Discussing Other Teams' Moves Part 4

[tontoz]

Jackson isn't going anywhere.

The Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks and Oklahoma City Thunder engineered a multi-faceted six-player trade Monday night, sources told ESPN.com.

As part of the deal, Dion Waiters will go to the Thunder, J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert would go to the Cavs and three players with nonguaranteed contracts -- Alex Kirk and Lou Amundson from the Cavs and Lance Thomas from the Thunder -- would go to the Knicks. As part of the deal, the Thunder are sending a protected future first-round pick to the Cavs and the Cavs are sending their 2019 second-round pick to the Knicks, sources said.

[+] EnlargeJ.R. Smith
AP Photo/Tony Dejak
J.R. Smith, left, and Dion Waiters are both on the move in a three-team deal that also involves the Thunder, according to sources.
The Thunder are sending a protected 2015 first-round pick to Cleveland in the trade. The Cavs will get the pick if it falls outside the top 18 this year or if it falls outside the top 15 in 2016 or '17. If it doesn't convey in any of those years, it becomes two second-round picks, according to sources.

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/12125 ... ty-thunder

[TGW]

Horrid trade for Cleveland. Not sure why they would get rid of one malcontent and pick up another. Ridiculous.

Decent trade for the Knicks—they continue to gas up the tank.

[FAH1223]

I was wrong about Josh Smith ... and I'm going to walk to the edge of the cliff one more time:

JR AND SHUMP IF HEALTHY WILL MAKE CLEVELAND VERY DANGEROUS.

Explosive scorer, Smith. Shump seems damaged, but was a formidable player on a 50+win Knicks team just a couple seasons ago.

CLE got a protected 1st rounder from OKC

Now they have some ammo to try and get a big man. They really want Mozgov but Denver isn't budging. Yusuf Nurkic might get handed the starting job if a trade goes through.

They also want Koufos from the Grizzlies but that trade makes zero sense for MEM. They need him for depth behind Gasol.

[nate33]

Horrid trade for Cleveland. Not sure why they would get rid of one malcontent and pick up another. Ridiculous.

Decent trade for the Knicks—they continue to gas up the tank.

I dunno. Shumpert might really help them. They need a wing defender who doesn't take shots from Irving, Love and LeBron.

[WallWithTheDime]

Awwww, what happened to Waiters being the better back court with Kyrie and Waiters, guess not now hahahahahah

[Ruzious]

The trade probably can't hurt Cleveland, but I'm not sure it's going to help them much unless Shumpert understands and accepts his role. I have no faith in JR Smith having the discipline to help Cleve. Shumpert's got to understand he's strictly a 3 and D player. If he's not wide open - just pass the ball to an all-star teammate. His only shots should be open 3's and fast break dunks.

[fishercob]

Horrid trade for Cleveland. Not sure why they would get rid of one malcontent and pick up another. Ridiculous.

Decent trade for the Knicks—they continue to gas up the tank.

I dunno. Shumpert might really help them. They need a wing defender who doesn't take shots from Irving, Love and LeBron.

Yeah it will be interesting to see if they sign him long term this summer or if he takes the QO. He's a really good theoretical fit there and the pick is a nice asset to help them down the road.

[sashae]

I watch a LOT of Knicks being in NY, and I think that Shump has a lot of potential to be a good player. The last couple of years in NY have been a total mess, and his confidence has been shot. When he's playing within himself, and with confidence he looks like a really useful player. I hope the framework in CLE allows him to do that -- a real defensive stopper off the bench, energy guy.

[gambitx777]

I don't know why OKC did this? I mean I really thought that going after Brandon Bass / Brandon Wright would have been clutch for them. I don't see what waiters does for them. . . ? I mean what's the point.... I think it's brilliant for the nicks, The dump Smith, get a second round pick and the get Lance Thomas and Alex Kirk. They Cut Dalembert and they will cut Lou at some point, so they will have an open spot and trade exceptions to absorb a contract before the dead line. It was decent for the cav's cuz they dump a chemistry problem. Shumpert should fall in to his roll there with better team leaders around and a new situation. I look for them to flip Smith for a center at some point, possibly with that first that they got.

[nate33]

I don't know why OKC did this? I mean I really thought that going after Brandon Bass / Brandon Wright would have been clutch for them. I don't see what waiters does for them. . . ? I mean what's the point.... I think it's brilliant for the nicks, The dump Smith, get a second round pick and the get Lance Thomas and Alex Kirk. They Cut Dalembert and they will cut Lou at some point, so they will have an open spot and trade exceptions to absorb a contract before the dead line. It was decent for the cav's cuz they dump a chemistry problem. Shumpert should fall in to his roll there with better team leaders around and a new situation. I look for them to flip Smith for a center at some point, possibly with that first that they got.

The only rationale I can see for OKC is that they have built an offense that's basically set up for Durant and Westbrook to create looks for themselves by going one-on-one, and everyone else just crashes the boards or spots up for 3. Maybe Waiters would be the guy to run the "offense" for the 2nd unit when Westbrook and Durant are out. Waiters is another one-on-one shot jacker (albeit without the efficiency of Durant and Westbrook).

Overall, it has big potential to blow up in their face. I'm hoping Durant gets sick of watching Westbrook and Waiters take a lot of bad shots.

[gambitx777]

The only rationale I can see for OKC is that they have built an offense that's basically set up for Durant and Westbrook to create looks for themselves by going one-on-one, and everyone else just crashes the boards or spots up for 3. Maybe Waiters would be the guy to run the "offense" for the 2nd unit when Westbrook and Durant are out. Waiters is another one-on-one shot jacker (albeit without the efficiency of Durant and Westbrook).

Overall, it has big potential to blow up in their face. I'm hoping Durant gets sick of watching Westbrook and Waiters take a lot of bad shots.

Let me know if you agree or not, it just seems to me that OKC is not going all in for this season. Up grading that front is needed, going out and getting a young starting 2, who just so happens to be a chuck shooter, not needed. It almost seems like they want to play it safe, like they have no urgency to win now, almost like they don't expect him to leave? Which we all know if he sees a better chance to win, he's gone.

[nate33]

The only rationale I can see for OKC is that they have built an offense that's basically set up for Durant and Westbrook to create looks for themselves by going one-on-one, and everyone else just crashes the boards or spots up for 3. Maybe Waiters would be the guy to run the "offense" for the 2nd unit when Westbrook and Durant are out. Waiters is another one-on-one shot jacker (albeit without the efficiency of Durant and Westbrook).

Overall, it has big potential to blow up in their face. I'm hoping Durant gets sick of watching Westbrook and Waiters take a lot of bad shots.

Let me know if you agree or not, it just seems to me that OKC is not going all in for this season. Up grading that front is needed, going out and getting a young starting 2, who just so happens to be a chuck shooter, not needed. It almost seems like they want to play it safe, like they have no urgency to win now, almost like they don't expect him to leave? Which we all know if he sees a better chance to win, he's gone.

I think you make a valid point. Why go after a guy who hasn't yet reach his prime unless they're thinking about reloading for the future? There had to be better "win now" trade options on the table.

[nuposse04]

Oddly the only real winners I think might be the knicks. More developmental minutes for Hardaway and Early. I also don't know how much of a shut down player Shumpert really is. I always though a significant portion of that was media hype, don't know what the data says in the last 2 seasons about em.

[closg00]

Hassan Whiteside is looking like good snatch from the D-League for the Heat.
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/4764/

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I was wrong about Josh Smith ... and I'm going to walk to the edge of the cliff one more time:

JR AND SHUMP IF HEALTHY WILL MAKE CLEVELAND VERY DANGEROUS.

Explosive scorer, Smith. Shump seems damaged, but was a formidable player on a 50+win Knicks team just a couple seasons ago.

CLE got a protected 1st rounder from OKC

Now they have some ammo to try and get a big man. They really want Mozgov but Denver isn't budging. Yusuf Nurkic might get handed the starting job if a trade goes through.

They also want Koufos from the Grizzlies but that trade makes zero sense for MEM. They need him for depth behind Gasol.

What will they give up for Kevin Seraphin?

[dobrojim]

Awwww, what happened to Waiters being the better back court with Kyrie and Waiters, guess not now hahahahahah

said the same thing over in the other games thread

[dobrojim]

The trade probably can't hurt Cleveland, but I'm not sure it's going to help them much unless Shumpert understands and accepts his role. I have no faith in JR Smith having the discipline to help Cleve. Shumpert's got to understand he's strictly a 3 and D player. If he's not wide open - just pass the ball to an all-star teammate. His only shots should be open 3's and fast break dunks.

wonder what will happen when JR freezes out all the better options CLE has at the end of a close game?

[mhd]

I like the trade for the Cavs. They NEED role players, an Smith can get white hot from long range, and Shumpert is a wing defender that they lack. Plus, that future 1st can be used (along with their other picks) to get a defensive big. Solid trade for them.

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

I don't know why OKC did this? I mean I really thought that going after Brandon Bass / Brandon Wright would have been clutch for them. I don't see what waiters does for them. . . ?

gambit, here's what the Thunder were thinking:

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/12125 ... ty-thunder

The Thunder, who used a trade exception to execute the deal, gain the offensively talented Waiters, who had struggled to fit at times over the past two-plus seasons. With Waiters, the Thunder are adding some scoring off the bench and providing insurance for Reggie Jackson, their standout guard who is in the final year of his contract.

"I'm excited about bringing Dion aboard," reigning league MVP Kevin Durant told reporters Monday night. "A guy that has a lot of toughness. Being from the East Coast, I know a lot about Philadelphia, South Philly, where he comes from. Those guys are tough, and they play with an edge. And that's what we need here.

"Just knowing him from playing against him. We're gonna make him feel wanted. I don't think he felt that the last couple years. He's gonna fit in well. He's gonna get comfortable real quick. It's on the leaders -- Russell [Westbrook], myself, Nick [Collison] -- to make him feel at home and feel special and let him play his game."

KD wanted the guy. Likes South Philly tough ballers. The Thunder already know they can't resign Reggie Jackson.

[dobrojim]

Maybe it'll work, but playing tough or with an edge ain't necessarily the same thing as playing smart ie winning basketball.