In a world where LMA decides to leave, would you rather: A) Sign-and-trade for assets B) Let him walk and use the cap space C) Hold onto the cap space for next summer (Wookie is forbidden from posting that Aldridge is staying in this thread because I said "in a world" so his logic is moot.)
I'd only want to be sign and trade partners with one team, the Boston Celtics. They have the most picks and the best young players available.
I'm kinda leaning that way. There aren't any free agents this summer that I would really go after, at least nobody that could replace Aldridge. Let's say we let Aldridge and Wes walk. I think I would also dump Batum at that point. Play Dame, CJ, Leonard and get a nice pick. Then use our cap space next summer. I think Lillard would put up huge numbers as the #1 option next year.
You could let Aldridge walk, then use the cap space as a dumping ground for other teams where they give up assets to move guys
I'd prefer to get assets in return. We could get those undefined assets and still preserve cap space for next summer if said assets expire (or have small salaries: rookie contracts). I've never been a fan of building a team through free agency - that's just not something we're going to be able to do. So cap space, IMO, is overrated - it's best used in lop-sided trades. Draft picks and young prospects are better than cap space. But obviously all three scenarios are fine by me (duh).
That's a pretty good point. Like Miami would give up a 1st to get rid of McBob, Washington would probably Nene and pick for the cap space.
The historical return for a S&T of an UFA is not great. At most we probably get a useless veteran and a late first. I'd rather take the capspace and try and grab someone else.
With Boston sitting there (of course it would mean LA wanting to play there) we could get a James Harden S&T like deal. Expiring Contract vet (Gerald Wallace-BOS, Kevin Martin-HOU) Young Player (Jared Sullinger-BOS, Jeremy Lamb-HOU) two first round picks and a second.
The precedent isn't there. Harden was on his rookie deal, he had no choice in the matter. Aldridge is an UFA, it's a pipedream. Think more of what Cleveland got for LeBron, what Toronto got for Bosh..... That's the type of deal you're going to get from a S&T.
"Cap space for a free agent" When is the last time we had a free agent come here of LMAs caliber two, three, four years ago? I'll take anything we can get because we have 1% chance of ever signing a player that could even hold LMAs jock within the next two years. NY, LA, Miami, Chicago are all preferential for marketing purposes. If we were a huge market where players wanna go, sure let him walk. Reality, we arent. We can't just let him go for NADA. Other than MAYBE Kevin Love towards the end of his career..if he reallllly wants to be back in LO.
I would prefer a sign and trade to a team with capspace so we could perhaps get back a combo of a pick/young player on a cheap contract AND create significant capspace
We will only get a good deal if LMA wants to go to a team that can't outright sign him, so I agree. No one who can outright sign him will give us anything other than pennies on the dollar.
We don't need to replace him with another star though. Letting him walk would allow us flexibility, we already have his replacement in Leonard if it happens. What would happen is we would be able to sign high level role players to surround our core if LA walked. (Guys like Danny Green, Tobias Harris, Omer Asik, Iman Shumpert, Jae Crowder, etc.)
Say the trade was Tyson Chandler, Devin Harris, Charlie Villanueva and the 21st draft pick for Aldridge?
