Grade our trade deadline moves

[Lipoli390]

As a letter grade I'd give the string of deals (Mo, Payne and Kg deals) a C. The only deal that might make the team better over the long haul is the Payne deal. But giving up a 1st round pick was too steep a price to pay for a questionmark like Payne.

As for giving up a first round pick, consider the role of future first round picks in the best deals of the day. To get Dragic, Miami gave up three lackluster players and 2 first round picks. Those picks were obviously key to making the deal. The Thunder made a great deal getting Kanter and Novak while getting rid of Perkins. Obviously Reggie Jackson was the core asset given up by the Thunder. But note that the Thunder also gave up a protected first that will likely be in the 25-30 range. So that pick was obviously part of what the Thunder gave up to make the deal happen.

Yes, protected first round picks have substantial value as trade assets. Note that in both of these examples, the teams that surrendered those picks got top-notch, proven young veteran talent in return. That's how you use first round picks in the NBA trade market. What a contrast to what Flip did dealing for Payne.

Regarding the KG deal, I'm not so opposed to getting KG. I just can't believe we couldn't get a better long term return in exchange for Thad. If Miami could get Dragic for Granger and Hamilton, you'd think we could have gotten better than KG for Thad.

But Pat Riley and Sam Presti are real pros as basketball execs. By contrast Flip looks like an amateur.
He gets a C rather than a D because I do have some hope for Payne based on my remaining faith in Flip's ability to accurately asses young talent.

[WildWolf2813]

It's amazing that lip is down on everything even though he likes Flip yet I like the KG acquisition even though I think Flip sucks at his job

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

It's amazing that lip is down on everything even though he likes Flip yet I like the KG acquisition even though I think Flip sucks at his job

Yes, this deal has made for some strange bedfellows.

[Lipoli390]

It's amazing that lip is down on everything even though he likes Flip yet I like the KG acquisition even though I think Flip sucks at his job

Lol. It's cosmic!

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

I would put money on KG having a no trade clause if he re-signs with us. He didn't accept a deal here to be a future trade piece. He's going to finish his career here and then become a minority owner.

[mjs34]

I don't see the problem. We dumped a PF scheduled to make 10 mil next season who has a TS% of 49 for the year, and can't manage to grab more than 5 rebs a game, while playing lousy D for a guy that was the cornerstone of a great defense playing under one of the best defensive coaches in the league, and still pulls down more boards in 20 minutes than Thad does in over 30. Why does anyone think Thad had any value based on those numbers? Philly had been trying to trade him for a year before Flip screwed the pooch and gave up that first for him.

At the very least KG should be able to significantly upgrade our D based on his knowledge alone. I would call this a solid B and look at it as addition by subtraction.

[AbeVigodaLive]

I don't know.

And that's the problem. I don't know where this team is going. Or, what it's trying to do. Or, even what kind of team it wants to be. It still doesn't have an identity. It still doesn't seem to have a plan beyond "waiting for Wiggins to be great."

But much of this regime has already shown us that it doesn't have the creativity to create a legit championship level team around one of the best players in the league.

Maybe they're just waiting to get lucky in the draft. After all, the recent deals definitely make the team worse this season. And that helps its lottery chances.

[Tactical unit]

bleed,

With all due respect. What you are suggesting, 2yr 24m extension for kg with 1m buyout in year 2 that will make him a trade chip could get us into big trouble! Not only cap wise (12m for kg!) but EVERYONE knows kg will be part owner soon and if he ever decides to trade himself to better the team that he is or will be owning that would result in legal and ethical issues that will warrant us punishment/suspension if we ever tried it or just further makes us a laughing stock of the league for even thinking about it! come on now..

Lets go PATS! LOL (if you ain't cheating you ain't trying hard enough)

[bleedspeed]

NBA loves drama. This trade and the trade of Love has created so much buzz in the league that the NBA will honor its commitment and give us the 1st pick in the draft. THANK YOU!

[bleedspeed]

bleed,

With all due respect. What you are suggesting, 2yr 24m extension for kg with 1m buyout in year 2 that will make him a trade chip could get us into big trouble! Not only cap wise (12m for kg!) but EVERYONE knows kg will be part owner soon and if he ever decides to trade himself to better the team that he is or will be owning that would result in legal and ethical issues that will warrant us punishment/suspension if we ever tried it or just further makes us a laughing stock of the league for even thinking about it! come on now..

Lets go PATS! LOL (if you ain't cheating you ain't trying hard enough)

I don't know why more teams don't do contracts like this. The Mavericks have in the past, but they really make sense for the team and if you don't plan on offering max years it is foolish not to. Honestly smaller contracts would work better then a big one like KG's, but it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world to have this option available.