As I stated above. Only the Spurs would entertain a sign and trade because they would most likely want to keep the core together. If they do, then they would require the sign and trade to get LMA so they avoid gutting their roster to get him. Splitter and Green for Aldridge would be our only hope imo.
There is incentive, but only if the team LMA wants to go to doesn't have the cap space to sign him outright. LMA has to want to go and sign the contract in the first place. The other team has to send back enough salary to balance the trade, as usual. Three team trade possible, etc.
Spurs were trying to get rid of Splitter. What if they used Splitter and sign and trade Danny Green for Aldridge? That actually works cap wise.
Splitter at 9 million is OK. We will need some D help. But is he that much better than Joel Freeland if not in a SA uniform? Green wants a big contract , not sure we want to spend our cap space on him. Again how good is he when not in the SA system?
I agree with Denny that there is some incentive if he wants to go to a club without cap space and that would include just about all the attractive destinations except Los Angeles and I'm not sure that would be a really attractive destination. They have an over the hill Kobe and a high draft pick. If I was LMA, I would be trying to get to Cleveland. They have James and Irving. And i think Cleveland would want him very bad; they would vastly want him over Love. Would Love want to come to Portland? He might be willing to opt in in Cleveland for one year and consent to a trade to see if he likes it in Portland. But would the Blazers want to do that?
I think it's interesting that Love opted out. The smart move would be play out his contract and sign the massive deal next summer. I think it's a good sign that he wants out of Cleveland.
Cleveland. But I want Tristan Thompson more than Love, so Cleveland would have to have another S&T worked out for Love.
He's show some interest in Boston in the past, but they are in super-rebuild mode. I wonder if Portland w/o LA just became a lot more interesting to him?
He's certainly taller. But both of them seem a bit injury prone these days. And Splitter is not a great rebounder. Green is a player ideal for a contending team. That's not going to be us.
Just say no to Splitter please. Prodding centers with no semblance of an outside shot are out. He's also 30. Ew.
Cleveland could easily let Love walk for nothing and use Thompson and x player to get Aldridge in a sign and trade. A trio of Irving, LBJ and Aldridge would be extremely tough to beat, especially if Aldridge buys in to play center. LBJ would absolutely demolish any PF assigned to guard him.
I think a sign-and-trade for Love is the most reasonable scenario. Would LA want to go to Cleveland to play with King James and rack up a couple of titles? Seems plausible and he'd fit better than Love. The Cavs don't have the cap space to make a play for LA without doing a S&T. Love, OTOH, would be a natural in Stotts' offense with his 3 point shooting ability.
Splitter is a system guy that looked really slow last season. Taking him back would just ass insult to injury in a S&T. I think Tristan Thompson or Love are obvious targets.
We could have had Thompson and most likely Oladipo right now if we had made this trade two years ago.
I know Tristan Thompson is very good at D and rebounding and all but man he sucks on offense and from the line....
The problem with Thompson is that he is not making much money and Aldridge after signing will be making over 20 million. According to my rough calculations it would take Thompson, Mozgov and four scrubs to match up.
