2014 NBA Offseason/Free Agency Thread

[bosoxlover12]

Wolves have no leverage on anybody

Wiggins won't be traded

 

[bosoxlover12]

 
Just being devil's advocate, but there could always be a three team trade where Love goes to Cleveland, Minnesota gets Klay Thompson, and Cleveland retains Wiggins.

if the warriors don't want to trade Klay for love, why would they move him and not get love? (aka what elcheato said yesterday)

 

[Mobruler]

if the warriors don't want to trade Klay for love, why would they move him and not get love? (aka what elcheato said yesterday)

 
I don't know, maybe they're just not as high on Love as the rest of the NBA is.  Look at the identity they've taken with their front court.  Tough players, bangers, guys who contribute in ways other than scoring such as passing, defending and creating turnovers.  Maybe even though they're not willing to move Klay for Love, they'd be willing to move Klay for something that let's them maintain their identity.
 
Actually I don't know why they would want to trade Klay at all.  As I've typed this post and thought about their rotation, I can't come up with a sensical reason of why trading Klay would be a good thing.

 

[elcheato]

I know Jerry West is a fan of Dion Waiters, that was his target at #7 or wherever they were when they ended up with Barnes. But I can't see them moving Klay for Waiters and firsts, doesn't make sense.

 

[jonathanlambert33]

I just don't see what else they're going to get. The Warriors offer is beyond terrible, the Celtics offer is very meh. Now, while the Cavs offer of Bennett, Dion, Tristan, 3 first round picks isn't the greatest, I'd rather have that offer than the other rumored ones.
 
but I'm also a Cavs fan.
 
I understand your logic though, of Flip not budging on Wiggins to the point of taking a worse offer.

As far as the Cavs offer is concerned, you have to operate under the idea that Anthony Bennett is still largely unknown and probably holds very little value right now, Dion Waiters probably isn't for every team, and Tristan Thompson is known and isn't all that valuable or exciting as a result. Those first round picks lost a tremendous amount of value with the addition of LeBron as well.

I also think you have to look at fit. I don't particularly think highly of Ricky Rubio, but I'm a realist. He's going to control the ball for that team, so do you think Flip Saunders would rather a ball dominate guard in Dion Waiters or a guy that does the majority of his damage off the ball in Klay Thompson? When we're talking about a guy that I'm sure Saunders wants to put next to Rubio for a long time, and you have the opportunity to add a great off the ball offensive player, that seems like an easy choice to me.

I think I've read that Draymond Green could be involved as well, and that's a guy I see Minnesota having a ton of interest in as well.

 

[elcheato]

I wouldn't say "very little value". Bennett had a rough rookie season, but he has a real nice skill set still, to combine with his rare athleticism for a PF. I've never wavered on my opinion of him. I think he has a bright future. Not trying to turn this into an Anthony Bennett discussion, as I'm aware I'm one of the few on here, maybe the only one, who still believes in him.
 
The draft picks the Cavs would be trading is Memphis' future pick, which is protected favorably for the team who owns it, Miami's top 10 protected pick (If Wade can't stay healthy, could land in the 10-18 range), and yea, any of our own future picks aren't worth a lot right now
 
The Cavs might have to find a 3rd team, a team that might value Bennett and Dion higher. Whether that works remains to be seen.

 

[elcheato]

I guess this question is mainly towards nola.
 
Would Houston back out of that Asik deal if they don't match on Parsons? Personally I wouldn't, even without needing to shed the salary, as I didn't think they could get a first for him.

 

[jonathanlambert33]

I don't see why he can't have a nice future, but as of this very minute his value is non-existant. I'd say the Cavs would have a tough time giving him away for free.

 

[elcheato]

I don't see why he can't have a nice future, but as of this very minute his value is non-existant. I'd say the Cavs would have a tough time giving him away for free.

Well, I very much disagree with that. His value is lower, there is no doubting that, but potential exists, and GMs love trading for potential.

 

[jonathanlambert33]

I guess this question is mainly towards nola.
 
Would Houston back out of that Asik deal if they don't match on Parsons?

Technically they could, but it would put a major black eye on the franchise among other teams, players, and agents. Would damage their reputation. Not something I'm the least bit worried about.

 

[Mobruler]

I don't see why he can't have a nice future, but as of this very minute his value is non-existant. I'd say the Cavs would have a tough time giving him away for free.

 
I'm surprised you said this.  I don't think any NBA front office would make such a drastic 180 degree turn on the perceived value of a highly drafted prospect after the rookie season.

 

[jonathanlambert33]

Well, I very much disagree with that. His value is lower, there is no doubting that, but potential exists, and GMs love trading for potential.

The Pelicans tried to give Austin Rivers away for cap space. They didn't even ask for a first rounder, but teams wouldn't even give up a second rounder for him. They literally couldn't give him away. Obviously Bennett's case is different, but until he actually shows something, GM's aren't going to put themselves in that position. That 5.6M cap number is the breaking point. I'm not saying come February he still won't have any value, but if they were to put him on the block right now they wouldn't have suitors for him. It's amazing how much every fan base over values their players.

 

[CameronCrazy06]

Saying they wouldn't have a suitor for the #1 overall pick is ridiculous

 

[jonathanlambert33]

I'll stand by it. I guarantee executives don't consider Anthony Bennett as a #1 pick. It's just a label that fans like to use. Teams aren't going to give up something for a $5.6M dollar sophomore who has seen his value decrease since he entered the league. I am not saying he is untradable, but Cleveland wouldn't be able to move him to another team by himself.

 

[elcheato]

The Pelicans tried to give Austin Rivers away for cap space. They didn't even ask for a first rounder, but teams wouldn't even give up a second rounder for him. They literally couldn't give him away. In Bennett's case, until he actually shows something, GM's aren't going to put themselves in that position. I mean lets not forget the guy has a 5.6M cap number this year. I'm not saying come February he still won't have any value, but if they were to put him on the block right now they wouldn't have suitors for him. It's amazing how much every fan base over values their players.

Entirely different situations. Regardless of it being a bad draft, and Bennett considered a reach to some, he still holds that #1 pick title and generally is a better prospect. Bennett had the shoulder injury, was rushed back and came in out of shape. Being out of shape doesn't help his case value wise, as that's a problem, but there were non basketball reasons for his struggle.

 

[jonathanlambert33]

BTW I never said they wouldn't have any suitors CC. Atleast I don't think I did. Sitting here watching the race and posting at the same time, minds in different areas. But if they were to put him on the block, they wouldn't get anything for him. Teams would have a remarkably tough time deciding if they would want to pay him $5.8M next season and $7.3M the year after. That's not cheap like the majority of rookies, you're asking a GM and owner to give away two MLE contracts and the room exception for Anthony Bennett. Just isn't plausible.

 

[elcheato]

If you're talking about a one for one deal, then yea, those are concerns. But the Cavs aren't going to move Bennett by himself. They would package him, most likely to a team rebuilding who might not even be eligible for the MLE, or even want to use it. You just said yourself earlier that the MLE is "worthless". I know you were just reacting to an overpay by Charlotte but still

 

[jonathanlambert33]

If you're talking about a one for one deal, then yea, those are concerns. But the Cavs aren't going to move Bennett by himself. They would package him, most likely to a team rebuilding who might not even be eligible for the MLE, or even want to use it. You just said yourself earlier that the MLE is "worthless". I know you were just reacting to an overpay by Charlotte but still

As of right now the MLE is worthless, but when the time comes to decide whether you want to pay Bennett $13.1M over two years the circumstances surrounding the MLE will have changed and will be quite different.

 

[elcheato]

If I have any kind of eye for basketball (I don't), I think that decision on what to do with Bennett will be a rather easy one after this year.

 

[jonathanlambert33]

https://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA/status/488409605438197760

Little worried about losing both Morrow and Roberts as shooters, but hopefully we still have enough with Jrue, Rivers, Gordon, Ryno, and whoever we bring in as our 7th or 8th man at SF. Suppose we could even bring back Darius Miller who's a solid shooter.