2018 Trade Ideas thread

[TheHartBreakKid]

Signing Cousins and PG would be the equivelent of the Knicks signing Amare and trading for Melo. It obviously could work out way better as we have a more competent FO with more stability, and we have young talent while the Knicks gave away whatever they had to get Melo, but the comparisons are eyriely similiar.


PG is still a second tier star....a great player who is better suited for a supporting role than Melo due to his style and his defense, but honestly, there is no reason to think that he has the ability to lead a team any better than Melo did in NY. Cousins is EYRILY similiar to Amare in terms of the situations. An offensive force who has other questionable elements about his game (Amare's issues were defense....and the ability to create for himself...Cousins is a better defender and creator but more of a headcase issue), but most importantly, the injury concerns stand out. I can't see Cousins being worth anything over 20 million a year in his third and 4th years. Of course, I could easily be wrong. He's still young, and could bounce back strong, and certainly relies on athletisicm far less than Amare ever did, but simply put, there is no encouraging case of an player bouncing back from an achillies injury, no matter the age.



Look, I'm in NO WAY saying don't sign PG. You have to sigh PG. He is at the best case the domino that'll lead us to get another star either this year or next, and at worst a damn good player to have if our "guy" ends up being one of our youngster, or if we end up being one of those teams that doesn't have a "guy". You sign PG, for damn sure, without a doubt. PG AND Cousins, however, is scary too me, because at best, we would still need significant improvements from our young guys to be a contending team, and at worst, we are mediocre for the next 4 years. The problem is though, that the worst case scenario is reasonably likely to occur...it's not this farfetched thing. In fact, history points to it happening, regarding cousins.



If we strike out in free agency and Cousins is willing to take a two year contract, even at the max, then yeah, go for it. Give him that with George, or even without. It's not a terrible move by any means. But a 3-4 year contract even at not the max but still very high can cripple this franchise easily and ruin this rebuild. My concern isn't that Cousins won't live up to his salary...my concern is that Cousins will not be playing while effectively taking anywhere from 20-30% of our cap.



A healthy Cousins would be the perfect fit for this team. A 60-70% version of Cousins would still probably be a major upgrade over Brook Lopez. But even despite that, some risks are simply not worth taking, and a long contract to him is just way too likely to bite us in the ass, especially considering the fact that his health is only going to be a bigger concern towards the end of the contract, which is also around the time we realistically would be ready to compete.

[TheHartBreakKid]

Are you guys even watching the series... PG is OKC’s best player in this series, PERIOD... Dude can ball... PG is a stud & should be our primary target... Dude has NBA resume, peers respect, length, fits seemlessly into our offense sets & defensive schemes, LA native & plays hard on both ends...

The real questions is do you chase Cousins... Pelicans considering offfering 2/3 year 75% max deal in a Buyers Market... Pelicans playing better without him... I am not sure where I stand given the injury & drama but he is probably available...

Respect PG... Lakeshow Baby...

I think you do. I think DMC isn't super reliant on athleticism or explosiveness so he will be able to do the same things he was before more or less, we don't need to rush him back as it gives us time to play Zubac and/or Bryant there and see how they go and then DMC can come back in the new year. Also center is a massive hole for us and landing one of the best bigs in the game, who is only 27 will do us wonders. DMC I can't see having a massive drop off for another 5-6 years regardless. I'd certainly at least offer him a 1 year max though even if things do go wrong (if they do, then we can go sign Leonard or someone else instead).

Ball-Ingram-George-Kuzma-Cousins

if you're confident, resign Randle also on a decent deal (10-12 mill per, around Clarkson money, which is what he should get).

Elton Brand wasn't super reliant on athleticism. Neither was Wesley MAtthews and Brandon Jennings, and definitely not old man Kobe.
An Achillies tear almost always leads to a player visibly looking like a shell of their former selves athleticially. Whether he is reliant on athletisicm or not, Cousins will absoloutely be affected by this injury....it's just not an injury that anyone, ever, has come back from 100%. Knee surgery and tears have had some semi success stories....players who who came back close to the same as they were, ultimately slowed down earlier than expected or got reinjured. There isn't a single player who looked the same after an achilles tear.


With an Achilles you are talking a player who is surely going to be slower in the perimeter in switches. He'll surely be slower in contesting shots and grabbing rebounds. His effectiveness in finishing and running the break will surely be effected. Even as a player who isn't super reliant on athletisicm, you are talking about a noticeably worse player. Can a noticeably worse cousins still be an above average player and a contributing piece to a championship team even at the money he will still demand? Sure, absolutely. but when you factor in the concerns and risks that come with reinjury and time missed, you are talking about a possible franchise crippling decision.

[Danny Darko]

Are you guys even watching the series... PG is OKC’s best player in this series, PERIOD... Dude can ball... PG is a stud & should be our primary target... Dude has NBA resume, peers respect, length, fits seemlessly into our offense sets & defensive schemes, LA native & plays hard on both ends...

The real questions is do you chase Cousins... Pelicans considering offfering 2/3 year 75% max deal in a Buyers Market... Pelicans playing better without him... I am not sure where I stand given the injury & drama but he is probably available...

Respect PG... Lakeshow Baby...

I think you do. I think DMC isn't super reliant on athleticism or explosiveness so he will be able to do the same things he was before more or less, we don't need to rush him back as it gives us time to play Zubac and/or Bryant there and see how they go and then DMC can come back in the new year. Also center is a massive hole for us and landing one of the best bigs in the game, who is only 27 will do us wonders. DMC I can't see having a massive drop off for another 5-6 years regardless. I'd certainly at least offer him a 1 year max though even if things do go wrong (if they do, then we can go sign Leonard or someone else instead).

Ball-Ingram-George-Kuzma-Cousins

if you're confident, resign Randle also on a decent deal (10-12 mill per, around Clarkson money, which is what he should get).

Elton Brand wasn't super reliant on athleticism. Neither was Wesley MAtthews and Brandon Jennings, and definitely not old man Kobe.
An Achillies tear almost always leads to a player visibly looking like a shell of their former selves athleticially. Whether he is reliant on athletisicm or not, Cousins will absoloutely be affected by this injury....it's just not an injury that anyone, ever, has come back from 100%. Knee surgery and tears have had some semi success stories....players who who came back close to the same as they were, ultimately slowed down earlier than expected or got reinjured. There isn't a single player who looked the same after an achilles tear.


With an Achilles you are talking a player who is surely going to be slower in the perimeter in switches. He'll surely be slower in contesting shots and grabbing rebounds. His effectiveness in finishing and running the break will surely be effected. Even as a player who isn't super reliant on athletisicm, you are talking about a noticeably worse player. Can a noticeably worse cousins still be an above average player and a contributing piece to a championship team even at the money he will still demand? Sure, absolutely. but when you factor in the concerns and risks that come with reinjury and time missed, you are talking about a possible franchise crippling decision.

Dominique Wilkins came back and averaged almost 30 a game, but he is the ONLY one so far:

http://www.sacbee.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/ailene-voisin/article129420039.html

In an oft-cited study of 18 NBA players who ruptured their Achilles’ between 1988 to 2011 – co-authored by Dr. Nirav Amin and Dr. Douglas Cerynik and published in the June 3, 2013 issue of The American Journal of Sports Medicine – the findings that examined height, weight, position and a variety of other factors revealed:

▪ The average age at the time of injury was 29.7 years.

▪ Seven of the players (39 percent) retired, among them Isiah Thomas, Christian Laettner and Mehmut Okur.
The players who resumed their career missed an average of 55.9 games, and of those, only eight lasted into a second season.

After comparing statistics of the players during their two years before and after the injury, the authors concluded that those who returned to the league after a rupture “showed a significant decrease in playing time and performance.”

That group includes Kobe Bryant, Chauncey Billups, Elton Brand and Gerald Wilkins. There is one notable exception: Dominique Wilkins.

But unlike virtually every player in the aforementioned study, the current Hawks television analyst recovered by the following training camp and continued to rank among the leagues’ most prolific scorers, averaging 29.9, 26.0, 24.4, 29.1, 17.8 and 18.2 points during the ensuing six seasons, and was named to two additional All-Star and all-league berths.

[Danny Darko]

...and does Boogie seem like the guy who would bounce back with a combination of spry genetics and work ethic?

Noooooo way do I take that risk on top of the existing issues of being a tool and not being a strong indicator of winning historically

[Spens1]

...and does Boogie seem like the guy who would bounce back with a combination of spry genetics and work ethic?

Noooooo way do I take that risk on top of the existing issues of being a tool and not being a strong indicator of winning historically

he played his entire career in Sacramento, no one in this decade has been a strong winner historically from the kings of this era. This isn't the Bibby-Miller era of kings anymore.

[LAKESHOW]

That's a no for me, when it comes to cousins. No way you escape an Achilles. Your range limited to finished.

[RamonSessions7]

Yeah ruptured achilles is too much for me. Do not want a maxed out 75% Cousins.

[Slava]

The whole idea of offering Cousins a short term deal is not common sense. History shows that anyone coming back from an achilles injury suffers further injuries immediately after coming back just because of over compensating for muscular imbalance in the leg. Kobe had serious knee injury after playing 6 games.

Anyone offering him a contract should think of next season being an investment year as well and hope to get value from years 2-4 of the deal.

[Penberthy]

ST Randle + Hart + 2018 1st for Kawhi

Ball (32) IT (16)
Kawhi (32) IT (16)
Ingram (32) Kuzma (16)
Lebron (32) Kuzma (16)
Lopez (24) ZuBryant (24)

love Randle but that wont get it done... They'd take him but they probably want either Ball or Ingram to be the center piece... And he doesnt compliment LMA well...

Also, the fact that giving Cousins a contract is still a topic of discussion, fascinates me actually...

[LAKESHOW]

Clearly frustrated, I see the spurs as highly motivated.

[LAKESHOW]

Oops my bad, I didn't see the agent thread....nevermind.

[LAKESHOW]

Randle hart and a 1st sound good. But I think sours will ask for Kuz, in some way or combo. Just the way he played against them, was eye opening for them.

[thankyouKOBE]

I still y'all talking crazy thinking we can get all 3 of LeBron, Kawhi & PG-13. Maybe on 2K...
Also read an article of how those 3 don't fit together, not even sure which two would fit well together.

If it happens, I'll never doubt the possibility again, but c'mon, guys.

Update: Looks like OKC is most likely done for. Horrible game other than PG's 32 points. Arguably Westbrook's worst game. A first round exit doesn't bode well for George staying. I'd say him signing with us is the most likely outcome, over trading for Kawhi. If that Spurs meeting goes badly, I think they become closer in likelihood, but I don't want to lose Ingram/Kuzma/Ball for Leonard.

The likelihood of the Spurs ditching him without him even playing a game since the KAWHI-GHTMARE started has killed his trade value. You might say "all the more reason to try and get him for less" but the Spurs still aren't going to take too much less for him and Lakers don't really have any immediate draft picks to give up, which is probably what the Spurs want most and definitely one or two of our young core. The only argument for the trade this summer is the Spurs tendency to stand pat after the season begins on trades.

[thankyouKOBE]

Forget Cousins, until somebody sees him play. I'd say it's most likely the Pelicans keep him, unless some crazy team outbids them for a busted player.

What about Whiteside, y'all?

He's making 23 million the next two years, and he has clearly NOT earned that contract the Heat gave him when the Lakers were reportedly his other suitor that summer. A first round exit for them and he played like dog crap, so they'll likely try to get rid of him and clear cap space as they are kind of in the middle of being a full rebuild.

We're losing Lopez, probably not re-signing him. What are the chances the Heat would take back Deng for Whiteside? A bad contract for another bad one? They might be able to get better offers, but Whiteside doesn't shoot 3's. I'd say maybe the Spurs would take him in a trade as they desperately need rebounding and I could see Pat Riley making a play for Kawhi.

It would be funny, considering we might not have interest in Whiteside as he doesn't fit Luke's fast-paced system, but bigs are coming back a bit, those that can shoot 3's that is. His rebounding would be nice and he gets some blocks. Maybe he just needs a new team. Maybe we get Marc Gasol, Grizzlies get Whiteside, we give up somebody?

[Kilroy]

ST Randle + Hart + 2018 1st for Kawhi

Ball (32) IT (16)
Kawhi (32) IT (16)
Ingram (32) Kuzma (16)
Lebron (32) Kuzma (16)
Lopez (24) ZuBryant (24)

love Randle but that wont get it done... They'd take him but they probably want either Ball or Ingram to be the center piece... And he doesnt compliment LMA well...

Also, the fact that giving Cousins a contract is still a topic of discussion, fascinates me actually...

Love Randle, but that won't get it done... They're sure to want one of Ball or Ingram... I think most teams recognize that Kuzma's main talent so far is that he's a rookie... His shooting and scoring really isn't that remarkable and he's not some kind of overwhelming athlete... So I don't think a deal around him works either...

Plus Randle and LMA take up the same real-estate... It's a bad fit.

And I can't for the life of me understand why giving a contract to Cousin's is STILL being discussed...

And if we gave Whiteside more than the vet min I'd be pissed.

[Slava]

You have to be missing everything that's happening in the playoffs right now to even think of Whiteside as an option.

[Trips71]

OK, how about this? Trade ID #7039138

3 way trade:
Lakers give: Lonzo, Kuz, Deng, and 1st round pick
Lakers get: Kawhi, Patty Mills

Spurs give: Kawhi, Mills
Spurs get: Lonzo, Kuz, Whiteside, 1st, 2nd

Miami give: Whiteside, 2nd round pick
Miami gets: Deng

Lakers get Kawhi without having to give up Ingram. They take on a sort of bad contract of Mills, but get rid of Deng. Still have room to sign free agents and resign Randle.

Spurs get two young and upcoming players, a 1st, a 2nd, and a serviceable player in Whiteside that will come off the books in two years

Miami saves 6+ million next year, and 9 million the next.

[larry14r]

OK, how about this? Trade ID #7039138

3 way trade:
Lakers give: Lonzo, Kuz, Deng, and 1st round pick
Lakers get: Kawhi, Patty Mills

Spurs give: Kawhi, Mills
Spurs get: Lonzo, Kuz, Whiteside, 1st, 2nd

Miami give: Whiteside, 2nd round pick
Miami gets: Deng

Lakers get Kawhi without having to give up Ingram. They take on a sort of bad contract of Mills, but get rid of Deng. Still have room to sign free agents and resign Randle.

Spurs get two young and upcoming players, a 1st, a 2nd, and a serviceable player in Whiteside that will come off the books in two years

Miami saves 6+ million next year, and 9 million the next.

The Spurs will still want Ingram and there is not we can do about it.

[TheHartBreakKid]

You have to be missing everything that's happening in the playoffs right now to even think of Whiteside as an option.

Yeah....whiteside is gross. When I saw that report, I looked up on his contract to see if he had some potential as a strike out in Free Agency so absorb a big contract type of thing, but he has a player option for 2019 that he'll surely pick up, so you are talking about a player who is getting paid 10+ million more than Deng per year with the same contract lenght, to put a perspective on his contract. He obviously isn't useless like Deng and would be atleast a rotation player, but trading for Whiteside, even without giving up anything back, ruins any free agency plans for next season unless we really really really strike out on free agency. Then you would have one max spot to entice next year's free agents to come play with freaking Hassan Whiteside as the second most highest paid player on the team. I would much rather cling on to the desperate hope of convincing two free agents to come together for another year than take the Whiteside route. He simply isn't that good. Miami will have difficutly finding keepers for him without taking back bad contracts imo. Few teams have the cap to absorb him, and even fewer have a need for him, and even fewer than that would actually give up anything of value for him

[TKainZero]

George has to want to come. And then he has to really want to come so much, that he takes a discount if the lakers swing a couple more big names in

I think cousins is intriguing. But his injury has made that a lost cause.