jake_swivel wrote:ThunderBolt wrote:jake_swivel wrote:
Dunno. This time last year, I wouldn’t have said Paul George would be tampered with. Who knows what the possibilities are. But I wouldn’t gamble on Paul’s contract because it leaves them with zero flexibility and he isn’t good enough by himself to tip them over the edge. Paul puts them at the 3rd seed and maybe the conference finals as their ceiling in my opinion.
Comparing the clippers situation to the heat is completely different. Miami doesn't have 5 first round picks to trade. I get that Miami doesn't want paul in a perfect world but they are in a really difficult situation. Despite his horrid contract, Miami's alternatives to improve are very limited.
For Miami you would have to have Butler tamper with a star. That star has to be willing to want to come to Miami. Then the franchise of the tampered star has to be willing to take back a horrible package for their star. Other than Washington I see no other option for the heat. Paul is a bad contract but his game on the floor isn't like Carmelo Anthony.
At the very least, I'd drag this into the season if I was Miami. Aside from missing training camp, what do they lose in trying to extract assets if there aren't any other suitors? That way, they get to see how he's aged over the offseason. They see if he gets injured. They see if he throws a massive temper tantrum and tanks his value even more than it is right now. Is the OKC management willing to take him into the season, given that a significant injury leaves them on the hook for the whole contract?
I'd say, "Paul isn't enough by himself. I need assets for a future trade. I have no reason to make the trade right this moment, whereas OKC seems to want to hit the reset button right now and make a clean start without any drama. How strong a stomach do you have, Mr. Bennett?"
Then I'd wait to see what kind of chaos happens in the season and hope for the best.
If I was Miami I would wait a little while too. However I would also be honest with the current situation around Butler and admit that its not that great. He's not going to last forever. Do you really want to waste an entire season of having Butler? He's not exactly young and has had a few knee minor knee issues. He'll be 30 years old around the start of the season. The heat could punt on trying to get better this year and start over next year when the have more salary to spend to build around a 31 year old Butler. That's possible but far from ideal.
Also, it's not like they signed Jimmy by dumping scraps like they would do if they got CP. They had to give up an elite role player with Richardson. It's debatable how much better this Miami roster is compared to the one that missed the playoffs last year.
With proper load management Miami might be able to get a two more useful seasons out of CP3. Then they look to trade him as an expiring and take on another good player with a bloated contract. Is Chris Paul Miami's first preference? Probably not. Is there second preference realistic? If It's Kevin Love, maybe. Otherwise I would be inclined to again say probably not.
