Merged: blazers linked to serge ibaka

IF we are willing to pay him (possibly big if) then I see no reason personally why Ibaka would leave. We can give him more years (and money) than anyone. Not sure we are willing (or should be) to pay him big money though so I agree to a point...

 

If they really are interested in Crabbe then they would also want Ezeli's expiring imo to offset losing their expirings.

 

Ibaka + Green for Crabbe + Biebs works under the Trade Machine. I don't think Ezeli is that valuable to them as Green is expiring anyway.

 

Ibaka for Leonard, Layman/Connaughton, and the Cleveland pick. If they can find better, they should go do that.

 

What do you have against white basketball players?? Besides Plumlee, that's everyone.

 

Plumlee, of course, with Ed Davis and Festus (if ever) backing him up.

I actually think Ibaka and Plumlee would be a great fit next to each other, and since we'd be dumping Crabbe's and Leonard's contracts, and getting back a big expiring in Green, plus with Ezeli's team option, we may even be able to resign both of them during the summer.

BNM

 

I really like the idea of trading for Ibaka, as long as we keep both Dame and CJ.

Given each teams talent level, the other players involved are probably secondary to the pick/s. I believe picks are the key to make this trade happen for the Magic.
But, I am not comfortable with trading more than the Cleveland pick for an UFA.

Q. Can a trade be made involving future picks that are contingent on a player re-signing with his new team?

Example. If Ibaka does not re-sign, the Magic only get the Cleveland pick. But if he does re-sign, the Magic also get our 2018 first round pick? OR maybe our 2018 first converts to a future second if Ibaka does not re-sign?

 

I actually really like layman. I just figure Orlando might want him as a "throw in." They are thin at SF. He's a good, cheap prospect.

Orlando is dumb though, so they might want Connaughton instead.

 

If ORL wanted Layman, they wouldn't have traded him to us.

How are they thin at SF? Until this season, their (current) highest paid player, Evan Fournier was their starting SF. Because they loaded up on Ibaka and Biyombo last summer, they have a glut up front that has forced them to play both Aaron Gordon and Evan Fournier out of position and it's not working. Trading Ibaka for Crabbe let's them restore the natural order and move Fournier and Gordon back to their natural (best) positions with Crabbe starting at SG.

BNM

 

Fournier is a shooting guard. He weighs like 200 pounds. He's not banging with any legit SF. Gordon is a power forward. Even if you believe Fournier is a SF, that's still just one guy.

That's how.

As far as Layman and Orlando is concerned, means nothing. How many times did Portland trade Steve Blake only to bring him back? Doesn't mean they didn't like him. And that Layman trade was before free agency. Plans change.

 

They won't take Layman, come on, certainly not as any added value. He's been average at best since his first two outings.

 

Jake Layman is not the answer. He's only a year younger than Fournier and nowhere near as good - now, or ever. Layman has flat out sucked since his first game. Since that game, he's 4-31 on 3-pointers (.129 3FG%) and 12-48 overall (.250 FG%). Mario Hezonja, who is a year younger, is just as good of a prospect as Layman (not that that's saying much).

Fournier started 71 games for them at SF last season and had better advanced stats playing SF last year than he has playing SG this year.

If they want to go big, they can go with Gordon at SF, Biyombo at PF and Vucevic at C. I agree that PF is Gordon's best position, but he can play spot minutes at SF when needed.

And fuck it, if they want Layman, let them have him. Other than that one hot shooting game, he's done nothing to impress me - and that's in garbage time against other team's 3rd stringers. He may be the next Victor Claver - a guy who looks like a better player than he actually is, who can't hit a shot to save his life.

BNM

 

Average as in .129 3FG% and .250 FG% since that first game. Yeah, he's the piece that will get us Ibaka.

Talk about overvaluing our own players...

BNM

 

Used to love Ibaka's game. The whole Channing Frye act has me soured though.