Season Speculation, Trade Ideas & Discussion Pt. 3

[bwgood77]

I don't like DeAndre's attitude and I hated how that whole situation with him almost signing with Dallas played out.

That said, his talent is undeniable. And some might hate this but I think he puts us in a position to fight for a playoff spot. To me, competitiveness and a run for the playoffs is better for development for our young guys as 35mpg playing for nothing. I think Booker having a legit PnR partner would open up his game. Us having a great defender, rebounder and shot blocker at the 5 helps anchor our defense and would make our young guys better defenders. From a financial standpoint, he's expensive but if we don't give up too much for him, I think we can afford to pay him what he's owed and still be OK if we decide not to resign him.

Its just really important to make sure DJ is still DJ. His blocks are down. His offense is still quite weak.

Centers just are not worth that kind of money these days. Most of them have been getting low balled. I don't think we will be in the mix for him anyway. Though with Sarver, you never know.

[Kerrsed]

I look at things this way, LAC's PG situation is pretty **** for the season. PatBev is done for the season, Milo is out for at least another month, and for Coach Rivers he would rather have his son run the point rather than Sweet Lou (Who has more experience). You also have Blake likely done for the season, and on top of it all they are on the outside of the playoff picture (And that was with Griffin playing Healthy!). They are $20M over the cap, and a likely rebuild is in their future, so losing more games is very beneficial.

On top of getting Jordan, i would like to try to pick up Gallo as well, and maybe LouWill too. Gallo/LouWill would definitely help with our major 3 point shooting/scoring woes.

If We could do like a Jordan/Gallinari/Williams for Monroe/Knight/Chriss and maybe somekind of pick, i would totally be down.

Williams/Ulis/James
Booker/Daniels
Warren/Jackson/Dudley
Gallinari/Bender/Williams
Jordan/Chandler/Len

[Saberestar]

Jordan is the type of player that is obtainable and will help the team look better to other potential targets.

If you can get him for a good price, you do it.

This team has major issues with defense and Jordans presence in the paint could really help that. Another couple of issues that he solves, actually grabbing the rebounds and limiting teams from 2nd chance opportunities and making 75% of his shots in the paint. I hate hate HATE seeing our bigs constantly missing 2-4 footers at the rim. Monroe has done a much better job at this, but Jordan could be even better.

I wonder if Jordan has told the Clippers he is not resigning in Clipperland. After all, the cupboard is pretty bare. Yes, they have Blake, but his is constantly injured.

If Jordan was willing to sign up long term here after he opts out this summer. A deal that might interest the Clips would be Monroe and TJ Warren for Jordan. There is no guarantee that he will stay in LA this summer. They get an expiring and an excellent young player for a rental (from their perspective).

TJ Warren traded? No, no and no.

[lilfishi22]

I don't like DeAndre's attitude and I hated how that whole situation with him almost signing with Dallas played out.

That said, his talent is undeniable. And some might hate this but I think he puts us in a position to fight for a playoff spot. To me, competitiveness and a run for the playoffs is better for development for our young guys as 35mpg playing for nothing. I think Booker having a legit PnR partner would open up his game. Us having a great defender, rebounder and shot blocker at the 5 helps anchor our defense and would make our young guys better defenders. From a financial standpoint, he's expensive but if we don't give up too much for him, I think we can afford to pay him what he's owed and still be OK if we decide not to resign him.

Its just really important to make sure DJ is still DJ. His blocks are down. His offense is still quite weak.

Of course. DJ is a guy who elevates his game if he has a star running mate taking offensive pressure off him. All that work down low (put backs, dunks, o-boards, boards, blocks etc) he'll get on his own and efficiently but it's that PnR game which he lacks now because they've moved on from Chris Paul who's a master at that. Booker isn't on the same level as CP3 when it comes to that but Booker has already shown he's developing into a solid PnR/P play maker, he just hasn't had the high enough calibre big man to play that game with. His shot blocking is down and I'm not sure what's the reason for that but his 3.9BLK% ranks #2 on our team (#1 Chriss, #3 Len) and as a team we're already ranked in the top 10 in the league in BPG.

Also, it's only a small sample (48 attempts though 19gms) but he's shooting .625FT%. Dunno if it will hold up but he's at least less of a liability at the FT line now.

[bwgood77]

I look at things this way, LAC's PG situation is pretty **** for the season. PatBev is done for the season, Milo is out for at least another month, and for Coach Rivers he would rather have his son run the point rather than Sweet Lou (Who has more experience). You also have Blake likely done for the season, and on top of it all they are on the outside of the playoff picture (And that was with Griffin playing Healthy!). They are $20M over the cap, and a likely rebuild is in their future, so losing more games is very beneficial.

On top of getting Jordan, i would like to try to pick up Gallo as well, and maybe LouWill too. Gallo/LouWill would definitely help with our major 3 point shooting/scoring woes.

If We could do like a Jordan/Gallinari/Williams for Monroe/Knight/Chriss and maybe somekind of pick, i would totally be down.

Williams/Ulis/James
Booker/Daniels
Warren/Jackson/Dudley
Gallinari/Bender/Williams
Jordan/Chandler/Len

I think 100 people out of 100 (or maybe just 99) would trade Monroe/Knight/Chriss for Jordan/Gallo/Williams but the problem is, on the flip side you probably have 0/100 (or maybe 1) that would do it.

I can't understand why Knight keeps getting thrown into deals. It would take a first rounder just to get rid of him. He is like the Mozgov contract where DLo had to be included. When you are upgrading at three positions in a trade and the other team is downgrading at three positions AND taking on long term money for an injured player, there would need to be 2-3 firsts included.

Gallo is injury prone (and currently injured anyway).

Lou IS starting right now alongside Rivers.

There are 5-6 centers near the top of the draft that look good and others on the FA market that might be a bargain if we wanted to add a vet. Heck, Jordan might be a free agent.

[Saberestar]

What I don't understand about this board:
"OMG Suns are the worst team ever! Pathetic!"
and the next day
"We have a chance to make the playoffs! Just one player and we can fight for it!"

Yeah, I have been a little bit like that for a few weeks.

What I am saying is that I want to fight for the playoffs at this early point of the season.

I am not watching the games thinking about the ping-pong balls and I think that a good PG can make our team way better.
At the same time, I give my opinion about our player's performance at the end of every game, and if they play poor basketball I am gonna say it. No excuses, it is what it is.

If we can make a change to be better now and in the future ( like trading for DeAndre or an starting PG) we can get there and be a competitive team for real all season long.

[NTB]

Read on Twitter

[lilfishi22]

I look at things this way, LAC's PG situation is pretty **** for the season. PatBev is done for the season, Milo is out for at least another month, and for Coach Rivers he would rather have his son run the point rather than Sweet Lou (Who has more experience). You also have Blake likely done for the season, and on top of it all they are on the outside of the playoff picture (And that was with Griffin playing Healthy!). They are $20M over the cap, and a likely rebuild is in their future, so losing more games is very beneficial.

On top of getting Jordan, i would like to try to pick up Gallo as well, and maybe LouWill too. Gallo/LouWill would definitely help with our major 3 point shooting/scoring woes.

If We could do like a Jordan/Gallinari/Williams for Monroe/Knight/Chriss and maybe somekind of pick, i would totally be down.

Williams/Ulis/James
Booker/Daniels
Warren/Jackson/Dudley
Gallinari/Bender/Williams
Jordan/Chandler/Len

I think 100 people out of 100 (or maybe just 99) would trade Monroe/Knight/Chriss for Jordan/Gallo/Williams but the problem is, on the flip side you probably have 0/100 (or maybe 1) that would do it.

I can't understand why Knight keeps getting thrown into deals. It would take a first rounder just to get rid of him. He is like the Mozgov contract where DLo had to be included. When you are upgrading at three positions in a trade and the other team is downgrading at three positions AND taking on long term money for an injured player, there would need to be 2-3 firsts included.

Gallo is injury prone (and currently injured anyway).

Lou IS starting right now alongside Rivers.

There are 5-6 centers near the top of the draft that look good and others on the FA market that might be a bargain if we wanted to add a vet. Heck, Jordan might be a free agent.

We also have way too many picks over the next few years than we can realistically use. As I said, I don't know what kind of package it'll take to get DAJ but if we could use some of those 1st's (which we probably only acquired as a future trade asset) to trade for him, I'm OK with that. Kerrsed is probably asking for too much considering what we're willing to give up.

[bwgood77]

What I don't understand about this board:
"OMG Suns are the worst team ever! Pathetic!"
and the next day
"We have a chance to make the playoffs! Just one player and we can fight for it!"

Yeah, I have been a little bit like that for a few weeks.

What I am saying is that I want to fight for the playoffs at this early point of the season.

I am not watching the games thinking about the ping-pong balls and I think that a good PG can make our team way better.
At the same time, I give my opinion about our player's performance at the end of every game, and if they play poor basketball I am gonna say it. No excuses, it is what it is.

If we can make a change to be better now and in the future ( like trading for DeAndre or an starting PG) we can get there and be a competitive team for real all season long.

I'm in some ways the same. I don't think about ping pong balls either watching the games. If that was all I cared about, I wouldn't watch, because what's the point in watching a team if you hope they lose? I want us to win every time I sit down to watch a game. That's obviously what you watch games for.

Rooting to lose would be pointless anyway because what's going to happen is going to happen whether people hope for it or not. But if we do lose, as long as I can pull some positives out of our young players play, I can see the silver lining if our players are growing and improving, and then there is the silver lining at the better chance at a higher pick which increases your odds of getting a real difference maker that you have control of for 8-9 years.

I'd love a trade that wasn't too short sighted and was overall good for us now and in the future.

I would MUCH rather trade for a solid PG, even a vet in this case to help our team because I think it would help ease the burden of all the young guys on our team to have someone who is looking to get them shots and someone who is a leader and initiates ball movement.

We don't have great centers, but as much as people hate Len, he is a great rebounder and shot blocker. Chandler is a great rebounder and a great finisher. Monroe has offensive post moves. Center isn't really where we are lacking right now. At all. It might be our position with the most depth, at least for this year. An upgrade here wouldn't make a significant difference in team outlook this year I don't think.

Our glaring weaknesses right now are at the 1 and at the 4.

[bwgood77]

We also have way too many picks over the next few years than we can realistically use. As I said, I don't know what kind of package it'll take to get DAJ but if we could use some of those 1st's (which we probably only acquired as a future trade asset) to trade for him, I'm OK with that. Kerrsed is probably asking for too much considering what we're willing to give up.

I don't think you can have too many picks. Not when you need talent. Not when you need the most chances possible at finding that franchise cornerstone. The only way I would part with first rounders is if I knew the player we had control of the player (like we did with Knight), so someone on a rookie contract, OR someone due for an extension who basically had agreed to re-sign. I wouldn't unload picks for a guy that could opt out of his contract next summer like Jordan can.

[jcsunsfan]

We also have way too many picks over the next few years than we can realistically use. As I said, I don't know what kind of package it'll take to get DAJ but if we could use some of those 1st's (which we probably only acquired as a future trade asset) to trade for him, I'm OK with that. Kerrsed is probably asking for too much considering what we're willing to give up.

I don't think you can have too many picks. Not when you need talent. Not when you need the most chances possible at finding that franchise cornerstone. The only way I would part with first rounders is if I knew the player we had control of the player (like we did with Knight), so someone on a rookie contract, OR someone due for an extension who basically had agreed to re-sign. I wouldn't unload picks for a guy that could opt out of his contract next summer like Jordan can.

Maybe you can't have too many picks, but you can have too many young players.

[TeamTragic]

Not interested in Griffin injured or not (besides he is damaged goods). Good luck with Rivers.

We don't need DAJ and should focus on trading our existing centers. Maybe Chriss with the right offer.

[bwgood77]

We also have way too many picks over the next few years than we can realistically use. As I said, I don't know what kind of package it'll take to get DAJ but if we could use some of those 1st's (which we probably only acquired as a future trade asset) to trade for him, I'm OK with that. Kerrsed is probably asking for too much considering what we're willing to give up.

I don't think you can have too many picks. Not when you need talent. Not when you need the most chances possible at finding that franchise cornerstone. The only way I would part with first rounders is if I knew the player we had control of the player (like we did with Knight), so someone on a rookie contract, OR someone due for an extension who basically had agreed to re-sign. I wouldn't unload picks for a guy that could opt out of his contract next summer like Jordan can.

Maybe you can't have too many picks, but you can have too many young players.

I think you need a good mix of a few vets, a few guys hitting their second contracts and the rest of the guys can be on rookie contracts. You're likely going to have about a 30% hit rate (lotto picks are probably more like 50% and higher the higher your pick is), so over 5 years if you draft 10 guys, you should come out with 3-4 rotation players. Of course that's more of an average, but you have to account for the fact that some picks won't pan out. I don't think you can assume that all picks will pan out. If we use three picks this year in the lottery, we should definitely hit one, and hopefully two. Three would be great. If we have only 2, we have a decent chance at 1 panning out. If we have 1 pick, it's a coin flip.....though the higher the better obviously.

[Cutter]

The problem with DeAndre Jordan is that he needs a good PG to feed him the ball consistently down low for him to be effective offensively.

He takes a huge 87% of his shots 0-3 feet from the rim and converts an amazing 74% of his shots from that distance. However, he is assisted 71% of the time on 2-point shots made. Who do we have that can dish assists to him consistently so DeAndre can be effective offensively? Unless we can trade for a pass first type PG I would pass on Jordan.

[Kerrsed]

I think 100 people out of 100 (or maybe just 99) would trade Monroe/Knight/Chriss for Jordan/Gallo/Williams but the problem is, on the flip side you probably have 0/100 (or maybe 1) that would do it.

I can't understand why Knight keeps getting thrown into deals. It would take a first rounder just to get rid of him. He is like the Mozgov contract where DLo had to be included. When you are upgrading at three positions in a trade and the other team is downgrading at three positions AND taking on long term money for an injured player, there would need to be 2-3 firsts included.

Gallo is injury prone (and currently injured anyway).

Lou IS starting right now alongside Rivers.

There are 5-6 centers near the top of the draft that look good and others on the FA market that might be a bargain if we wanted to add a vet. Heck, Jordan might be a free agent.

Knight gets thrown in to make salaries work, and i know it would take a pick, hence why i also added about a pick being thrown in there somewhere (Just didnt know WHAT pick it would take).

As for Gallo, yes he is injury prone and "currently injured", hence why we could get him from the Clippers for cheap. His injury? a freakin' strained left glute that the Clippers are being "Extra Cautious" about, meaning letting him sit as they are juuuuuust fine losing games. Reports are that he has been ok'd by doctors to return, but Doc Rivers himself has said Danilo Gallinari "is not coming back until he's right." for the past few weeks his time-table keeps getting pushed back 4-5 games. The latest report on the 20th stated that they extended it "for another 7-10 days".

And yes, Lou in now starting at SG. If The Clippers really wanted to start winning games, they would have him controlling the ball at PG instead of Rivers, as Lou is a much better ball-handler/distributor and all around PG than Rivers, but you know, nepotism and all.

Of course we dont do a damn thing unless we get word from Jordan that he is willing to re-sign here. No use in giving up anything for a rental, we already have that in Monroe. And yes, i do understand that there are 5-6 centers at the top of the draft that look good, there are always a group on players at a single (or 2) positions at the top of damn near every draft, but HOW MANY OF THEM WORK OUT? As we should know firsthand, there is now guarantee when it comes to drafting a highly touted player. And thats even if we have a pick good enough to land one of those select few. The draft is a major crapshoot, while i do agree that the better prospects are usually taken towards the top of the draft, there are always a few that never come close to that potential, and when it comes to drafting C's, we havent had the best of luck.

[Kerrsed]

We also have way too many picks over the next few years than we can realistically use. As I said, I don't know what kind of package it'll take to get DAJ but if we could use some of those 1st's (which we probably only acquired as a future trade asset) to trade for him, I'm OK with that. Kerrsed is probably asking for too much considering what we're willing to give up.

I don't think you can have too many picks. Not when you need talent. Not when you need the most chances possible at finding that franchise cornerstone. The only way I would part with first rounders is if I knew the player we had control of the player (like we did with Knight), so someone on a rookie contract, OR someone due for an extension who basically had agreed to re-sign. I wouldn't unload picks for a guy that could opt out of his contract next summer like Jordan can.

You totally can have too many picks. What team was it recently that had like 6 in the draft, thinking they were going to trade them, but didnt and ended up drafting a bunch of stay-in-euro prospects? I seriously am having a mental block on who it was.

And yes, we lack talent, but how do you give up already on last years picks to take on 4-5 new rookies this season? Because thats what would have to happen for us to keep them all, unless we are willing to just spend them on random euros.

[lilfishi22]

We also have way too many picks over the next few years than we can realistically use. As I said, I don't know what kind of package it'll take to get DAJ but if we could use some of those 1st's (which we probably only acquired as a future trade asset) to trade for him, I'm OK with that. Kerrsed is probably asking for too much considering what we're willing to give up.

I don't think you can have too many picks. Not when you need talent. Not when you need the most chances possible at finding that franchise cornerstone. The only way I would part with first rounders is if I knew the player we had control of the player (like we did with Knight), so someone on a rookie contract, OR someone due for an extension who basically had agreed to re-sign. I wouldn't unload picks for a guy that could opt out of his contract next summer like Jordan can.

The picks themselves don't appear anywhere until a player is drafted for this team, before then they are just "rights". Once they become players, they then become a line item in our salary cap, a roster spot, minutes in a game and as off-court development commitment. When we have all these picks and already have a bunch of young guys who needs minutes, development time and familiarity playing with your top players, I just don't think they (esp those at the mid-late lottery) are assets which we need to cling onto like a needy GF. Not saying we should be giving them away willy-nilly but when a player of DAJ's caliber becomes available, we should be willing to use them as trade chips.

In the end, you can't have a roster full of mid-lotto, 1st round guys and hope one of them become something. You need a better plan that that.

[RaisingArizona]

Jordan makes sense only if we upgrade the PG position. I still think that is priority 1.

[MathiasPW]

We also have way too many picks over the next few years than we can realistically use. As I said, I don't know what kind of package it'll take to get DAJ but if we could use some of those 1st's (which we probably only acquired as a future trade asset) to trade for him, I'm OK with that. Kerrsed is probably asking for too much considering what we're willing to give up.

I don't think you can have too many picks. Not when you need talent. Not when you need the most chances possible at finding that franchise cornerstone. The only way I would part with first rounders is if I knew the player we had control of the player (like we did with Knight), so someone on a rookie contract, OR someone due for an extension who basically had agreed to re-sign. I wouldn't unload picks for a guy that could opt out of his contract next summer like Jordan can.

You totally can have too many picks. What team was it recently that had like 6 in the draft, thinking they were going to trade them, but didnt and ended up drafting a bunch of stay-in-euro prospects? I seriously am having a mental block on who it was.

And yes, we lack talent, but how do you give up already on last years picks to take on 4-5 new rookies this season? Because thats what would have to happen for us to keep them all, unless we are willing to just spend them on random euros.

That was the Celtics

[lilfishi22]

Jordan makes sense only if we upgrade the PG position. I still think that is priority 1.

PG upgrades are easier to obtain than getting very good C's. You don't always have the luxury of waiting for a good opportunity at PG and still have a very good C waiting to be traded for. You take opportunities as they come.