Three Moves I Would Make This Summer

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

Did you watch the game the other night where they couldn't stop anything at the rim? That's not changing with Love in the lineup. They wouldn't have any money to bring in said defensive big you mention meaning Adams would have to be the guy or getting Love wouldn't matter. Believe it or not, defense does matter in this league. We've seen Love have too many off nights where the shot just isn't falling for him to guarantee them success. Ibaka is no slouch offensively himself and he is 10 times the defender Love will ever be. Keeping Ibaka and getting a guy like Pek would be better for them than getting rid of Ibaka just to get another top 10 player when you wouldn't be able to stop anyone with the top 10 player. The big 3 worked in Miami because they all play good defense. This big three would have no great defenders, 1 good defender and 2 minus defenders (Westbrook surprisingly is not that good of a defender). The offense would work fine, but the other team would be able to live at the rim putting them in the same boat they are in now. The games would just be about 10-20 points higher on both sides. Not to mention the fact that they couldn't afford to pay Westbrook, Love and Durant all max deals at the same time because they'd be capped out with just those 3. That ownership group doesn't want to pay the luxury tax in that market, so I don't see it happening.

Also, if we trade Love, I would love to bottom out and take on Perk and pieces for Pek as long as they gave me the first rounder the year after Durant leaves that team for a better market. Give us unprotected 2015 and 2017 first rounders and that 2017 team would be without Durant and my guess would be Westbrook forces his way out at that point as well.

[WildWolf2813]

1. Yes.

2. NO! I don't want Harrison Barnes anywhere near this team.

3. Pau Gasol is a free agent. Why would we want him anyway?

[Coolbreeze44]

Did you watch the game the other night where they couldn't stop anything at the rim? That's not changing with Love in the lineup. They wouldn't have any money to bring in said defensive big you mention meaning Adams would have to be the guy or getting Love wouldn't matter. Believe it or not, defense does matter in this league. We've seen Love have too many off nights where the shot just isn't falling for him to guarantee them success. Ibaka is no slouch offensively himself and he is 10 times the defender Love will ever be. Keeping Ibaka and getting a guy like Pek would be better for them than getting rid of Ibaka just to get another top 10 player when you wouldn't be able to stop anyone with the top 10 player. The big 3 worked in Miami because they all play good defense. This big three would have no great defenders, 1 good defender and 2 minus defenders (Westbrook surprisingly is not that good of a defender). The offense would work fine, but the other team would be able to live at the rim putting them in the same boat they are in now. The games would just be about 10-20 points higher on both sides. Not to mention the fact that they couldn't afford to pay Westbrook, Love and Durant all max deals at the same time because they'd be capped out with just those 3. That ownership group doesn't want to pay the luxury tax in that market, so I don't see it happening.

Also, if we trade Love, I would love to bottom out and take on Perk and pieces for Pek as long as they gave me the first rounder the year after Durant leaves that team for a better market. Give us unprotected 2015 and 2017 first rounders and that 2017 team would be without Durant and my guess would be Westbrook forces his way out at that point as well.

Any GM with half a brain could build around those three. You're trying too hard in your argument here.

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

They can't afford it. What is hard about that? You think the OKC market can afford to pay at a minimum 10 million for a luxury tax that would keep getting more and more punitive as the years go on while their contracts keep going up thus making them pay even more taxes? This isn't NY or LA. Paying all three of them won't happen because they'd lose the team money every year. This is the second max for all three of them which starts at 20 million a piece. They simply can't afford it now that they each qualify for 30% of the total cap space.

[alexftbl8181 [enjin:6648741]]

why would you want gasol? Hes as cooked as anybody in the league

[Coolbreeze44]

They can't afford it. What is hard about that? You think the OKC market can afford to pay at a minimum 10 million for a luxury tax that would keep getting more and more punitive as the years go on while their contracts keep going up thus making them pay even more taxes? This isn't NY or LA. Paying all three of them won't happen because they'd lose the team money every year. This is the second max for all three of them which starts at 20 million a piece. They simply can't afford it now that they each qualify for 30% of the total cap space.

How much less will Ibaka cost? A few million? So they can afford Ibaka, Westbrook, and Durant, but if you sub Love for Ibaka they can't make it work? OOOOkkkaaayyyyyy.

[ace [enjin:6598567]]

why would you want gasol? Hes as cooked as anybody in the league

Yeah, 17 and 10 is just downright terrible.

[Squishypoo [enjin:6648839]]

Love makes around 14Mil per year and Ibaka is around 12Mil per year...I'm pretty sure they can afford him And with lamb in the deal the money is about the same...Then when big perk comes off the books thats about 8-9 Mill they have to spend on freeagents.. Maybe they buy out perkins...

[TheFuture]

Did you watch the game the other night where they couldn't stop anything at the rim? That's not changing with Love in the lineup. They wouldn't have any money to bring in said defensive big you mention meaning Adams would have to be the guy or getting Love wouldn't matter. Believe it or not, defense does matter in this league. We've seen Love have too many off nights where the shot just isn't falling for him to guarantee them success. Ibaka is no slouch offensively himself and he is 10 times the defender Love will ever be. Keeping Ibaka and getting a guy like Pek would be better for them than getting rid of Ibaka just to get another top 10 player when you wouldn't be able to stop anyone with the top 10 player. The big 3 worked in Miami because they all play good defense. This big three would have no great defenders, 1 good defender and 2 minus defenders (Westbrook surprisingly is not that good of a defender). The offense would work fine, but the other team would be able to live at the rim putting them in the same boat they are in now. The games would just be about 10-20 points higher on both sides. Not to mention the fact that they couldn't afford to pay Westbrook, Love and Durant all max deals at the same time because they'd be capped out with just those 3. That ownership group doesn't want to pay the luxury tax in that market, so I don't see it happening.

Also, if we trade Love, I would love to bottom out and take on Perk and pieces for Pek as long as they gave me the first rounder the year after Durant leaves that team for a better market. Give us unprotected 2015 and 2017 first rounders and that 2017 team would be without Durant and my guess would be Westbrook forces his way out at that point as well.

I'd agree on OKC. What they need to be thinking about is adding pieces around Durant/Westbrook/Ibaka. I believe they made the choice on Ibaka over another top 15/20 player when they got rid of Harden. The few millions is the extra money OKC needs to add a bit more on their bench, and that starts with a backup defensive player for Ibaka.