Trade Targets (postcript on yesterday-other teams)

[Newz]

... So then why did you start responding in the first place to this? No one said this team is like the FTD team. They are comparing the impact that it had to fan outlook on the team and how it put them into a 'win now' mindset as opposed to wanting to rebuild.

I also have no clue why you guys are bringing up drafting in the lottery or acquiring star guys early in the draft. Who the hell was even talking about that in this thread?

Someone said they wouldn't trade Middleton for Exum. I said I would, other people agree... some other people disagree.

Holy crap.

And I'm saying the outlook is not the same as FTD, for reasons stated. It's a more optimistic outlook and there are obvious reasons for that. People are also not advocating win now with Salmons type additions, or players of Salmons level age. Well, most aren't.

Not that it is actually realistic to pull off the trade...

But I think not trading a guy like Middleton for a guy like Exum is very short-sighted. And again, I like Middleton a lot going forward... I just don't think he's a star player, I think he's a great part of a 'supporting cast'. I think Exum has the ability to be one of the stars being supported.

[Kerb Hohl]

Well, you asked about the change in mindset. In any other year in the past decade, I'd trade a "role player" I had for a boom or bust prospect. Middleton is obviously argued to be much more than a role player, and also a guy that I can align with still being in his prime when the team is a contender (in 2-3 years). We've moved beyond that stage. If the trade rumored was those two, I'd think long and hard about making it, but my outlook is much different than 2 years ago where I would have said "yes" before you finished the sentence.

At this point in time, you're now forced to think about a mid/late 20s Middleton as a Jimmy Butler-type to support your core against a guy that could grow into your 3rd star or could be a 12th man in 3-4 years.

So would you trade Middleton for Exum or not?

You agree we don't have a chance to draft in the top 5 again... so would you trade Middleton for a 19 year old who was just drafted in the top 5 and had a huge upside coming in or would you keep him and hope Middleton becomes a legit star, you can land another star in the middle of the draft and/or you can sign/trade for a star level player?

With our roster I would still take the chance on Exum. Some people wouldn't.

I understand the dynamics of the trade, they aren't that difficult to figure out. But thank you for explaining them to me.

I am on the fence, I'd probably say yes and take Exum because I'm shooting for the moon in a lot of cases, but I also wouldn't go on a rant comparing this to "FTD syndrome" as you did.

[Newz]

So would you trade Middleton for Exum or not?

I am on the fence, I'd probably say yes and take Exum because I'm shooting for the moon in a lot of cases, but I also wouldn't go on a rant comparing this to "FTD syndrome" as you did.

Well I would go on a rant comparing it to "FTD syndrome".

Also, it is good to read that you agree with me in trading Middleton for Exum. Just like LUKE23 did.

Man, you guys love to argue with me. I mean, I can't blame you... I am super entertaining and awesome. But when you agree, just agree.

[paulpressey25]

(i.e. our Zach Randolph transaction BEFORE he became what he is now). Of course I know that Zach Randolph or any player of his current status are not going to be just gifted to the Bucks.
.

That's exactly it. We aren't drafting high lotto anymore unless Giannis goes down for the season next November.

Giannis will be an all-star. Middleton is booming. Jabari is a complete wildcard with his health.

We need that one more move where we get an all-star or close to all-star guy who is undervalued. Given that the cap is going up for everyone, I think free agency will now be a fool's game with massive overpayments. This last piece has to come in trade.

If I had to bet, I don't think Kanter, Stauskas or Reggie Jackson will turn into that guy. But I have no problem with us using some assets to acquire those guy(s) because they are the profile of the younger player who could bust out in Kidd's system.

[SupremeHustle]

Has this been posted?

[tweet]https://twitter.com/AlexKennedyNBA/status/568143949157797889[/tweet]

[Siefer]

Thank the gods this forum never devolves into hyperbole wars and spiraling side rants.

FWIW, I don't think the Middleton vs. Exum thing is super one-sided. I'm pretty comfortable taking Middleton in this hypothetical, but I get the Exum side of things.

[emunney]

The thing about Middleton is that he's young enough that wanting to hold onto him kind of naturally deters any questions of whether you're settling. I just happen to think Exum is a terrific prospect and I'd make the trade without hesitation.

[Ruzious]

Well, you asked about the change in mindset. In any other year in the past decade, I'd trade a "role player" I had for a boom or bust prospect. Middleton is obviously argued to be much more than a role player, and also a guy that I can align with still being in his prime when the team is a contender (in 2-3 years). We've moved beyond that stage. If the trade rumored was those two, I'd think long and hard about making it, but my outlook is much different than 2 years ago where I would have said "yes" before you finished the sentence.

At this point in time, you're now forced to think about a mid/late 20s Middleton as a Jimmy Butler-type to support your core against a guy that could grow into your 3rd star or could be a 12th man in 3-4 years.

So would you trade Middleton for Exum or not?

You agree we don't have a chance to draft in the top 5 again... so would you trade Middleton for a 19 year old who was just drafted in the top 5 and had a huge upside coming in or would you keep him and hope Middleton becomes a legit star, you can land another star in the middle of the draft and/or you can sign/trade for a star level player?

With our roster I would still take the chance on Exum. Some people wouldn't.

I understand the dynamics of the trade, they aren't that difficult to figure out. But thank you for explaining them to me.

I am on the fence, I'd probably say yes and take Exum because I'm shooting for the moon in a lot of cases, but I also wouldn't go on a rant comparing this to "FTD syndrome" as you did.

For all we know, Exum will be the next Evan Turner (who was a higher pick than Exum). Wait for his second contract, and then decide on him - rather than making a Las Vegas gamble.

[jtcooky]

Has this been posted?

[tweet]https://twitter.com/AlexKennedyNBA/status/568143949157797889[/tweet]

Alex Kennedy is a decent follow on Twitter. Doesn't really break a lot of news, but tweets out good stuff most of the time.

[GHOSTofSIKMA]

I have a hard time believing Jason Kidd is running this trade deadline from a golf course in Cabo.

[tweet]https://twitter.com/PorschlaKidd/status/568142457755570176[/tweet]

pressey.. quote this so i know youll see it and maybe then stop being in denial about whose show this has been since the Dudley trade

[buckboy]

I love Middleton, but if Utah offered Exum I'd do it.

[Wisky4life]

I hope when we make a trade, Hammond holds a huge press conference. Fireworks, explosions, chicks on his side. Just yelling "I RUN THIS"

[Licensed to Il]

Did anyone with connections suggest this has been discussed? Or are we really arguing a double hypothetical argument (hypothetical trade based on hypothetical projections)?

[Newz]

Thank the gods this forum never devolves into hyperbole wars and spiraling side rants.

FWIW, I don't think the Middleton vs. Exum thing is super one-sided. I'm pretty comfortable taking Middleton in this hypothetical, but I get the Exum side of things.

I can see the argument of keeping Middleton over Exum because you think Exum is just going to be bad. But I liked Exum before the draft. Half a season of him as a 19 year old while making an enormous jump in competition isn't enough to make me write him off.

I thought based on his size and talent for the position he was worth a top 5 pick... and he was a top 5 pick in a draft that was considered loaded. I would trade Khris Middleton for a top 5 pick in a loaded draft. That's pretty much how I look at it.

[ReasonablySober]

There's been nothing to suggest Exum is available. Maybe we should just move on from that one?

[Ruzious]

Has this been posted?

[tweet]https://twitter.com/AlexKennedyNBA/status/568143949157797889[/tweet]

Alex Kennedy is a decent follow on Twitter. Doesn't really break a lot of news, but tweets out good stuff most of the time.

I'd much rather trade for Dragic than for Jackson. Dragic is a helluva player and gives you flexibility by being able to play either guard position. But I think he listed only a few teams that he wants to play for - and Milw isn't one of them.

[paulpressey25]

pressey.. quote this so i know youll see it and maybe then stop being in denial about whose show this has been since the Dudley trade

Didn't you watch Entourage? Kidd has people to keep the phones humming. People like E (Hammond) and Turtle (Morway). Then you've got LED/Alex as the Ari character. In the end Kidd will get what he wants and he'll negotiate it personally if he has to.

[emunney]

(i.e. our Zach Randolph transaction BEFORE he became what he is now). Of course I know that Zach Randolph or any player of his current status are not going to be just gifted to the Bucks.
.

That's exactly it. We aren't drafting high lotto anymore unless Giannis goes down for the season next November.

Giannis will be an all-star. Middleton is booming. Jabari is a complete wildcard with his health.

We need that one more move where we get an all-star or close to all-star guy who is undervalued. Given that the cap is going up for everyone, I think free agency will now be a fool's game with massive overpayments. This last piece has to come in trade.

If I had to bet, I don't think Kanter, Stauskas or Reggie Jackson will turn into that guy. But I have no problem with us using some assets to acquire those guy(s) because they are the profile of the younger player who could bust out in Kidd's system.

As usual, I think we have a lot of people making judgments about individual players and then trying to reverse engineer those opinions to fit into some justifying principle. I've also seen people crying hypocrisy because we don't want such and such young player and don't come crying to me the next time we don't have enough young players, etc.

It's not about young players, or burly players, or players who have one particular characteristic that passes some arbitrary litmus test for 'what we really need.' It's about the right players. Getting young guys isn't going to help us if they suck. Getting rebounders won't help us if they suck. Being strong under the hoop isn't going to help if everybody involved would be better served by the guy swinging a hammer in Detroit.

We're all going to define the right guy somewhat differently based on what we see and know. IMO all of us need to respect the fact that we're all wrong a lot, and kind of set aside the "some of us more than others" part when we're in these discussions, even though: yeah.

[The Wet Whistle]

I hope when we make a trade, Hammond holds a huge press conference. Fireworks, explosions, chicks on his side. Just yelling "I RUN THIS"

You mean something like this?

[machu46]

It might have been Kyler, not sure, but I read somewhere that the Kings' top priority is getting a stretch 4, so that kinda makes more sense of the Ersan-Stauskas stuff I guess?