THE "OFFICIAL" February 21, 2013 Trade Deadline Thread...

That was a trade I saw the other day. Makes a lot of sense for both LAL and ATL

Howard for Smoove and Korver

 

He's from Atlanta

 

He is on record as NJ and DAL being his other options (unless he stays with LAL). So ATL makes more sense then DAL.

 

I think Dwight is between Brooklyn and LA at this point. I'm fairly sure he is wishing he didn't pull the crap he pulled in Orlando now. I think it's safe to say he would like to be in Brooklyn with Deron at this point.

 

Not when you look at talent though. Let's assume they keep Smith, I think that's a really horrible frontcourt with Howard, Smith, and Horford. They are all too similar. They would have to move Horford, and then who else do they have on that team? Supposedly they're determined to move Smith, so it would be Horford and Howard and not much else. I don't think he'd want that, to start over on a rebuilding team. Dallas makes more sense because they would still have Dirk, and I'm assuming they'd re-sign Mayo.

 

Brooklyn can not afford him in the off season, so if he goes there, it will need to be now.

 

Dirk is a shadow of his former self. They have nothing (star-wise) behind Dirk. Don't assume Mayo comes back (especially if they did get Howard) as he has priced himself out of their plans with his play this year.

 

Unless LAL would agree to sign and trade in the off-season (but they wouldn't likely accommodate Howard like that).

 

Dirk is a shadow of himself, no doubt, but he has enough to be a second fiddle to Howard.

 

Josh Smith is not a small forward.

 

Sign and trade. I'm sure the Lakers wouldn't mind taking Lopez + a draft pick and other considerations for him, instead of losing him for nothing.

 

They would have no choice. If they let Howard just walk, they are still way over cap and could only offer MLE and vet mins to replace him.

 

MIA is tough but overall the West is still harder to get to the Conference finals. ATL would be there possibly each year in the East and you can't say the same about DAL in the West.

 

That is true but Howard also would get much less (if a team even had cap space) taking another team's MAX vs the Lakers. Lakers could give him super-max. So most likely they call his bluff (as only ATL, among his teams on his list, has cap space) and say you have to sign here.

 

Darren Collison, Mayo, Marion or VC (think one of them will be dumped if they did actually do this), Dirk, Howard looks better than Teague, Korver/Morrow, Smith, Horford, Howard. Talk about lack of spacing..Josh Smith is one of the worst fits possible on that roster.

 

This is all assuming that Howard will regain his form. Right now he looks like a shadow of himself. Back injuries are horribly unpredictable.

 

I just don't see DAL making the conference finals even with Howard. ATL could (they probably would lose to MIA so it is moral victory but they would get further then DAL).

 

I think it was proven just after the lockout that the players still hold the power. And why would the Lakers want a player who would rather not be there? I doubt they want to go through a Orlando saga. "Trade request" on the horizon if he stays...

 

Trade Hickson to Washington for Jordan Crawford and Martell Webster. We could retain Webster and still have less cap hold than the 7 million for Hickson. Have around 10 mil to offer a free agent or use a couple players to lopside a deal for Gortat during draft day. Then July 1st, we offer Jack, Billups or Harris 6 million, then resign Webster for 5-6 million and be in good shape!

New starting line-up:

Lillard, Matthews, Batum, Aldridge and Gortat

Key Back-ups:
Jack (or Billups, Harris), Leonard, J. Crawford, and Webster

 

I like Hickson and yet I would do this deal. You HAVE to have two nice big men in Free Agency if you go this route though. (I think the Gortat on the block chatter is just that)