Capn'O wrote:Synciere wrote:I don't like the Nets forum too much because any opinion against their team seems to be trolling, but I'm pretty sure they get Portland's first on a conditional basis next year though. If true, the trade is not as bad as some make it out to be.
The Magic think highly of Wallace, and would replace him over Turkoglu at $8 million a year. Having Wallace's Bird rights seems to be somewhat valuable, given Howard is still likely to be traded. Their inability to trade Lopez now or in the off-season might actually help them. Nine million in cap room is nothing to sneeze at; you can still be active in free agency, especially when having that pick may have lowered your cap number three million or so.
There's a lot of uncertainty, but the Nets are still going to be in a position to get better if they make smart moves, even if Wallace leaves. And they are still well positioned for a possible Howard swap. Would the #6 have looked as good? Hell yeah. The Nets can still salvage the ship, even with their recent free agency history.
This is my thinking as well - that they obviously don't think too highly of their draft choices and thought they could position themselves better for Howard with the bigger TPE. Could they even have traded that pick in a Howard deal given what they gave up for Deron?
It's a huge gamble. Much bigger than the one we made for either LeBron or Carmelo, imo because in this instance there is literally no backup plan. Even if they get Howard, what is their team? Unlike Walsh/Grunnie they haven't exactly shown a lot of skill in picking guys off of the trash heap.
I do agree that Wallace opting out doesn't make the initial gamble any more or less stupid because of the TPE... but I still think it was an incredibly stupid move. As others have mentioned - smart move for Wallace though.
Exactly. Whoever would've been the #6 pick would not have been a player that would make Deron Williams more likely to stay, especially if that player hasn't played a single game yet. Most of the top free agents want to go to situations where they clearly have a chance to win right out of the box. They do not want to have to waste time waiting on the development of their players. In addition, the Nets best assets this summer will be free agents: Humphries and Wallace. Neither player can be traded on draft night as they are free agents, so would the Nets have made a pick knowing the Magic like that player only to wait another month for free agency to begin and no real assurance they would not get outbid for Howard? In regards to their flexibility this summer, the cap space may be worth more than the rights to Barnes or Beal or Lillard in the draft. Those players plus a resigned Humphries or Wallace isn't exactly knocking any socks off, so the next best thing is cold hard cash i.e cap space.
If they do get Portland's first rounder next year (a big if but again I don't feel like going to the Nets' or Blazers' board to find out), that leaves them with two first round picks next year, plus cap space, plus Humphries and Wallace. The Magic have Ryan Anderson as a restricted FA and their starting 4 so perhaps Humphries doesn't fit with him, but Wallace slides in nicely next to him.
Trading that pick improved their chances in FA, which helps them keep Deron, and puts them in a slightly better position for Howard, not worse in my book. I'm not saying it wasn't a risk, just that it wasn't as foolhardy as some are making it out to be. A resigned Williams with a trade for Howard and they may end up better positioned for a run than we currently are.
