SAS - BYK - PHI

[babyjax13]

This might be a crazy idea. I have a hard time thinking where Aldridge could go, and Brooklyn came to mind as a possible destination.

San Antonio Trades:
LaMarcus Aldridge

San Antonio Receives:
Trevor Booker
Jahlil Okafor

I irrationally want Okafor on the Spurs, I think if he will be successful anywhere it is under Pop. Booker is a reliable energy player who can handle the ball at the 4 and blow up plays defensively (although not really a rim protector). The Spurs also move a lot of long term salary, and perhaps can pitch to LeBron (or another significant free agent) that they should sign with them in the offseason (SAS would really only have to move Green to make it happen). This becomes more enticing if one of Okafor/Murray break out, and devaluing the Brooklyn pick makes it more likely that LeBron leaves.

Brooklyn Trades:
Trevor Booker
Jeremy Lin

Brooklyn Receives:
LaMarcus Aldridge
TJ McConnell

Brooklyn adds a player that might be able to push them into playoff contention, then they can flip him in the offseason for a pick when they are finally rid of the Billy King era mistakes. McConnell is just a guy that can help play backup 1 by committee. I understand that Lin and Booker are valuable to Brooklyn, but this seems like the better long term move to me.

Philadelphia Trades:
Jahlil Okafor
TJ McConnell

Philadelphia Receives:
Jeremy Lin

Philadelphia moves Okafor for some value. Lin is a solid player to help them get to the playoffs that is good as a backup 1 and 2. Bayless makes this a bit questionable, but he just missed an entire season, so...and if he looks good could be moved for some value. Lin is a definitive upgrade.

[Baller1234a]

Plz happen lol

[GutUNC]

No interest in taking on Lin's $12.5M player option for 2018-19. That money is needed for Covington/Embiid/high-end FA.

[Mykhyn]

This isn't even close for Spurs.

Okafor is debatable for a future 1st, let alone Aldridge.

Noel pretty clearly had more value when he was traded and he couldn't get a 1st. I'd be surprised if Philly matched whatever Okafor gets offered next year

We're not giving Aldridge away for peanuts. Rather let him walk and have another competitive year.

[Chinook]

What's with the LMA for Oak trades now? LMA is an order of magnitude better than him. I wouldn't totally be against getting Oak as part of a package, but that's assuming he's not the centerpiece. Jalil is everything people hate about LMA's O and Pau's D combined with attitude problems. Can Pop turn him around? I am not sure. People give him too much credit for making guys better as a coach rather than scouting well as an executive. And if it hasn't become apparent yet that some decent players/characters just don't work with the Spurs, I don't know what to say.

I don't see why Brooklyn wouldn't just take Okafor themselves. Would be hella interesting if they ended up with both Jalil and DAR, but it makes more sense than them taking LMA. Mozgov doesn't have to start just because he gets paid a lot.

Ultimately, LMA is not a piece the Spurs would use to shuffle papers. There's been literally no indication that he was ever viewed in that light by PATFO. The Spurs are going to try to win this year given that they have a top-five player, and they aren't going to do that by losing their second-best player and getting back low-level prospects or decent vets. They are going to be buyers if anything.

[ecuhus1981]

Nets do this all day, but the Sixers don't unless we absorb Bayless. I could get down with that, although we may need some cheap vets as salary filler.

[Jaw]

This late in the game I don't see Aldridge going anywhere. Spurs shopped him and unsurprisingly (since as you admit there isn't anywhere that makes a ton of sense) Spurs didn't get back enough to interest them. I don't think this trade is any different. I'd love to see Okafor in San Antonio too but its much more realistic for them to give up somebody like Forbes rather than Aldridge.

Brooklyn should be building for the long-term since they are highly unlikely to be competitive anytime soon. Getting Aldridge definitely doesn't hurt but it would make more sense for them to shop him to another team for a draft pick or younger asset.

Not sure Sixers really need somebody like Lin but I think the value is solid.

[HartfordWhalers]

Including contracts, McConnell is a better fit for Philly than Lin.

[FNQ]

Spurs: Think they say no. I'm not an Aldridge fan at all, but I think Booker/Okafor is a bit light for him. Plus I think Pop would lose his crap over having to play Okafor significant minutes.. think he'd rather try and find another under-the-radar type (Dedmon-ish) than go for a hyped guy.

Brooklyn: LMA isnt going to move the needle for them, and I think that the only reason they'd consider it is because they dont have their pick, but why give up anything, including flexibility, for the right now? Youth youth youth. 2017-18 is essentially a tryout year for them, just like last year. I think they dont really try for anything until 2019.

Philly: the only team, IMO, that does well and fits with their timeline. Lin is an excellent 6th man type and I think he'd do well backing up/replacing Fultz. Think he can play next to Fultz as well, and would give the 6ers the option of 2 ballhandlers (between Fultz/Lin/Simmons) at any given time.

[the_process]

I also love the idea of Okafor in San Antonio. There is a USA Basketball connection between Pop and Jah, and also a mutual admiration society. That all being said, SA doesn't really have a lower salary filler contract that can be added with their low 1st to get him.

[GeorgeMarcus]

Yeah in theory Lin would be a good fit to round out our guard rotation, but the contract situation makes this a no go. I'm starting to wonder if Okafor will surprise people this year, too. Probably wishful thinking but he did drop 20 lbs in the off season.

[daoneandonly]

I'm not syaing this proposal make sperfect 100% sense, but the overrating of LMA is beyond tired now. The guy is a shell of his former self, petulant even though he's old by NBA standards, and makes 21 million + a year. There's nothing screaming asset about him, maybe if you take out the "et". SA would be lucky to get any young piece with potential for him. IS Oak that? Maybe not, reports are that he's in the best shape of his life, while that may not translate to anything at all, it's not a horrible offer as some Spurs fans may believe. LMA is done, plain and simple.

[lotto29]

TJ is a team leader and beloved while at a awesome contract. He's already a great backup and already has chemistry with the guys that will be featured in the second unit (mainly Sauce, Dario and Holmes). He also runs the team exactly the way Brett Brown wants. It's not that he's untradeable, there's too much of a gap between what teams would be willing to trade for him and what he means to us. Not to mention that we need the cap space to renegotiate with Covington. That has been said countless times. So a big No for me. On the other hand, I couldn't care less for Okafor.

[Dan Verze]

Better trade between those teams imo:

SA trades: LMA
SA gets: Booker, Stauskas, Justin Anderson

Why? SA takes a flier in cheap wings in Stauskas and Anderson, get a cheaper PF in Booker who is a better defender and good fit next to Gasol.

PHI trades: Okafor, Bayless, Stauskas, Anderson
PHI gets: LMA

Why? LMA is a good fit next to Embiid and could be an exp, plus they only move players that are not needed. They also only take on 2 mil this season so still able to renegotiate deal with Cov plus win now move, plus they move Bayless contract.

BKN trades: Booker
BKN gets: Okafor, Bayless

Why? BKN takes on 5mil with their capspace this season and 9mil next season for Bayless, but get Okafor to go along with Russell for cheap.

[Chris76]

I'm not syaing this proposal make sperfect 100% sense, but the overrating of LMA is beyond tired now. The guy is a shell of his former self, petulant even though he's old by NBA standards, and makes 21 million + a year. There's nothing screaming asset about him, maybe if you take out the "et". SA would be lucky to get any young piece with potential for him. IS Oak that? Maybe not, reports are that he's in the best shape of his life, while that may not translate to anything at all, it's not a horrible offer as some Spurs fans may believe. LMA is done, plain and simple.

If LMA is a PF, the Sixers would have Simmons, Saric, Holmes, Amir, and LMA at the PF spot. 21 million to dump Bayless and Okafor seems to be a bad value.

[daoneandonly]

I'm not syaing this proposal make sperfect 100% sense, but the overrating of LMA is beyond tired now. The guy is a shell of his former self, petulant even though he's old by NBA standards, and makes 21 million + a year. There's nothing screaming asset about him, maybe if you take out the "et". SA would be lucky to get any young piece with potential for him. IS Oak that? Maybe not, reports are that he's in the best shape of his life, while that may not translate to anything at all, it's not a horrible offer as some Spurs fans may believe. LMA is done, plain and simple.

If LMA is a PF, the Sixers would have Simmons, Saric, Holmes, Amir, and LMA at the PF spot. 21 million to dump Bayless and Okafor seems to be a bad value.

Agreed, which is why I see no reason for them to trade for him. I don't think any team should pull that trigger unless an equally done player or negative contract is going back.

[Chinook]

I'm not syaing this proposal make sperfect 100% sense, but the overrating of LMA is beyond tired now. The guy is a shell of his former self, petulant even though he's old by NBA standards, and makes 21 million + a year. There's nothing screaming asset about him, maybe if you take out the "et". SA would be lucky to get any young piece with potential for him. IS Oak that? Maybe not, reports are that he's in the best shape of his life, while that may not translate to anything at all, it's not a horrible offer as some Spurs fans may believe. LMA is done, plain and simple.

LMA hasn't been overrated for years. If anything, people have used the "overrated" excuse to dismiss what he does. He is one of the better defensive bigs in the league with the ability to carry a team for a game or two at a time. And he's been very good against GS as a second option. He makes 60 percent of the max while being the second-best player on a 60-win team by a comfortable margin. Simply put, it's extremely disingenuous to sell him as a negative player. The Spurs only offered him for a top-five pick/potentially Kyrie. They clearly don't think he's the bad asset random fans try to push him being.

[Chinook]

Better trade between those teams imo:

SA trades: LMA
SA gets: Booker, Stauskas, Justin Anderson

Why? SA takes a flier in cheap wings in Stauskas and Anderson, get a cheaper PF in Booker who is a better defender and good fit next to Gasol.

This is going in the wrong direction. First, the Spurs don't need to trade for more guards. That's like the Sahara trading for more sand. Second, LMA is worth way more than that, even if just to the Spurs. Third, LMA is a better defender than Booker. He's a better everything than Booker.

[daoneandonly]

I'm not syaing this proposal make sperfect 100% sense, but the overrating of LMA is beyond tired now. The guy is a shell of his former self, petulant even though he's old by NBA standards, and makes 21 million + a year. There's nothing screaming asset about him, maybe if you take out the "et". SA would be lucky to get any young piece with potential for him. IS Oak that? Maybe not, reports are that he's in the best shape of his life, while that may not translate to anything at all, it's not a horrible offer as some Spurs fans may believe. LMA is done, plain and simple.

LMA hasn't been overrated for years. If anything, people have used the "overrated" excuse to dismiss what he does. He is one of the better defensive bigs in the league with the ability to carry a team for a game or two at a time. And he's been very good against GS as a second option. He makes 60 percent of the max while being the second-best player on a 60-win team by a comfortable margin. Simply put, it's extremely disingenuous to sell him as a negative player. The Spurs only offered him for a top-five pick/potentially Kyrie. They clearly don't think he's the bad asset random fans try to push him being.

And no one bit on the Spurs offer because they know he's not worth anywhere near a top 5 pick or Kyrie Irving. Doesn't matter if its 60% of the max, 57.4%, or whatever, he makes 21 this year and 22 next year, for what he contributes on the court, he's overpaid. He's slow now and can't sustain the pace of today's game, yet he still thinks he's an alpha and pouts about it.

[Chinook]

And no one bit on the Spurs offer because they know he's not worth anywhere near a top 5 pick or Kyrie Irving. Doesn't matter if its 60% of the max, 57.4%, or whatever, he makes 21 this year and 22 next year, for what he contributes on the court, he's overpaid. He's slow now and can't sustain the pace of today's game, yet he still thinks he's an alpha and pouts about it.

One of the best defensive bigs in the NBA. Pace isn't his problem. And yes, just using straight dollars for an argument is like using FG% for efficiency. He's not being paid to be a superstar. A guy who can drop 25 points against GS as a second option is totally worth that, even ignoring that he anchored one of the league's best Ds.

No one was willing to trade a top-five pick for LMA (or at least they weren't willing to trade the player available with the pick for him). That and the Cavs talk was all we heard about the LMA (and Danny Green) trade rumors. I won't pretend to know what happened behind the scenes, but there is no evidence that a) LMA was on the block for less than what was reported and b) Teams weren't willing to trade significant packages for him. Everyone has their own opinions, obviously, but the consensus about LMA just seems built on a false narrative.