...To trade a guy like Plum. You don't move any of the guys who have trade value but have not been doing jack shit. Instead you move the guy who has been all over the place, running the break at times, setting most of the screens. One of two things is true. Either Plumlee looked much better in this system than he really is, and bringing back Nurkic won't be a huge difference outside of each players fundamental basketball skill differences (IE Ball handling, rebounding, screening). Or we just traded our third best player away and our record for the rest of the season will reflect it. So agree or disagree with the move by NO. You don't make this kind of move unless you've got balls of steel. This is the kind of trade that could blow up in your face and cost you your job. Or show the GM you are and elevate you to that higher plateau.
At the least it should result in a better lottery pick for us (or for someone else). No way will they integrate him well into the offense within two months. I continue to think another trade coming.
I respect it, because I didn't think Olshey would let Plumlee go in free agency, nevermind trade him mid season.
Maybe he didn't trade the guys who "haven't done jack shit" because they don't actually have trade value?
we have 3 first round picks in a loaded draft. That's all I'm thinking about. Fuck this season. Either consolidate those liquid assets in a trade or go full rebuild. I dig the pick more than Nurkic- and I really like Nurk
How does it take Cojones? we had no friggin choice with the payday he has coming up and our salary cap situation. Now Neil (and maybe PA) deserve blame for putting us in the stupid situation with the awful summer signings, but this trade had to be done and was a no brainer and took no balls at all
Mase was not the only player outside of Dame and CJ who is trade able. He could have moved Aminu and Davis contracts, to find someone willing to take Meyers' contract, and then resign Mase with the opened space. So I don't think his hands were tied, I think Mase just wasn't seen as a necessary piece of the puzzle moving forward. They realize we need a defensive presence if we are going to have success.
I think so too, but have no idea when it would take place. It could even be an offseason thing with all draft picks we have now. I wonder if NO is gearing up to be the guy who cleans shop when LAC implodes. He will have the picks and players to trade for someone like Deandre Jordan, whom you wouldn't expect to have a big role on a rebuilding team. DJ fits well on a contender but the things he does would be wasted on a team without talent built around him. Hardly reason for LAC to keep DJ if/when they lose Griffin, and CP3. Which should happen this summer unless the Clippers have a miracle playoff run.
It's very possible Plums signs for $18 mil per year, which would be about a $36 mil lux payment. When combined with our projected $35 mil payment means an extra $71 mil. I don't think it was that hard a decision.
This trade tells me that Neil tried to trade Leonard and possibly Crabbe and was unsuccessful. He would have been caught with his pants down at the end of the season when we couldn't pay Plums and he walked away for nothing. Olshey did what he had to do to save his ass, and the only thing that made sense. I don't peg Okay as a guy with a brass set of balls. I peg him as a guy who doesn't give a shit. He's a guy that doesn't get attached to players. All he sees is the numbers.
I think this is strong evidence that those of us who said Allen would NOT be willing to go deep into the luxury tax to retain Plumlee on a losing team were correct.
