Big O wrote:I don't recall how previous deals affect our pick but given that I expect (ok hope) the wolves to make a run the rest of the season our pick could be in the 7-10 range. I'd trade the pick for Russell.
I would certainly trade a 7-10 pick for Russell. I think if he would have goen back this year he would have been drafted 3rd ahead of Dunn.
Nash trade didn't work out to hot. Either did Howard trade. If he doesn't have a winner next year with the cap space and Kobe gone I think he is gone. I would guess he would want Rubio or LaVine for him. I would let them have Rubio and take my chances with Russell.
The Lakers will be around $18M in terms of salary should they trade Russell without taking anything significant back other than picks. They're not going to do a salary dump of Russell, they're looking for tradable assets or quality veterans to put on the floor next year with a couple more max level players. I would assume that they're not really looking for picks in return as Russell himself should be equally valuable in a trade. If correct then they're looking for Vets, so any talking they do with the Wolves would have to revolve around Rubio IMO. A trade of Russell for Rubio puts them around $26M in salary, leaving around $80M for free agents and their own very high draft pick this summer. Of course they would have to send another player along for the ride to make salaries match so in reality they'd be closer to $20M committed for 2017.
There has been plenty of Durant to LA talk, get Rubio in place along with another max player, a top draft pick and filler and the Lakers could be back in contention overnight.
From the Lakers perspective this makes some sense, assuming they're very low on the Porkchop scale. For the Wolves the question revolves around Russell athleticism, can he not be a negative on the defensive end or can the team put players around him to offset that weakness. Interesting ideas, unlikely to happen.
I wasn't very clear earlier when I made my post regarding the pick. First I was responding to Bleed who said he wouldn't give up the pick and second I was assuming the trade would go down now when the pick would project to be top 4. Would the lakers roll the dice? I'm 50% Porkchop and not ready to give up on Rubio for Russell.
I think Rubio is better now, but we are building for 2-3 years from now. I think Russell will be at least as good a CJ Mccollum at that point. I would take CJ Mccollum over Rubion this team since Rubio has not proven to be a difference maker on defense. (make a bad team good, even if he is a good defender at his position)
