If CJ were to be traded, who are we most likely to get?

I would imagine that the most likely CJ trade scenario would include a player that makes within $10 mil of his annual salary. This is a finite list.

Most are unlikely, some are undesirable. Which player makes sense for BOTH teams.

Players that make more than CJ (Maybe include DJJ):


Players that make $10 mil or less, less than CJ:

 

First, who could realistically use him?

New Orleans?
LAC?
New York?
Philly?

 

That would honestly be a best case for me.

 

Complicated multi-teamer.

My choice would be Lu Dort.

Lockup Norman long-term.

 

Pelicans need to make the playoffs badly and CJ would at least get them there. Otherwise Zion just becomes some flashy dude that never even made it. But the Pels may go after PG13 or Jalen Brown, both those teams could use some extra draft pics.

 

They really need a dynamic guard scorer. That's not Ball, and PG13/Brown can't handle primary ball handler duties.

 

I'm not sure that is a good assumption.

IMO, I think swapping CJ for 2 or 3 smaller contracts is the way to go... especially if Norm can be retained for ~$20M/yr. Additionally, considering Portland's cap situation, they need more production per contract to be able to make the next step.
Ideally CJ would go to NYK (picks + either Obi or Robinson) who get routed to Houston. Portland gets Wood as a result (at his $13M contract) with a large $18M TPE. Portland could use some of the TPE to get a backup PG (Sato from Chicago or Jones from Memphis) with cash considerations.

That would be really good for Portland.

 

For sure. I also read some rumor on Yahoo (though source was from somewhere else) that Ball wants to go to the Knicks. I think that guy cares more about "the life" then actually learning/improving.

 

I bet it's his dad who wants him to go to NY.

 

NYK makes the most sense to me (assuming they want him) to facilitate a 3-way trade for any of the following (some we would want a draft pick as well).

Unrealistic:

Pascal Siakam (we may need to add something)
Myles Turner

Lackluster (but we'd still be a better team IMO):

Kevin Love/Nance Jr. (I think we'd need to add DJJ for salary)
Marcus Smart (+ pick)
Tobias Harris (Philly would have to have an unceremonious exit from playoffs for this)
Matisse Thybulle (if a NYK pick went to Philly in exchange for him)

 

doesnt solve anything. An equally shitty defender, who passes even less, doesn’t rebound well for his position, and isn’t as good of an outside shooter.

One possibility I haven’t seen is a sign and trade for Kawhi. I don’t think he likes playing (I know he doesn’t even live in LA, he commutes from here in San Diego) for the clippers and has an opt out this summer.

 

Sure, but it allows you to move Norm to the 2 and you still have RoCo and Nurk. We just need to do away with the tiny guard wonder twins.

Dame
Norm
Ingram
RoCo
Nurk

 

I vote we trade him for a guy who was top five in the entire league in Real Plus Minus this season until he got injured.

 

Moving Love would allow the Cavs to sign Sexton this summer (and is the reason they would consider moving Nance Jr. as well).

CJ is worth more than Smart or Thybulle, but we'd be a better team with either of them, a pick, and Powell than with just CJ IMO.

 

Thybulle would be ideal.

CJ fits Philly like a glove too.

 

Dumb Question:
Would you trade CJ + DJJ for.... Westbrook?