The Trade Thread

[catch20two]

Do anybody think Eric Gordon is worthy of a max contract? I know I don't, but his ability score 20 points a night even if it's volume shooting instantly has taken the Hornets from the one of the worst teams in the league into one of the hottest teams in the NBA. That's exactly the same impact that I believe a borderline All-Star like Rudy Gay could have on our team.

That's a major point being browsed over in this discussion. Gordon and Gay are lightening rods for opposing defense and that opens up the floor for their teammates and translates into wins. They are the equivalent of the slugger hitting cleanup. Opposing pitchers squander energy pitching around them and are weaker when facing the rest of the surrounding hitters. You have to have somebody like that on the floor and I'm thinking ownership doesn't want to wait another 2-3 years for it to happen. The more I ponder it, the more I believe this trade is going down.

I'm more worried that the Grizzlies may back out of the deal.

...but we are probably their golden ticket to avoid heavy penalties beyond the luxury tax with the new CBA.

[MasterIchiro]

Not to mention his career shooting percentage is 45%, not 42% and when you look at his whole body of work, he's an efficient scorer for a small forward who also rebounds and knows when to distribute the ball to his teammates. And he's in his prime, super athletic and fun to watch. Butts in seats. It matters to the owners.

[thruthefire]

Not remotely comparable situations. During Eric Gordon's absence, the Hornets were playing Austin Rivers, the NBA's worst player. Rudy Gay doesn't solve our problem of having the most inept group of post players in the NBA.

[HornetJail]

Not to mention his career shooting percentage is 45%, not 42% and when you look at his whole body of work, he's an efficient scorer for a small forward who also rebounds and knows when to distribute the ball to his teammates. And he's in his prime, super athletic and fun to watch. Butts in seats. It matters to the owners.

He's in his prime, not the best guy on his own team, probably not even the second best guy on his team, and depending on how in love you are with Mike Conley, may not even be the third best guy on his own team, yet he's paid like Lebron James. THE ONLY THING HE DOES AT AN ABOVE-AVERAGE LEVEL IS SCORE AND HE'S NOT EVEN THAT GREAT AT SCORING. Do not want.

[MasterIchiro]

Do anybody think Eric Gordon is worthy of a max contract? I know I don't, but his ability score 20 points a night even if it's volume shooting instantly has taken the Hornets from the one of the worst teams in the league into one of the hottest teams in the NBA. That's exactly the same impact that I believe a borderline All-Star like Rudy Gay could have on our team.

That's a major point being browsed over in this discussion. Gordon and Gay are lightening rods for opposing defense and that opens up the floor for their teammates and translates into wins. They are the equivalent of the slugger hitting cleanup. Opposing pitchers squander energy pitching around them and are weaker when facing the rest of the surrounding hitters. You have to have somebody like that on the floor and I'm thinking ownership doesn't want to wait another 2-3 years for it to happen. The more I ponder it, the more I believe this trade is going down.

I'm more worried that the Grizzlies may back out of the deal.

...but we are probably their golden ticket to avoid heavy penalties beyond the luxury tax with the new CBA.

Grizz don't have as many trading partners as it appears imo. They can't help any team competing with them for a playoff spot. They pretty much have to trade with a bottom feeder and they pretty much have to find a team with enough talent to replace Gay as they look to advance deep into the playoffs. All that on top of needing to find a team that will give them financial relief. If Cho calculates the way he did with DET, he's going to make trade that really works for us. And it will be timely.

[catch20two]

Not remotely comparable situations. During Eric Gordon's absence, the Hornets were playing Austin Rivers, the NBA's worst player. Rudy Gay doesn't solve our problem of having the most inept group of post players in the NBA.

We probably have the NBA's worst scoring frontcourt and half court offense. It's a remotely comparable situation.

[HornetJail]

Grizz don't have as many trading partners as it appears imo. They can't help any team competing with them for a playoff spot. They pretty much have to trade with a bottom feeder and they pretty much have to find a team with enough talent to replace Gay as they look to advance deep into the playoffs. All that on top of needing to find a team that will give them financial relief. If Cho calculates the way he did with DET, he's going to make trade that really works for us. And it will be timely.

The reason they don't have many trading partners is because they're asking the world in exchange for their overpaid role player. Remember a couple weeks ago when it leaked that they had offered Gay straight up for either Love and/or Pekovic? That's absurd.

[MasterIchiro]

Grizz don't have as many trading partners as it appears imo. They can't help any team competing with them for a playoff spot. They pretty much have to trade with a bottom feeder and they pretty much have to find a team with enough talent to replace Gay as they look to advance deep into the playoffs. All that on top of needing to find a team that will give them financial relief. If Cho calculates the way he did with DET, he's going to make trade that really works for us. And it will be timely.

The reason they don't have many trading partners is because they're asking the world in exchange for their overpaid role player. Remember a couple weeks ago when it leaked that they had offered Gay straight up for either Love and/or Pekovic? That's absurd.

It's just posturing, I don't let it rattle me. Minnesota is within striking distance of the playoffs. As I said, the Grizz can't aid and abet close rivals and enemies. They have to trade with a team who is

1) Bottom feeder - no threat where their franchise guy beats them in front of their riotous fans. Check

2) Team who can provide cap relief. Check

3) Team with enough talent to keep the Grizz competitive deep into the playoffs. Check

There are few teams who meet those 3 criteria.

So we're not gonna get hosed.

[BlackOutBuzz]

Not to mention his career shooting percentage is 45%, not 42% and when you look at his whole body of work, he's an efficient scorer for a small forward who also rebounds and knows when to distribute the ball to his teammates. And he's in his prime, super athletic and fun to watch. Butts in seats. It matters to the owners.

Honestly, is there an area other than scoring in which Gay clearly outplays a 19-year-old MKG? Gilly's the better defender hands down, and he averages about an assist less and rebound more despite playing 10 minutes less per game. Not to mention Gay can be a black hole and would cost 3-4 times what MKG does. I'm not totally opposed to bringing him in (but them taking Tyrus is a must), but the idea of sending them MKG is asinine to me. Gay may be "in his prime" but all he has proven to be is a semi-efficient scorer. Give me the high potential kid who is YEARS away from hitting his prime, and is already better in some areas, 10 times out of 10.

[MasterIchiro]

Gay is the far more superior player between the two. Henderson will never be a guy who averages 20 a game, whereas Gay could put those type of numbers up for us. He also gives us something in a face of the franchise player and seems perfect for our running type offense.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lg2r8yNLZnc[/youtube]

Gay is a monster. Thanks for the video. I remember him during his UCONN days and now he just looks so polished. I actually ran into him when visiting my brother when he was attending UCONN. We were going into the gym to workout and he was coming off the basketball floor. He was tall and a lot skinnier back then. Probably 19 years old.

[Man Strength]

http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=ac9fr64

not sure how realistic this is for each partner, but id be happy to throw in the Port pick somewhere, or a 2nd.

Bobcats in - Millsap, Gordon Hayward, Jimmy Butler, Greg Smith,
Bobcats out - Diop, Henderson, Taylor

We would do this with the idea to re-sign millsap. Hayward can play the 2 or the 3 and will improve our shooting. Butler is a great rebounder for his position. Smith should start over Biyombo immediately (mostly because biyombo sucks). start reshaping the roster now. Besides millsap everyone is one extremely reasonable multi year deals.

Utah in - diop, Henderson, pick of some sort
Utah out - Millsap, Hayward, Carroll

Houston in - Carroll
Houston out - Smith

Bulls In - Taylor
Bulls out - Butler

*we could also cut Chicago out and send taylor to Houston.

[HornetJail]

For me, that's a deal if and only if Millsap is extended. I say just cut Jimmy Butler out of this and we'll keep Taylor.

[thruthefire]

http://bkref.com/tiny/qKmht

[BlackOutBuzz]

Both the Houston and Chicago parts seem kinda extraneous honestly. Either way I don't think the Jazz will part with Hayward. Maybe Burks though?

http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=b6hle68

[HornetJail]

http://bkref.com/tiny/qKmht

Hey, that Maggette guy looks better than Gay, let's trade for him instead!

[Man Strength]

most certainly Millsap is the most important piece, but Smith and Butler are quality players. we currently have a roster without many quality players, so anything help we can get is great. Smith and Butler are both very good rebounders. Since that is currently our biggest problem, I tried to address that.

I agree that Hayward will be tough to pry away, and I am not sure what his value is to Utah.

[James Gatz]

http://bkref.com/tiny/qKmht

A better defensive Corey Maggette is in his prime isn't exactly a bad thing.

[HornetJail]

http://bkref.com/tiny/qKmht

A better defensive Corey Maggette is in his prime isn't exactly a bad thing.

Great, would that be Bad Gay Porn?

[Eoghan]

If Memphis is trying to bluff Washington into something, why couldn't we just be a third team and facilitate this biatch.

http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=b8euluy

Charlotte in: Okafor, Jordan Crawford
Charlotte out: Gana, Turtle

Washington in: Rudy Gay
Washington out: Okafor, Crawford

Memphis in: Diop, Turtle, Ariza
Memphis out: Gay

Why for us: Wiz give us a sweet pick for taking their bad contract in Okafor, which sucks but he at least will help address some immediate rebounding woes and becomes an attractive expiring next year. With our bounty of picks, we can package up on draft day and own this weak draft, bringing home Shabazz/McLemore and a Bennett/Noel.

Why for Memphis: Cap relief galore, don't skip much of a beat by adding Ariza so they can still scrap and grind their way to the playoffs.

Why for Washington: They're batchit crazy and are desperate to assemble a playoff roster. Wall, Beal, Gay, Seraphin, and Nene might get it done in the weak East and they're still trying to convince Wall to stay.

[BlackOutBuzz]

most certainly Millsap is the most important piece, but Smith and Butler are quality players. we currently have a roster without many quality players, so anything help we can get is great. Smith and Butler are both very good rebounders.

I agree that they're nice role players, I'm just not sure Chicago and Houston would go for those straight up swaps unless we got creative with some 2nd rounders or something.