Exclusive 2019 Trade Deadline Thread

Pistons pick up Thon Maker so now they can trade Griffin.

 

The Pistons being active is interesting. The question is what are they looking to accomplish? Adding Maker, Svi, and a 2nd would seem to indicate they are going "younger" (quotes are because who knows how old Maker really is) but they also could just be punting on guys that they didn't plan on re-signing anyway.

I'm intrigued to see if they're done now or will have a complete firesale and revamp their roster.

 

I am not sure where to put this cause it could kind of go in the AD trade thing but might fit here too so here it goes ....

I have read someplace that it seems that since the death of Paul it might be easier to get a trade done but i wonder if the fact there is real questions who is going to own this team long term is why AD does not have the Blazers on his list cause for any flaws PA might have had owning this team the one thing we all knew is he loved the team and for most part would do what it needed when push came to shove to make this team compete. However now we have no idea what the motive of his sister is cause logic would say prolly try not to lose as much money before she finally sells it but we have no REAL idea meaning players who MIGHT want to come and play with Dame see the same thing and have no idea the direction of this team a few years out. No matter what happens at the deadline the one thing i know is before next season starts everyone from the fans to the players to the league need to know who will own this team and lead it in the coming years.

 

Comparing Reggie Bullock to Rodney Hood is flawed because they’re different type of players. Almost all of Bullocks shots are assisted. He’s not a ball handler. He’s like an Allen Crabbe type. If Portlands objective was to find someone to take the pressure off Dame and CJ or get a go to guy on the second unit, Hood is a much better fit. Bullock would’ve been good as a replacement for Curry on the second unit as he’s a better fit next to Turner.

But it’s also hard to have this debate when we have no idea what the plan is with the roster in the next 24 hours.

 

Kevin O’Connor on Saric

Dario Saric, Timberwolves: Saric’s playing time has dwindled with the Timberwolves, especially since Ryan Saunders took over for Tom Thibodeau. As I’ve written before, Saric would be best on a team that activates the playmaking skills that he showed as an MVP in the Adriatic League and a EuroLeague rising star.

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Here’s what he wrote about a month ago:
https://www.theringer.com/nba/2019/1/14/18181720/nba-misused-players-justise-winslow
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Saric’s résumé overseas includes championships and MVPs. For a time, it seemed Saric was never coming over. But he did, and the transition from Adriatic League MVP and EuroLeague rising star to the NBA was largely seamless: All the flashes Saric shows today, he showed back then. He hustled on defense, crashed the boards, hit timely shots, cut, and screened. Saric is a role player now, but his style remains the same—every bit of it except for his passing. Saric was never a primary playmaker, even overseas, but he did offer more creativity in transition in Europe, and was utilized as more of a facilitator in the half court.

After being acquired by the Timberwolves in the Jimmy Butler blockbuster, Saric was quickly pigeonholed by Tom Thibodeau into a basic spot-up role. Saric logs fewer touches, passes, and potential assists than he did with the Sixers, and for the first time since his rookie year, Saric looks uncomfortable. Thibodeau is no longer coaching the Wolves, which is a good thing for the sanity of their fans, and his absence could be a boon for Saric. New head coach Ryan Saunders suggested the team will play a more modern style, which should translate to more 3s, more fast breaks, and more ball movement.

We’ll see how things change under Saunders, who is beginning to punish players for taking long 2s by making them worth negative points in practice. It may only be a matter of time until they’re playing faster, too. Hopefully Saunders also experiments with Saric handling the ball more in transition, with all of Minnesota’s superior scorers and athletes sprinting by his side. A two-man game in the half court between Saric and Karl-Anthony Towns would be a new wrinkle for the offense. Switch on a play like that and teams will leave Towns with a mismatch; and if they don’t switch, Saric has the vision to find open shooters. Saric finished only 30 possessions as the pick-and-roll ball handler last season, and has logged only nine this season, but he’s shown the tools since his time overseas to do it well. It’s not that Saric should be the Wolves’ offensive hub—especially not with Towns emerging as a destroyer as of late—but teams in this era need as many competent playmakers on the floor as possible, regardless of role or position. Surely the Wolves didn’t acquire Saric just to have him stand around. There’s more to his utility-man game ready to be rediscovered.

 

Hopefully Saric's performance last night was audition for Olshey. He would be a tremendous passer/decision maker/outlet when Dame is inevitably doubled in the Playoffs.

 

It seems to me that Saric is a good fit in Minnesota for the same reason he would fit well in Portland. Taj Gibson will be 34 next year and a FA. Why would they trade him? Who else do they have?

 

Throw 2 first at em too.

So we'd have:

Dame/ Seth/ Calderon
CJ/ Hood
Jake/ Moe
Blake/
Nurk/ Leonard

Find a buyout guy to fill out the roster.

 

Zach, a first, and Simons along with expiring filler after next season seems like a fair offer for Blake, considering his contract. Yes there’s risk involved because of his style of play and injury history, but I don’t see many other avenues to really improve.

 

I'm working on a Kia Optima right now. That's a sign. It is Griffin.

 

Also, it's unlikely that Saunders is their long term coach as they will likely hire a new coach in the off season so who knows if they are willing to do much until they get a coach in place.

 

One thing we are seeing in this trade deadline is that expiring contracts do have some value in trades.

 

Marc Stein‏ @TheSteinLine
Separate from all things Anthony Davis, New Orleans continues to explore trades for Julius Randle and Nikola Mirotic in advance of Thursday's 3 PM deadline, league sources say

What are we waiting for??? i love them both, they are different players but both could have an impact on our team!

 

interesting that the child in that movie is Christian Bale...Batman