Honestly, here's my ideal off-season plan. This first trade I think would be great for both sides. Portland Gets: Kenneth Faried Wilson Chandler (TPE) Darrell Arthur Two Future 2nds Denver Gets: Evan Turner $16.2M Trade Exception (Can outgoing players combine to produce a TPE @hoopsjock ? If not, it'd be almost $14M) - Denver saves $16.2M in this deal, which would not only get them low enough to probably be able to re-sign Will Barton, they likely could use their full-MLE and avoid the tax. If MPJ is ready to go, he and Barton could handle SF duties. If not, Turner could play backup SF. They do need another ball handler and Turner would allow Murray to play off the ball more. - We replace Turner with the better Chandler, and take on extra salary. However, Faried, Chandler, and Arthur are all expiring, so we would save $18M next season. Then: LA Clippers Get: Kenneth Faried Caleb Swanigan 2019 POR 1st Portland Gets: Tobias Harris - LA is reportedly looking to shop Harris. Harrell is a solid PF option, and Faried could see minutes there as well. Since Faried matches Harris by himself, we can include Swanigan. Receiving a prospect and a 1st for Harris without taking on long-term salary is probably the best deal they can get. - Harris would give us the starting PF we need as a guy who can shoot extremely well, take guys off the dribble, and isn't a bad defender at that position either. Then: Dallas Gets: Meyers Leonard Maurice Harkless Future 2nds Portland Gets: Wesley Matthews - Dallas gets some depth at the F spot, and Meyers might be a C they're interested in to space the floor for Smith, Doncic, and Barnes. - We get a solid wing who's familiar with the city and expiring as our backup SG. Lillard (35) / McCollum (13) / Simons / Baldwin McCollum (21) / Matthews (23) / Chandler (4) / Trent Harris (30) / Chandler (18) / Layman Aminu (24) / Collins (24) / Arthur Nurkic (28) / Davis (30) / Papagiannis I really like that lineup, it's really deep stacked with two-way players on the bench. We wouldn't use our MLE either, which could make it possible ( to sign buy-out candidates after the trade deadline, which we could hopefully consolidate some of our expiring contracts into a higher-level player. Aminu and Harris are interchangeable forwards, and Aminu could take the best of the two forwards and put Harris on the weaker of the two (and Harris isn't a bad defender). That team is much berrer IMO. Going into the 2019 off-season, we could have Nurk coming of a QO (so his cap hold would be less than $10M), and only have Lillard, McCollum, and rookie contracts on the books.We'd have Collins hopefully ready to step into the starting PF roll. That could mean $30M+ in cap space. If Golden State can't pay Klay, that could be a great target as a kind who grew up here and who could start at SF. We'd have flexibility surrounding a solid core.
It's a cool idea. The TPE's for Denver would be split into different sized ones (one for Chandler's contract amount and one for the difference between the other players outgoing and incoming. The only thing I'll say about your lineup is that Harris is pretty pedestrian when he's played SF in his career and pretty good when he's played PF.
I know this is going to sound dumb because it requires patience but I like the idea of taking on Faried for a 2019 1st. Then wait until closer to the trade deadline and we'd have Aminu and Faried's expiring deals and 2 1st round picks to offer teams for stars.
This is what Olshey was talking about; going to teams that have surplus of wings after the draft. But also going to teams that are going adifferent direction, presumable young teams that would want to get rid of veterans, and Jackson doesn't seem to fit that.
There are maybe two or three wings that fit into our TPE that also fit that description. Literally. I checked. Lol. Courtney Lee, and Terrence Ross/Simmons.
I would love to have a rejuvenated Faried. The guy is an animal on the glass and is good for a highlight dunk or block every night. He'd bring some excitement and toughness off the bench. Maybe even start alongside Harris and Nurk until Collins is ready. I'm tired of Mo and Aminu getting big minutes. They've gone as far as they can with those two.
He’d be an upgrade. Not sure it’s worth the tax though. I watched a lot of magic games this year because of Hezonja. Kind of inconsistent as a shooter but tough nosed and can contribute on both ends.