Trade Targets (postcript on yesterday-other teams)

[paulpressey25]

But who would you get back in return? It seems like the Bucks need a 5 worse than the Blazers.

Not if we are going the "future assets" route.

[randy84]

But who would you get back in return? It seems like the Bucks need a 5 worse than the Blazers.

Not if we are going the "future assets" route.

True. But what are the future asset(s)? CJ McCollum, T.Robinson? Not sure that's anything more than shuffling around role players.

[Buckfan76]

I'd easily trade Henson to PORT for CJ. Then trade Middleton, and someone for Kanter. Hell I'd even trade Knight, & Sova to CHAR for Zeller, Hendo, and a possibly a 1st rd pick?

[eagle13]

Ersan & OBryant for Leonard & Robinson

Ersan is the best shooter. We get some bodies to try at the 5 in Larry's absence. Leonard might learn from Zaza.
Bucks at least dump Ersan's 2.5 years of salary - Robo is expiring.

[WeekapaugGroove]

But who would you get back in return? It seems like the Bucks need a 5 worse than the Blazers.

Not if we are going the "future assets" route.

True. But what are the future asset(s)? CJ McCollum, T.Robinson? Not sure that's anything more than shuffling around role players.

I'd roll the dice on Henson for McCollum. Then just sign a guy like earl barron from the dleague.

It is hard to find Portland deals that make sense for both teams. Ersans salary makes it tough and I doubt they want him on the books next year with extensions for Aldridge Matthews and Lopez coming this summer. That could put them near the tax.

Sent from my SM-G900V using RealGM Forums mobile app

[randy84]

I'd easily trade Henson to PORT for CJ. Then trade Middleton, and someone for Kanter. Hell I'd even trade Knight, & Sova to CHAR for Zeller, Hendo, and a possibly a 1st rd pick?

I liked CJ coming out of the draft, but I think he will just end up being an OJ Mayo type player. Not really a needle mover.

[randy84]

Ersan & OBryant for Leonard & Robinson

Ersan is the best shooter. We get some bodies to try at the 5 in Larry's absence. Leonard might learn from Zaza.
Bucks at least dump Ersan's 2.5 years of salary - Robo is expiring.

No way they give up Leonard for Ersan, especially with Lopez out.

[WeekapaugGroove]

I'd easily trade Henson to PORT for CJ. Then trade Middleton, and someone for Kanter. Hell I'd even trade Knight, & Sova to CHAR for Zeller, Hendo, and a possibly a 1st rd pick?

I liked CJ coming out of the draft, but I think he will just end up being an OJ Mayo type player. Not really a needle mover.

you're probably right on CJ. Willingness to do that deal really depends on your view of henson. I don't see henson being much more than a backup big so I'd do it even for the small chance CJ breaks out given more minutes. Now if someone has a higher opinion of henson I could see the reluctance to doing that trade.

Portland is kind of in a tough spot because I think they really need to make a trade but can't really take on much money for next year or risk the tax after they extend all their free agents.

Sent from my SM-G900V using RealGM Forums mobile app

[eagle13]

Ersan & OBryant for Leonard & Robinson

Ersan is the best shooter. We get some bodies to try at the 5 in Larry's absence. Leonard might learn from Zaza.
Bucks at least dump Ersan's 2.5 years of salary - Robo is expiring.

No way they give up Leonard for Ersan, especially with Lopez out.

they have Kaman and freeland playing ahead of leonard so its not a serious loss for them plus ersan fills in while LMA is out. Plus OBryant can give a few minutes at 5 as well as 4.

[randy84]

Ersan & OBryant for Leonard & Robinson

Ersan is the best shooter. We get some bodies to try at the 5 in Larry's absence. Leonard might learn from Zaza.
Bucks at least dump Ersan's 2.5 years of salary - Robo is expiring.

No way they give up Leonard for Ersan, especially with Lopez out.

they have Kaman and freeland playing ahead of leonard so its not a serious loss for them plus ersan fills in while LMA is out. Plus OBryant can give a few minutes at 5 as well as 4.

Freeland has been out for about a month and I don't think O'Bryant can play center.

I am all for it if you can get Leonard for Ersan, I just don't see the Blazers pulling the trigger on it.

[mlloyd10]

http://behindthebuckpass.com/2015/01/24 ... fit-bucks/

Article kind of making fun of bloggers, but it suggest kanter for Middleton/clippers pick/2nd rd picks

Is that enough?

[WeekapaugGroove]

Well it looks like Aldridge is going to try and play through the thumb injury. Interesting move because if he gives it a go and isn't effective with a bad thumb this delays his return to full health.

Sent from my SM-G900V using RealGM Forums mobile app

[WeekapaugGroove]

http://behindthebuckpass.com/2015/01/24/enes-kanter-fit-bucks/

Article kind of making fun of bloggers, but it suggest kanter for Middleton/clippers pick/2nd rd picks

Is that enough?

could be if Utah has decided they aren't paying Kanter in the offseason it would make sense for them to get that clips pick for him. Middleton is kind of a wash since he needs to get paid this summer too. Just wonder if they would get a better deal from someone else once they make Kanter available.

Sent from my SM-G900V using RealGM Forums mobile app

[randy84]

http://behindthebuckpass.com/2015/01/24/enes-kanter-fit-bucks/

Article kind of making fun of bloggers, but it suggest kanter for Middleton/clippers pick/2nd rd picks

Is that enough?

could be if Utah has decided they aren't paying Kanter in the offseason it would make sense for them to get that clips pick for him. Middleton is kind of a wash since he needs to get paid this summer too. Just wonder if they would get a better deal from someone else once they make Kanter available.

Sent from my SM-G900V using RealGM Forums mobile app

How many people would be willing to give up the Bucks pick this year for Kanter?

I think that is the type of offer that would get the Jazz's attention.

[Baddy Chuck]

I think that is the type of offer that would get the Jazz's attention.

I would rather give up the Bucks pick then the Clippers pick and Middleton. I don't want Kanter though.

[raferfenix]

Do we think the Grizzlies might be looking to trade Kosta Koufos in some manner of win-now deal -- as opposed to extending him (alongside maxxing Gasol) this Summer?

Marc Stein reported in early December that the Cavs at least thought he might be available:

http://espn.go.com/blog/marc-stein/post ... -wish-list

...a difference-making center in return.

And Koufos, regarded as one of the league's more underrated interior defenders thanks to the limited minutes he gets behind Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph, would certainly qualify.

How willing the Grizzlies are to part with Koufos, meanwhile, remains to be seen.

Koufos, by contrast, is an unrestricted free agent next summer whose camp, sources say, has made it known to Grizzlies management that it has less than pleased with the limited role carved out for the 7-footer over the past two seasons.

So ...

If the Grizzlies could add a scorer like Waiters for a player who could simply leave them without compensation in July, either to keep or trade themselves, you figure they'd have to consider it.

[raferfenix]

Basketball Insiders interviewed Kosta Koufos on January 9, and he spoke openly about free agency and the trade rumors:

http://www.basketballinsiders.com/nba-a ... de-rumors/

Serviceable and consistent big men come at a premium in today’s NBA. Teams routinely pay handsomely to land interior players who can defend the rim, block shots and rebound effectively.

With that being the case, one could argue Memphis Grizzlies reserve center Kosta Koufos is extremely underpaid given his skillset on the inside. Koufos is in the final year of his current deal worth $3 million this season, but is expected to get a nice bump in salary this summer once he hits free agency.

Koufos’ nightly stat line – 4.7 points and 4.5 rebounds in 15 minutes of action – isn’t gaudy in the least, but the 25-year-old center undoubtedly is a key contributor for a Memphis team with legit title aspirations.

In Memphis, playing behind elite center Marc Gasol, gaudy box scores will never be Koufos’ calling card. However, it’s important to note that the former Ohio State University standout has started 137 career games, mostly with the Denver Nuggets, with solid averages of eight points, seven rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game.

With free agency around the corner, Koufos has a decision to make. Stay in Memphis in a reserve role or pursue a new opportunity with more playing time. Koufos admits that he will factor playing time into his free agency decision this summer.

“I do want to play a lot more,” Koufos told Basketball Insiders regarding a potential strategy for his pending free agency. “You know, who doesn’t [want to play more]? But right now I’m not thinking about the summer.

If teams are calling with real assets approaching the deadline it’s hard to envision a scenario where Memphis’ front office doesn’t at least listen to those overtures for a player who could bolt in free agency and net nothing in return.

For his part, Koufos has paid close attention to the trade rumors involving his name this season. While most of the chatter has involved outside teams interested in his talents, and not Memphis actively shopping him, the center has been mostly flattered by the reports but steady in his understanding that the NBA is a business.

“This is a business,” Koufos said of trade rumors. “You can get traded any day and anytime. Anybody is tradable – mostly anybody. Like I said, I just have to maximize whatever opportunity that I have here and just take it day by day. You can’t think of the future, you just have to think of the now in the present.”

The center also knows playing behind Gasol and Zach Randolph is both a gift and a curse for his game and role on the team.

“They’re two of the best post players in the NBA,” Koufos said paying respect. “You know coming from Denver where I was starting and playing a lot of minutes consistently it’s just one of those things where now I have to be professional whenever coach puts me in and then help the team win games. Whether it’s setting screens, blocking shots or rebounding the ball or on the occasion the ball gets handed to you [offensively], you have to score. I’m trying to be as efficient as possible in the limited minutes given.”

[raferfenix]

If this is accurate it might be coming into play with those Nuggets trade rumors we were getting earlier:

http://www.hngn.com/articles/62906/2015 ... uggets.htm

Lopez still appears to be available, but King seems to think he can get more for Lopez than Oklahoma City and Denver initially offered in separate proposals. With that being said, both teams are expected to try again to land the 7-footer before the trade deadline passes.

"... (There) will be no shortage of suitors, and the Nuggets are expected to be among them," Christopher Dempsey of the Denver Post wrote Thursday. "They've already made one run at it, but were rebuffed along with everyone else by the Nets in favor of negotiations with Oklahoma City, and those talks got intense before breaking down. But there remains plenty of time before the Feb. 19 trade deadline, and the Nuggets have a lot to offer if they want to gamble."

"The Thunder under Sam Presti have long had an affection for Lopez; one former Thunder official revealed to me two years ago that the franchise thought seriously about drafting Lopez over Russell Westbrook in 2008," Lowe wrote Wednesday. "The Thunder were on the verge of acquiring Lopez at a super-cheap price - something like Jeremy Lamb, Grant Jerrett, and Kendrick Perkins's expiring contract - until the Nets wisely pulled back to further test the market. I'd expect the Thunder to inquire on Lopez again soon."

In addition to Denver and Oklahoma City, the Miami Heat and the Houston Rockets reportedly are interested in trading for Lopez.

[breakchains]

I'd love to pry McGary from OKC even though I think they don't really want to move him. Wonder what it would take.

[bigfoot]

Long time Suns fan here. Miss seeing Jared Dudley play for us. What would you guys want for him? I assume he'd pick up his player option next year since I don't see many teams willing to pay him more than $4.25M.