jbk1234 wrote:I feel like people are ignoring the reality that the Rockets were not going to take back bad money and when you're trading a contract as big as Harden's that matters.
People are saying that the Cavs sniped Allen, but he needs to get paid next summer which the Rockets almost certainly didn't want to do. In addition, the Cavs ate Prince's $15M salary next season which is the equivalent of at least a late first. So it's really the equivalent of two firsts (one of them unprotected) and a second for a guy who is in the last year of his rookie deal. I'm happy with the deal, but I don't think we killed it. I suspect we were the highest bidder.
True, taking back Prince was part of the value Cleveland gave for Allen. I'd still say that it was a reasonable value and pretty good deal overall for Cleveland, Though not a massive steal or franchise-changer or anything like that. The trade (and FA) value of non-elite centers isn't that high.
I'd just add that that Bucks pick is very well protected by the talent on the Bucks roster. Claiming it as an 'unprotected' 1st as opposed to the much more accurate 'late 1st' comes across poorly to me.