Trade Targets, Part Deux

[N Ireland Nets]

I wonder if Gortat is on his way to OKC?

or is it Smith to OKC????

I'm thinking Gortat to OKC is very likely if they can dump Perkins on the Suns and the Suns get Toronto's pick in addition to Lamb.

I like that deal very much all around for both teams as well. Although that's a lot of asset value for OKC that might be able to bring back a better player, being able to use Perkins as the salary filler and with Gortat's contract being so friendly, it's a really nice compromise.

I like the deal all around as well.

The Suns could have 3 lotto picks in this draft. Could walk away with 3 players like Len, Gobert & Poythress. Would be a great way to kick start a rebuild with 3 lotto picks though (Suns, Lakers, Raptors)

[vincecarter4pres]

Even if they aren't ultimately traded, chances are most players like Eric Gordon, Smith and Redick will be sat tonight just in anticipation of potential moves to limit any risk of any injury foiling a possible agreement.

[vincecarter4pres]

I wonder if Gortat is on his way to OKC?

or is it Smith to OKC????

I'm thinking Gortat to OKC is very likely if they can dump Perkins on the Suns and the Suns get Toronto's pick in addition to Lamb.

I like that deal very much all around for both teams as well. Although that's a lot of asset value for OKC that might be able to bring back a better player, being able to use Perkins as the salary filler and with Gortat's contract being so friendly, it's a really nice compromise.

I like the deal all around as well.

The Suns could have 3 lotto picks in this draft. Could walk away with 3 players like Len, Gobert & Poythress. Would be a great way to kick start a rebuild with 3 lotto picks though (Suns, Lakers, Raptors)

Not the greatest draft to have all these picks in, but it's still the proper direction for them to go and looking at what they gave up/will be giving up to attain this collection of picks, they certainly made out well.

[DarkXaero]

So where do you guys think Eric Gordon is going?

[N Ireland Nets]

I'll be pretty excited if we get Smith even though I think he's a grade A knucklehead.

Just not sure how he works here and giving him a max makes me cringe though.

I guess cautiously excited would be how I'd phrase it.

Can't say I'd love the move, but if you can turn Hump, Brooks and a 1st or 2 into him? Especially considering Atlanta already has the unprotected swap options on the 2015 one? I mean on the surface it's a great move.

I don't think he'd be immovable in year 2 of a new deal either, but he might be only neutral value at that point.

I'd be cautiously excited too.

The possibility that his defense could be the missing link to this crapfest of team defense that we have is what really makes want to get him.

Also, I know this sounds stupid but I want to see some alley-oops and thunderous dunks in Brooklyn. I'm tired of the occasional soft dunk here and there. I want one of those dunks that he put on Brook that completely demoralizes the opponent. It would send our crowd in a frenzy.

I'd like to think that his positives would greatly outweigh his negatives and he'd be able to put it all together on this team.

Josh Smith is a lot of what prime Kenyon Martin was with a small forward like handle to boot, but where they differ is Kenyon never got whiny, sulky and pouty. He had major heart in the face of adversity and was a lot tougher mentally. On a different level entirely in that aspect.

That's a big thing.

His BBIQ was higher as well, but as I said before, I can deal with the occasional yet every game facepalm plays from Smith, especially because one would hope for the long haul you can limit him from committing those in the waning moments of the game, if not by default because he shouldn't be put in position to make them on this roster, if not just pecking order wise.

Now will he even accept being demoted to a role like this at this point?

I'm sure he will for the money, but will he become a problem down the road?

IDK, but I don't want to think about that yet if these moves were to happen.

But I've come off topic. Again what I'm leading up to is, I can deal with some stupid mistakes every game, but what I can't accept is his bad body language, pouting, moronic and cancerous antics, especially on court, specifically in crunch time.

And to me he's at the age, been in the league so long that... well at this point tigers don't change their stripes.

That's what scares me about him and why I will be guarded in my optimism.

Our biggest move is going to be the head coach appointment in the summer and a hard look at our entire basketball operations. PJ is gone in the summer,it's a matter of who our new coach will be. King could be gone as well, will Jackson become team president? who would our new GM be then?

So many unanswered questions because a top level coach could do a lot of damage with D Will, JJ, Crash, Smoove & Lopez. But if we don't appoint the right person it could be a $430m car crash

[N Ireland Nets]

So where do you guys think Eric Gordon is going?

The only place I've read that is interested is the Warriors with Klay Thompson going the other way plus filler & whatever.

[enetric]

Also, I don't believe anything that isn't from a major outlet right now. Everyone is fiending for hits.

Celtics wouldn't take Wallace's $40m contract for Pierce.

But I could see someone taking Wallace for an expiring. Like the Spurs for JAX.

This is part of the deal I had going where we get KG and Pierce to save Boston tons of cash.

[machu46]

hoopscritic: Source tells me that Josh Smith sweepstakes down to 2 teams as of right now....the Milwaukee Bucks and the Brooklyn Nets....

hoopscritic: The Nets standing offer to Atlanta right now is Humphries, Brooks, and 2 first round picks. ATL trying to squeeze MIL for more....

hoopscritic: Important to note....these Smith talks are very fluid. Players involved could change and other team(s) could re-enter. Just BKN/MIL now

Chris_Broussard: Josh Smith would like to play w/Monte Ellis & Brandon Jennings so Bucks trying to make trade w/out giving up Ellis.

hoopscritic: Milwaukee in drivers seat for Smith. Expiring deals of Udoh and Dalembert are a big advantage over Nets offering Hump is the salary slot

I find it hilarious, that Josh Smith wants to play with Jennings and Ellis But i would like their starting 5 from the Bucks perspective: Jennings, Ellis, Smith, IIyasova & Sanders. Bucks aren't getting any top free agents any time soon so their best root is to make a deal for Smith and make as good a team with what they've got.

1- I think the Bucks might have to give up Sanders if Monta isnt in the offer.

2- I dont think Smith wanting to play with Monta Jennings is just about a union of misfit toys. I think its about wanting to see the team that trades for you keeping their best players to help you be more competitive later.

Bucks won't trade Sanders.

It really comes down to what Atlanta thinks is more value:

Something like:
Dalembert's expiring contract
Ekpe Udoh
Tobias Harris
1st round pick

or:
Humphries contract (pretty sure Atlanta doesn't really want to take it)
MarShon Brooks
2 1st round picks (which would end up being late round picks assuming the Nets keep Josh Smith).

I think between those choices, they'll take Milwaukee's trade. If they don't, perhaps another team swoops in or perhaps Milwaukee gives up Monta Ellis/Dalembert/Udoh or Draft pick for Josh Smith and Devin Harris.

[vincecarter4pres]

I'd be cautiously excited too.

The possibility that his defense could be the missing link to this crapfest of team defense that we have is what really makes want to get him.

Also, I know this sounds stupid but I want to see some alley-oops and thunderous dunks in Brooklyn. I'm tired of the occasional soft dunk here and there. I want one of those dunks that he put on Brook that completely demoralizes the opponent. It would send our crowd in a frenzy.

I'd like to think that his positives would greatly outweigh his negatives and he'd be able to put it all together on this team.

Josh Smith is a lot of what prime Kenyon Martin was with a small forward like handle to boot, but where they differ is Kenyon never got whiny, sulky and pouty. He had major heart in the face of adversity and was a lot tougher mentally. On a different level entirely in that aspect.

That's a big thing.

His BBIQ was higher as well, but as I said before, I can deal with the occasional yet every game facepalm plays from Smith, especially because one would hope for the long haul you can limit him from committing those in the waning moments of the game, if not by default because he shouldn't be put in position to make them on this roster, if not just pecking order wise.

Now will he even accept being demoted to a role like this at this point?

I'm sure he will for the money, but will he become a problem down the road?

IDK, but I don't want to think about that yet if these moves were to happen.

But I've come off topic. Again what I'm leading up to is, I can deal with some stupid mistakes every game, but what I can't accept is his bad body language, pouting, moronic and cancerous antics, especially on court, specifically in crunch time.

And to me he's at the age, been in the league so long that... well at this point tigers don't change their stripes.

That's what scares me about him and why I will be guarded in my optimism.

Our biggest move is going to be the head coach appointment in the summer and a hard look at our entire basketball operations. PJ is gone in the summer,it's a matter of who our new coach will be. King could be gone as well, will Jackson become team president? who would our new GM be then?

So many unanswered questions because a top level coach could do a lot of damage with D Will, JJ, Crash, Smoove & Lopez. But if we don't appoint the right person it could be a $430m car crash

The thing with Smoove is, I don't know that any coach is getting through to him or changing him as a person.

Get the most out of him? Yeah sure.

Get more out of him then previous mediocre coaches have? Yeah sure.

But his pouty, whiny, bad body language, scrunched up face, technical collecting ways can be cancerous and game changing in a very bad way and that's character issues, not BBIQ issues.

He's not an actual bad guy from anything I've ever read or heard reported. He's not getting 4 DUI's, or slapping strippers, or popping out seeds state to state, or funding his boy's drug operations, or even telling kids to **** off when they ask for his autograph.

But on court and in the locker room he's had his issues.

Listen, there's an overwhelming chance he isn't even dealt here and I don't mean to rail on all negative and crap on him whether he is or not, especially this early in the game. If he is dealt here maybe finally being away from his hometown, maybe that change of scenery is truly beneficial and he becomes a changed man?

And he's got a ton of on court positives, is such a great fit here and can play to his strengths. There are huge positives to him being dealt here.

But I am a cynic and a realist by nature, so it's one of the first places my mind goes, I can't help it lol.

This is a guy though with quite literal top 5 player talent, skills, athleticism and potential(which is a tricky and overused label with his tenure at this point), but all this with a ten cent head and that's why he's an enigma who's play fluctuates from around 25th to 50th best player level in rankings each and every year.

[therealbig3]

Would Josh Smith re-sign in Milwaukee? Because I'm 100% sure he'd re-sign here.

Unless of course Milwaukee doesn't really care if he wants to or not, and would rather rent him for the rest of the year and let him walk in the off-season, because they don't want to pay him a max deal for 5 years, which is completely understandable.

And LOL at all the ridiculous overrating of Smith in this thread. I agree with some of the others saying they're being cautious, and that he can definitely help in a big way, but there are serious and undeniable drawbacks to Smith, ESPECIALLY when you consider the max contract he wants. We have to think long term about giving away a max deal, since we want to have cap flexibility for the 2017 offseason. We won't have that if D-Will picks up his player option, and Smith is signed for the max.

Now, if we don't give up much for Smith, then you have to do the deal, because if he "gets it", then he's worth it, and he takes us to legit contender status, even if it's a long shot. The question is, will he "get it"? And it's not anywhere close to a guarantee, and what he's shown so far in his career is nowhere near deserving of a max, or of multiple 1st rounders, or of any of the ridiculous praise he's gotten in this thread. His career has been a major disappointment, in fact, considering his obvious physical abilities and talent level compared to his actual production and impact. I think he's been rightfully left off the All-Star game throughout his career, he just doesn't deserve it based on his actual play.

[CalamityX12]

So where do you guys think Eric Gordon is going?

no where now IMO. Him sitting tonight is due to their protocol or "rule" to prevent him from hurting whatever again on the 2nd night of back to backs...

if you were responding to the Gordon sitting tonight post.

[AntwanBoldin]

Why are we offering humphries to atl? We really have no shot if they have to pay him over say gortat or the rights to John Henson.

Charlotte wanted humphries at $3/24M, so they'd like him even better at $1/12M and the rights to dump Ty Thomas. **** maybe even Gerald Henderson is worth that

[machu46]

Would Josh Smith re-sign in Milwaukee? Because I'm 100% sure he'd re-sign here.

Unless of course Milwaukee doesn't really care if he wants to or not, and would rather rent him for the rest of the year and let him walk in the off-season, because they don't want to pay him a max deal for 5 years, which is completely understandable.

And LOL at all the ridiculous overrating of Smith in this thread. I agree with some of the others saying they're being cautious, and that he can definitely help in a big way, but there are serious and undeniable drawbacks to Smith, ESPECIALLY when you consider the max contract he wants. We have to think long term about giving away a max deal, since we want to have cap flexibility for the 2017 offseason. We won't have that if D-Will picks up his player option, and Smith is signed for the max.

Now, if we don't give up much for Smith, then you have to do the deal, because if he "gets it", then he's worth it, and he takes us to legit contender status, even if it's a long shot. The question is, will he "get it"? And it's not anywhere close to a guarantee, and what he's shown so far in his career is nowhere near deserving of a max, or of multiple 1st rounders, or of any of the ridiculous praise he's gotten in this thread. His career has been a major disappointment, in fact, considering his obvious physical abilities and talent level compared to his actual production and impact. I think he's been rightfully left off the All-Star game throughout his career, he just doesn't deserve it based on his actual play.

Supposedly if Milwaukee can pull off getting Smith without giving up Ellis, he would want to stay. To be honest though, if I'm a Bucks fan, I don't know if I'd want to commit to bringing back all three of Jennings, Ellis, and Smith. I think Milwaukee will be able to keep Jennings for around $10 million a year. At the end of the day, Milwaukee will overpay for someone. Milwaukee should be excited that they could overpay for someone like Josh Smith rather than overpaying for another Drew Gooden/John Salmons.

[NyCeEvO]

I like the deal all around as well.

The Suns could have 3 lotto picks in this draft. Could walk away with 3 players like Len, Gobert & Poythress. Would be a great way to kick start a rebuild with 3 lotto picks though (Suns, Lakers, Raptors)

Not the greatest draft to have all these picks in, but it's still the proper direction for them to go and looking at what they gave up/will be giving up to attain this collection of picks, they certainly made out well.

What about Ben McLemore? That kid looks like he could be pretty good.

[Paradise]

Major grain of salt incoming;

While the #Bucks were in the lead for Josh Smith for the last 2 days, the Hawks have re-approached the #Nets about completing a trade
— Sports Whispers (@SportsWhispers) February 20, 2013

Sports Whispers ‏@SportsWhispers
Sources believe that after speaking with Smith’s agent, the Bucks have completely lowered their offer

Only reason why I'm posting these tweets are because Ellis has now been deemed as a keeper and Billy isn't willing to throw in multiple 1st round picks which would explain why he isn't.

[enetric]

I wonder if Gortat is on his way to OKC?

or is it Smith to OKC????

I'm thinking Gortat to OKC is very likely if they can dump Perkins on the Suns and the Suns get Toronto's pick in addition to Lamb.

I like that deal very much all around for both teams as well. Although that's a lot of asset value for OKC that might be able to bring back a better player, being able to use Perkins as the salary filler and with Gortat's contract being so friendly, it's a really nice compromise.

If the Thunder do not parlay their assets and Harden ends up being a straight dump...what a sad situation. I hate things like that. People talk about how right the Thunder built their team...but alot of what they did right was luck following being awful. High picks for losing but getting most of those picks to produce. Nothing worse to me to see it ruined by choice because of cash.

They should be in on Gortat, Smith...plenty of guys.

Another team I think should be buyers is Denver.

[Ronito]

Look at Billy King learning about smokescreens.

[enetric]

we're still in limbo correct?

Wonder who will take on Eric Gordon? if he's being moved...LOL wait, tonight is a 2nd night of a back to back? LOL he's sitting due to health/caution... got em!!!!!!!!!!

Eric Gordon is one of these players people lust for that I want no part of ever. Him, Bynum, Nene, etc.

If I look at a guy and have to include the sentence...man I know he makes a fortune but if he was ever healthy?


That's a guy I avoid like VD.

[N Ireland Nets]

Am I the only person not excited at the thought of us trading for a 35 year old Paul Pierce??

[machu46]

Major grain of salt incoming;

While the #Bucks were in the lead for Josh Smith for the last 2 days, the Hawks have re-approached the #Nets about completing a trade
— Sports Whispers (@SportsWhispers) February 20, 2013

Sports Whispers ‏@SportsWhispers
Sources believe that after speaking with Smith’s agent, the Bucks have completely lowered their offer

Only reason why I'm posting these tweets are because Ellis has now been deemed as a keeper and Billy isn't willing to throw in multiple 1st round picks which would explain why he isn't.

Ellis isn't a keeper. Milwaukee is just trying to keep him because apparently Josh Smith wants to play with him. But I think push comes to shove, Milwaukee would offer Ellis.

Interesting though.

Edit: Also, reports are that Brooklyn has pulled out to focus on trading the same Brooks/Hump package for Paul Pierce.