I'll start by saying I have no idea what LMA's thoughts are about being in the middle of a full rebuild. He'll be 27 this month, making an almost-max contract right now and on a team where there are 4 rookies, Babbitt, Nolan and EWilliams. If he WERE to ask for a trade, what scenarios would work for both teams? We'd look to get younger and probably some draft picks. He'd need to go to a team that's at least a semi-contender. Teams that aren't in anything close to contention: CHA, DAL: The obvious first thought. He's from there, and expressed an interest in playing down there with Deron at one point. Can't give us any draft picks, though (they have one out to HOU that's protected potentially into 2018). Their young players are Dominique Jones, Brandon Wright and Roddy Beaubois. Color me as down on this opportunity. DET: Assuming that they think they're close to contending soon, LMA for Drummond and Jerebko? (their picks are also protected through 2016, so they could package a 2018 1st also). IND: Hansbrough? West's expiring deal? They can give up to 3 1sts also (2013/15/17 or 2014/16/18). PHI for Turner and picks? HOU if they don't get Howard? Who am I missing?
Well, kind of wondering why the Blazers are not in the discussion for Bynum in this Howard rumor given their ability to take back salary. Maybe Houston has more that they are willing to part with. Maybe LA doesn't want to deal Bynum to Portland. Maybe we think Bynum is a complete tool.
LMA's trade value would get a lot higher if he'd back away from his "I don't like playing center" position.
why would SAC do that? I mean, CHA for MKG and picks would be awesome too, but why would that help them?
MKG is the one player I wouldn't touch. He is going to be a bust IMO. I wouldn't mind Cha picks though. Maybe we could trade MKG for something else anything else.
Personally I think we should trade him. I like LMA but we would essentially be wasting his prime and I think we should cash in his value while it's high. Shoot for picks and young talent. Guys on their rookie contract. That kind of stuff.
Because LMA gives them something they don't have, and gives it to them immediately. They would make playoffs, and maybe HCA. He combos better with Cousins. Evans value is down and trading him would would help their locker room.
that was kind of the point of the OP. I know that there's a faction (I'm one of them) that would swap LMA for "Young Players and Picks" (TM), but there aren't a whole lot of teams that match with us in the criteria of : A) having young players they'll get rid of B) having draft picks they can send us C) being decent enough that getting LMA actually does something for them.
I don't see any obvious trades out there this year. LMA seems content for now. I would wait for at least one year to see how things shake out. Maybe next year a team with a good young player gets lucky in the draft and then you have a redundancy, where they need a big. I do agree that LMA is on the old end for a total rebuild, but we should wait.
Everyone out there wanting to trade LMA is crazy imo. We are pretty much on a total rebuild but we have what every team tries to get, a top 20 all-star player in their prime. We trade LA and we could end up like the Twolves/GSW in the lottery for YEARS and still haven't done anything. If you trade LMA you need to get a stud young guy back with picks, something that I don't see happening. We have 2 lottery picks and our 2 Euros coming over this year, might as well see how they do before deciding on LMA because in 3 years he will still be in his prime and we could be poised for a very strong run then depending on our drafting/trades.
If you trade LA, you HAVE to trade for someone who will likely become a future allstar. And you can't trade him to OKC. No one will beat a Westbrook/Durant/LA tandem for a decade, so you kind of shoot yourself in the foot there. Tyler Hansbrough? Dominique Jones? please tell me you're fucking kidding.
