

[azuresou1]

I'll just point out Chauncey's statline from last night as some evidence that he still can help this team.

36 pts on 9/14 fg, 6/6 3pt, 12/13 ft

Chauncey last night:
16 pts on 6/12 FG, 2 REB, 0 AST, 4 TO, 0 STL

For a guy that always gets praised for being a floor general, he chucks up a ton of shots and would rather take transition pullup threes in 3-on-1 situations than pass.

[killbuckner]

Billups was Western Conference player of the week last week and you wait for one bad game as evidence that he wouldn't help the team? lol

[parson]

Billups is definitely still able to play. That was my concern earlier.

The problem is, who would we offer for him? I would balk at offering one of our "core" players.

[killbuckner]

I think it would have to be Crawford for Billups. I think that Crawford will be gone at the end of the season anyway so I'd do that and to me PG is a bigger problem for the team than backup SG. Personally I'd love to see JR smith come back in the deal as well to replace Crawford off the bench but I can't see an easy way to make the salaries match.

[evildallas]

I think it would have to be Crawford for Billups. I think that Crawford will be gone at the end of the season anyway so I'd do that and to me PG is a bigger problem for the team than backup SG. Personally I'd love to see JR smith come back in the deal as well to replace Crawford off the bench but I can't see an easy way to make the salaries match.

We're so close to the luxury tax that almost any trade bumps us over which probably kills it, but:

Billups/JR Smith
for
Bibby/Jamal/Evans has us taking on just over $1M more in salary which isn't horrible.

[killbuckner]

There is no chance that the Nuggets would take Bibby in that deal.

[parson]

We're so close to the luxury tax that almost any trade bumps us over which probably kills it, but:

Billups/JR Smith
for
Bibby/Jamal/Evans has us taking on just over $1M more in salary which isn't horrible.

But Horford's deal adds about $7 million next year. I'm pretty sure management is planning on using Crawford's $10.8 million to pay for Horford's increase. If we trade Crawford for a equal amount that doesn't expire this off-season, we'll be in luxury tax land.

Even Crawford for Billups straight up leads to the same problem.