Trade Targets (postcript on yesterday-other teams)

[raferfenix]

I could see Knight coming off the bench in a Manu kind of role behind Lawson and Middleton.

[JustinCredible]

Fine, just say no to the NBA assist leader and best PG we could possibly get because he is too short.

[JustinCredible]

Would you guys do this trade:

Knight/Ersan for Lawson?

[VooDoo7]

Would you guys do this trade:

Knight/Ersan for Lawson?

Yup.

[JustinCredible]

Would you guys do this trade:

Knight/Ersan for Lawson?

Yup.

The salaries match perfectly (within $100k).

[Chuck Diesel]

Knight/Ersan/O'Bryant to Boston for Brandon Bass/Tyler Zeller/Phil Pressey/future first.

[El Duderino]

I'd absolutely prefer Lawson and Middleton at gthe guard positions. I just don't think you pass on buying Lawson low because you have Knight.

But it wouldn't make sense to acquire Lawson and keep Knight. Clearly Knight would be very unhappy by not only losing his starting PG job, but also being relegated to coming off the bench.

You could feel that''s Knight's best role as a combo guard off the bench, but it's a total lock that he wouldn't agree with that train of thought. Not only that, it would likely also hurt the chemistry on the team given you can bet that the rest of the guys on the team like and support Knight, so he'd almost have to be moved.

[JustinCredible]

I'd be intrigued by Knight/Ersan for Lawson and then Henson/LAC 1st for Kanter.

This year:
PG: Lawson
SG: Middleton
SF: Dudley
PF: Giannis
C: Kanter

Next year:
PG: Lawson
SG: Middleton
SF: Giannis
PF: Jabari
C: Kanter

Jabari and Kanter would have to step it up on D. Giannis and Jabari would need to increase their shooting consistency.

[raferfenix]

I could see Lawson getting lots of easy buckets for Henson if those two got to play together.

[dc634]

I'd be intrigued by Knight/Ersan for Lawson and then Henson/LAC 1st for Kanter.

This year:
PG: Lawson
SG: Middleton
SF: Dudley
PF: Giannis
C: Kanter

Next year:
PG: Lawson
SG: Middleton
SF: Giannis
PF: Jabari
C: Kanter

Jabari and Kanter would have to step it up on D. Giannis and Jabari would need to increase their shooting consistency.

Knight/Ersan for Lawson = sure
Henson/LAC 1st for Kanter = no thanks

There are better/cheaper options in upcoming Free Agency than Kanter so I wouldn't really give anything of value up for him now unless the plan is to force the qualifying offer on him which is incredibly risky or bank on a sign and trade, which is just as risky.

[raferfenix]

Don't see the Nuggets taking on Ersan's contract if it could at all be helped.

At least not unless Faried is also on the move too.

[Bucks2585]

Still don't see the Knight hate.

For example, lets say that he was payed $12 Million a year.

http://www.spotrac.com/nba/rankings/point-guard/

He'd be the 10th highest paid PG in the NBA. Which honestly, matches his talent level, especially since by all accounts, he could be a starting SG in the NBA. Is him being the 10th highest paid PG that unreasonable? Considering younger guys could pass him up? Hell, the only reason guys like say Conley, Curry, etc. are lower than him is because they signed their deals before the cap was rising.

I mean, Im fine with Knight making $12 Million a year. Because worst case, he could simply slide over to SG. He's shown he can do it. He's shown he can play off ball. And he can sometimes play PG, even play PG on a team that is as successful as ours and contribute to a winning record. As a player, $12 Million is fine for him.

Hell, all the people that want Giannis to be a point forward. That will happen naturally if Giannis proves that he deserves that role. Players defer to the best player on the team.

We all hated on Monta Ellis in the exact same way. Yet, with a good team and good coach, he has a clear role that helps his team compete in a dominate Western Conference. Kidd knows how to use Knight, whether its as a SG or as a PG. In terms of pay, $12 Million a year will not be that much, especially if we sign him right before the huge cap jump.

Honestly, I feel no one would have a problem if Knight was 6-4 and people considered him a SG. But since he starts at PG, people hate him. Its not Knights fault that we don't have a better player at PG than him or even close to him. If we get a PG that can actually be an at least average starter at PG, then Knight will play SG, and that is fine with me at least.

Honestly, whats everyones problem if Knight is the SG making $12 Million a year? The team is looking into PGs. Were clearly looking at PGs, otherwise why be interested in Reggie Jackson? Honestly, I think were trying to run a Suns type system with Knight as the Goran Dragic SG role, and we can still resign Middleton to be the Gerald Green of last year. Those guys all got 28+ minutes last year. We can resign both to play in those roles.

I just don't see the problem with Knight when by all accounts, we've been looking at PGs at this trade deadline and the comments from Hammond. We want to resign Knight because he's a good player. He will only remain the PG if we don't find a PG that can start and be better than him. Up till this pint, we haven't. So its up to you. Do you think Hammond can find a true PG to pair with Knight? If so, then why trade Knight vs pay him to be the starting SG? I can see if some of you think that Jabari/Giannis should be the starting SF if one of them start at PF, but if thats the case, then if Jabari and Giannis show they deserve the spot over Middleton, they'll get it and Middleton will be a contender for 6th Man of the year every year then. If they don't, theres nothing wrong with Jabari or Giannis coming off the bench and still getting that 25-30 minutes per game. They'll still develop if they're playing that much.

Fact is, Knight is an extremely talented player. I don't see why everyone wants to get rid of him simply because they can't pigeon-hole him as a PG.

If you need to decrease a player's role and usage to justify their contract, that's not usually a good sign.

The fact you can't "pigeon-hole him as a PG" is a problem because that's the only position he has the size to defend.

People are focusing too much on the contract itself. He is what he is. A Monta Ellis type SG. He can handle the ball and play PG for significant minutes. But you need to find an actual PG to play next to him. That doesnt mean he isnt worth the money. Im sure Maverick fans are fine with Monta Ellis being the star player of their team. Why? Because they built around him. They looked to acquire Rondo, a true PG, and a dominant big man to protect the paint. A player like Knight can work easily. A player like Knight has value. He can literally do everything on offense at a decent rate. Drive, create, shoot, hell, even rebound for a guard. And he can do all of them at a high level. He doesnt consistently do it, but he can do all of those things at a high level game to game.

Hes 6'3 in shoes. Monta Ellis is literally the same height on the team that would crush the entire Eastern Conference as a starting SG. I dont know where the metrics are and the site Im pretty sure that has it, http://www.82games.com/position.htm, isnt working, but there are numbers that say that Knight defends SGs better than PGs. Sure, he isnt the ideal SG defensively. He lacks height. A guy like Gerald or Danny Green will have a clean look every game against him. But with the defense we run, the constant switching, Im fine with a guy like Knight defending the SG. Like Dragic is able to on a successful team. Like Ellis. Our defensive scheme has made it work. Hell, with our success this year? We play Bayless, Knight, and Mayo the majority of the guard minutes. All undersized. Yet were managing to win. If we actually find a PG to replace say Bayless/Mayo with an upgrade defensively? That would make us even better and still allow Knight to significantly contribute despite his limitations.

Im honestly surprised at the hate towards Knight. The NBA now, PGs are more shooters than they are facilitators nowadays. Lillard is one of the top PGs in the NBA. Hell, even if Knight gets paid, Lillard gets the max, moving him down the totem pole for PG pay if he gets that $12 million a year. Honestly, if Knight gets Kemba Walker money, im glad. Thats a steal compared to what PGs will be getting, or in general what players themselves are getting. Look at the Jazz. Heyward got the max, and is still and awesome player. Alec Burks got a deal that if Knight got a similar one, I would be glad with that money.

Ive always held the belief that the reason Knight doesnt pass more, isnt the PG we want him to be is because he is the best offensive player on our team. Its the same mentality of a pickup game. You defer to the best player. Hell, the Thunder have made a system of it, they defer to Westbrook and Durant and everyone else stands around and plays defense or shots only when theyre open. Knight works as a high usage player with the star offensive player. We think we have him in Jabari. So why get rid of Knight if he fits well as a 2nd fiddle. I mean, lets be honest, who on our team is a better offensive player than Knight? No one else on the team can do what he does as well as he does. Middleton is simply a shooter. Giannis doesnt have the shot to do so effectively. Knight is the sole player on our team that can score in any way. People say that he has tunnel vision, but whats he supposed to do? He can only pass to Middleton/Dudley if hes wide open. Mayo plays the same type of game as him, but worse. Giannis is just a good high post/transition player at this point. He has no better offensive player to defer to.

Obviously, a lot of this hinges on Jabari becoming a scoring SF in the mold of just a Tobias Harris at the very least. Screw Hammond, have the throw that in, but if Jabari becomes a go to player or we get a true PG that can run the offense, Knight is very valuable to us. I dont see how people dont see that unless theyre just impatient that we dont have that player right now.

[cinematographer]

Still don't see the Knight hate.

For example, lets say that he was payed $12 Million a year.

http://www.spotrac.com/nba/rankings/point-guard/

He'd be the 10th highest paid PG in the NBA. Which honestly, matches his talent level, especially since by all accounts, he could be a starting SG in the NBA. Is him being the 10th highest paid PG that unreasonable? Considering younger guys could pass him up? Hell, the only reason guys like say Conley, Curry, etc. are lower than him is because they signed their deals before the cap was rising.

I mean, Im fine with Knight making $12 Million a year. Because worst case, he could simply slide over to SG. He's shown he can do it. He's shown he can play off ball. And he can sometimes play PG, even play PG on a team that is as successful as ours and contribute to a winning record. As a player, $12 Million is fine for him.

Hell, all the people that want Giannis to be a point forward. That will happen naturally if Giannis proves that he deserves that role. Players defer to the best player on the team.

We all hated on Monta Ellis in the exact same way. Yet, with a good team and good coach, he has a clear role that helps his team compete in a dominate Western Conference. Kidd knows how to use Knight, whether its as a SG or as a PG. In terms of pay, $12 Million a year will not be that much, especially if we sign him right before the huge cap jump.

Honestly, I feel no one would have a problem if Knight was 6-4 and people considered him a SG. But since he starts at PG, people hate him. Its not Knights fault that we don't have a better player at PG than him or even close to him. If we get a PG that can actually be an at least average starter at PG, then Knight will play SG, and that is fine with me at least.

Honestly, whats everyones problem if Knight is the SG making $12 Million a year? The team is looking into PGs. Were clearly looking at PGs, otherwise why be interested in Reggie Jackson? Honestly, I think were trying to run a Suns type system with Knight as the Goran Dragic SG role, and we can still resign Middleton to be the Gerald Green of last year. Those guys all got 28+ minutes last year. We can resign both to play in those roles.

I just don't see the problem with Knight when by all accounts, we've been looking at PGs at this trade deadline and the comments from Hammond. We want to resign Knight because he's a good player. He will only remain the PG if we don't find a PG that can start and be better than him. Up till this pint, we haven't. So its up to you. Do you think Hammond can find a true PG to pair with Knight? If so, then why trade Knight vs pay him to be the starting SG? I can see if some of you think that Jabari/Giannis should be the starting SF if one of them start at PF, but if thats the case, then if Jabari and Giannis show they deserve the spot over Middleton, they'll get it and Middleton will be a contender for 6th Man of the year every year then. If they don't, theres nothing wrong with Jabari or Giannis coming off the bench and still getting that 25-30 minutes per game. They'll still develop if they're playing that much.

Fact is, Knight is an extremely talented player. I don't see why everyone wants to get rid of him simply because they can't pigeon-hole him as a PG.

If you need to decrease a player's role and usage to justify their contract, that's not usually a good sign.

The fact you can't "pigeon-hole him as a PG" is a problem because that's the only position he has the size to defend.

People are focusing too much on the contract itself. He is what he is. A Monta Ellis type SG. He can handle the ball and play PG for significant minutes. But you need to find an actual PG to play next to him. That doesnt mean he isnt worth the money. Im sure Maverick fans are fine with Monta Ellis being the star player of their team. Why? Because they built around him. They looked to acquire Rondo, a true PG, and a dominant big man to protect the paint. A player like Knight can work easily. A player like Knight has value. He can literally do everything on offense at a decent rate. Drive, create, shoot, hell, even rebound for a guard. And he can do all of them at a high level. He doesnt consistently do it, but he can do all of those things at a high level game to game.

Hes 6'3 in shoes. Monta Ellis is literally the same height on the team that would crush the entire Eastern Conference as a starting SG. I dont know where the metrics are and the site Im pretty sure that has it, http://www.82games.com/position.htm, isnt working, but there are numbers that say that Knight defends SGs better than PGs. Sure, he isnt the ideal SG defensively. He lacks height. A guy like Gerald or Danny Green will have a clean look every game against him. But with the defense we run, the constant switching, Im fine with a guy like Knight defending the SG. Like Dragic is able to on a successful team. Like Ellis. Our defensive scheme has made it work. Hell, with our success this year? We play Bayless, Knight, and Mayo the majority of the guard minutes. All undersized. Yet were managing to win. If we actually find a PG to replace say Bayless/Mayo with an upgrade defensively? That would make us even better and still allow Knight to significantly contribute despite his limitations.

Im honestly surprised at the hate towards Knight. The NBA now, PGs are more shooters than they are facilitators nowadays. Lillard is one of the top PGs in the NBA. Hell, even if Knight gets paid, Lillard gets the max, moving him down the totem pole for PG pay if he gets that $12 million a year. Honestly, if Knight gets Kemba Walker money, im glad. Thats a steal compared to what PGs will be getting, or in general what players themselves are getting. Look at the Jazz. Heyward got the max, and is still and awesome player. Alec Burks got a deal that if Knight got a similar one, I would be glad with that money.

Ive always held the belief that the reason Knight doesnt pass more, isnt the PG we want him to be is because he is the best offensive player on our team. Its the same mentality of a pickup game. You defer to the best player. Hell, the Thunder have made a system of it, they defer to Westbrook and Durant and everyone else stands around and plays defense or shots only when theyre open. Knight works as a high usage player with the star offensive player. We think we have him in Jabari. So why get rid of Knight if he fits well as a 2nd fiddle. I mean, lets be honest, who on our team is a better offensive player than Knight? No one else on the team can do what he does as well as he does. Middleton is simply a shooter. Giannis doesnt have the shot to do so effectively. Knight is the sole player on our team that can score in any way. People say that he has tunnel vision, but whats he supposed to do? He can only pass to Middleton/Dudley if hes wide open. Mayo plays the same type of game as him, but worse. Giannis is just a good high post/transition player at this point. He has no better offensive player to defer to.

Obviously, a lot of this hinges on Jabari becoming a scoring SF in the mold of just a Tobias Harris at the very least. Screw Hammond, have the throw that in, but if Jabari becomes a go to player or we get a true PG that can run the offense, Knight is very valuable to us. I dont see how people dont see that unless theyre just impatient that we dont have that player right now.

KHRIS MIDDLETON IS A BETTER SG THAN BRANDON KNIGHT

I MEAN THE ACROBATICS YOU WENT THROUGH THERE. I MEAN ****, MAN

[Bucks2585]

Honestly, my trade target with this current team would be Channing Fyre. He doesnt demand shots, he can play spot C behind Henson and Zaza, even PF at times, and gives us size on defense. He is the ultimate pick and pop partner as well which helps our guards tremendously.

People will say look towards the future. The future is already bright. With Giannis and Parker, who almost everyone considers untradeable already, I doubt we are ever getting back into that range to get a top 10, franchise changer. So find players that fit around them. Fyre can shoot the 3, has chemistry with Dudley who I think we should clearly keep because he is playing amazingly well in our system and his game fits with everyone everywhere, can spot play at PF and C, offsets Parker and Giannis's lack of 3 point shooting, and is likely is realistically available for Ersan+ filler considering his poor play this year. He would give us another big that can play with Zaza and Henson. He would fit this offense perfectly in that unlike Ersan, he could play C. And lets be honest. Ersan if he could stay healthy or play C at times would be the ideal fit for this offense.

People will worry about the 4 years left on his contract because of the "future." The future is now. Ive seen enough from Giannis and Parker that I know they are players we can build around along with Knight. Fyre fits in extremely well with him, and despite his contract and poor play this year, he will always have a role as a 3 point shooting C. Fyre is the type of target we should go for. He fits, hes likely availabe, and we can actually trade a player like Illyasova for him unlike a guy like Kanter who has the "upside" inflating his value when we can already see what he is.

[Prince12]

There's no way I anything to do with Frye or his terrible contract.

[blazza18]

I could see Knight coming off the bench in a Manu kind of role behind Lawson and Middleton.

He's the current starting PG on a playoff team, in a contract year. He'd be pissing millions of $$$$ away being moved to a different role. I can't see him being ok with that.

[Prince12]

Plus your posts are way to long. Admire your effort though..

[Wonka]

4/32 for Channing Frye is just incredible. He should be worshipping his agents every chance he gets.

[Bucks2585]

If you need to decrease a player's role and usage to justify their contract, that's not usually a good sign.

The fact you can't "pigeon-hole him as a PG" is a problem because that's the only position he has the size to defend.

People are focusing too much on the contract itself. He is what he is. A Monta Ellis type SG. He can handle the ball and play PG for significant minutes. But you need to find an actual PG to play next to him. That doesnt mean he isnt worth the money. Im sure Maverick fans are fine with Monta Ellis being the star player of their team. Why? Because they built around him. They looked to acquire Rondo, a true PG, and a dominant big man to protect the paint. A player like Knight can work easily. A player like Knight has value. He can literally do everything on offense at a decent rate. Drive, create, shoot, hell, even rebound for a guard. And he can do all of them at a high level. He doesnt consistently do it, but he can do all of those things at a high level game to game.

Hes 6'3 in shoes. Monta Ellis is literally the same height on the team that would crush the entire Eastern Conference as a starting SG. I dont know where the metrics are and the site Im pretty sure that has it, http://www.82games.com/position.htm, isnt working, but there are numbers that say that Knight defends SGs better than PGs. Sure, he isnt the ideal SG defensively. He lacks height. A guy like Gerald or Danny Green will have a clean look every game against him. But with the defense we run, the constant switching, Im fine with a guy like Knight defending the SG. Like Dragic is able to on a successful team. Like Ellis. Our defensive scheme has made it work. Hell, with our success this year? We play Bayless, Knight, and Mayo the majority of the guard minutes. All undersized. Yet were managing to win. If we actually find a PG to replace say Bayless/Mayo with an upgrade defensively? That would make us even better and still allow Knight to significantly contribute despite his limitations.

Im honestly surprised at the hate towards Knight. The NBA now, PGs are more shooters than they are facilitators nowadays. Lillard is one of the top PGs in the NBA. Hell, even if Knight gets paid, Lillard gets the max, moving him down the totem pole for PG pay if he gets that $12 million a year. Honestly, if Knight gets Kemba Walker money, im glad. Thats a steal compared to what PGs will be getting, or in general what players themselves are getting. Look at the Jazz. Heyward got the max, and is still and awesome player. Alec Burks got a deal that if Knight got a similar one, I would be glad with that money.

Ive always held the belief that the reason Knight doesnt pass more, isnt the PG we want him to be is because he is the best offensive player on our team. Its the same mentality of a pickup game. You defer to the best player. Hell, the Thunder have made a system of it, they defer to Westbrook and Durant and everyone else stands around and plays defense or shots only when theyre open. Knight works as a high usage player with the star offensive player. We think we have him in Jabari. So why get rid of Knight if he fits well as a 2nd fiddle. I mean, lets be honest, who on our team is a better offensive player than Knight? No one else on the team can do what he does as well as he does. Middleton is simply a shooter. Giannis doesnt have the shot to do so effectively. Knight is the sole player on our team that can score in any way. People say that he has tunnel vision, but whats he supposed to do? He can only pass to Middleton/Dudley if hes wide open. Mayo plays the same type of game as him, but worse. Giannis is just a good high post/transition player at this point. He has no better offensive player to defer to.

Obviously, a lot of this hinges on Jabari becoming a scoring SF in the mold of just a Tobias Harris at the very least. Screw Hammond, have the throw that in, but if Jabari becomes a go to player or we get a true PG that can run the offense, Knight is very valuable to us. I dont see how people dont see that unless theyre just impatient that we dont have that player right now.

KHRIS MIDDLETON IS A BETTER SG THAN BRANDON KNIGHT

I MEAN THE ACROBATICS YOU WENT THROUGH THERE. I MEAN ****, MAN

Is he though? Hes a better shooter, Ill give you that. But again. Whats wrong with Knight playing the Goran Dragic role and Middleton playing the Gerald Green role? Both got over 28+ minutes per game last year and were on a near 50 win team. They both had an impact. Hell, Jason Terry/Manu was the ultimate 6th man of the year. If they started Jason Terry, would their success have been that much different? Would the Spur have been a terrible team if they started Manu instead of Danny Green(current reference)? If Manu started, the Spurs still would have been awesome like they always have. And if Manu started, he still would have been playing the same MPG. Maybe slightly higher, but would him being on the court have tremendously disrupted their chemistry? Probably not, because he probably still would have played the same MPG. Knight I feel is the same way. I dont care if he is a PG. I dont care if there is a better SG than him. The 25-35 MPG he plays, he has value because of what he can do. And if thats the case, why not pay him?

I could care less about whose better either way. What matters is both are good players with clear roles in the NBA. So why give away good players for anything less than a star? Middleton is a 3 and D guy. Knight is a combo guard. They are valuable players because both are pretty good at it. Hell, even if Middleton and Knight get extended to a big deal that we dont agree with, theyll both aways have a role. Because they have clear roles and clear skills that matter in NBA. If we disagree with the contract, fine. They still have role that has value to teams thats allows them to be tradeable.

Hell, all you have to do is look at how we look at Ersan. Hes constantly injury, doesnt ever play, yet we realize he has value. Hes a big that shoots 3s. Thats a valuable thing in todays NBA. We associate value to him simply because of that, despite all the issues he has. Yet, when it comes to resigning Knight, we dont give that same level of respect.

[xTitan]

Adrian Woj just tweeted Denver has taken calls on Lawson but nothing has moved mgmt to seriously consider a trade