NBA offseason moves

[Monster]

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/sources--top-euroleague-point-guard-planning-return-to-nba-185921854.html

I've always liked him to a certain extent he can play and if he is better than he was years ago then of course teams are interested. I wonder what his price tag will be.

[Volans19]

Big trade alert!

Portland receives Noah Vonleh and Gerald Henderson
Charlotte receives Nic Batum

[worldK]

Big trade alert!

Portland receives Noah Vonleh and Gerald Henderson
Charlotte receives Nic Batum

Big move by both teams. Charlotte also gets lamb from okc for barnes. There are also reports that they are looking to trade cody zeller for a wing and they might draft a big in the draft.

I say we call and offer martin for zeller.

[Volans19]

Man this is an interesting trade in so many different ways.

- For Portland this could mean several different things. The first and most obvious of which is what does this mean for LMA? Do the Blazers view Vonleh as potential replacement for him in case he leaves or simply as a backup big? This could be the first of many moves by the Blazers if they feel that they won't be able to retain LMA or Matthews. Still trying to gather my thoughts about what this could mean for the Blazers but I know how I feel about it for the Hornets

- The Hornets acquiring Batum is a bit of a head scratcher for me. I mean isn't he just a better 3 point shooting version of MKG? It's not like Henderson was a great fit next to MKG either but yeesh, you'd think they'd learn to put a shooter in that lineup. The acquisition of Lamb makes things a little easier to understand since he has a reputation as a shooter (even though he barely ever plays) so they could mix and match with Lamb coming off the bench.

- The Hornets wasted their pick on Vonleh. Looking back on the 2014 draft Vonleh was really the BPA at #8 but he never really fit on the roster with Zeller/Biz/ and they were hoping to get McBob back but still they could have/ should have used that asset better. Now they are reportedly looking to move Zeller as well and they could very well select another PF for the 3rd time in as many years. That is Wolves level bad.

- To put the cherry on top Batum is in the last year of his contract. In case you need to be reminded next year the cap spikes. This presents a number of concerns for the Hornets if they are indeed sold on Batum as a member of their squad. 1. Teams will have the cap space to poach talent like Batum. 2. This will create bidding wars across the league for solid players like Batum likely resulting in the Hornets overpaying. AND 3. Overpaying Batum will limit the other moves they can make (they'll also have Big Al entering FA next year)

- Now if you don't believe in Vonleh (I want to believe but I understand why people don't) getting Batum for him is a steal because Batum is miles better than Hendo. Batum can defend four positions which is extremely valuable in today's NBA and he is a viable 3 point threat. There are still injury concerns with Kemba, Batum, and MKG but it looks like the Hornets are loading up to make a run for the playoffs so this should help them in the short term even if it ends up looking bad in the long term (Vonleh realizing his potential)

- Let me come back to the Blazers for a second. Now if they aren't able to resign LMA, Matthews, or RoLo then why not try to acquire young talent? Focus on Lillard and build around him, if they believe in Vonleh and think that the will be their PF of the future than I have no problem with it. However if they are able to resign LMA than I don't get it. Selling off Batum for a developing player and a mediocore player like Henderson doesn't make sense, especially in the Western Conference. I think that this trade signifies the latter.

Grades

Blazers - INCOMPLETE (Gun to my head- D)
Hornets - C-

[worldK]

Man this is an interesting trade in so many different ways.

- For Portland this could mean several different things. The first and most obvious of which is what does this mean for LMA? Do the Blazers view Vonleh as potential replacement for him in case he leaves or simply as a backup big? This could be the first of many moves by the Blazers if they feel that they won't be able to retain LMA or Matthews. Still trying to gather my thoughts about what this could mean for the Blazers but I know how I feel about it for the Hornets

- The Hornets acquiring Batum is a bit of a head scratcher for me. I mean isn't he just a better 3 point shooting version of MKG? It's not like Henderson was a great fit next to MKG either but yeesh, you'd think they'd learn to put a shooter in that lineup. The acquisition of Lamb makes things a little easier to understand since he has a reputation as a shooter (even though he barely ever plays) so they could mix and match with Lamb coming off the bench.

- The Hornets wasted their pick on Vonleh. Looking back on the 2014 draft Vonleh was really the BPA at #8 but he never really fit on the roster with Zeller/Biz/ and they were hoping to get McBob back but still they could have/ should have used that asset better. Now they are reportedly looking to move Zeller as well and they could very well select another PF for the 3rd time in as many years. That is Wolves level bad.

- To put the cherry on top Batum is in the last year of his contract. In case you need to be reminded next year the cap spikes. This presents a number of concerns for the Hornets if they are indeed sold on Batum as a member of their squad. 1. Teams will have the cap space to poach talent like Batum. 2. This will create bidding wars across the league for solid players like Batum likely resulting in the Hornets overpaying. AND 3. Overpaying Batum will limit the other moves they can make (they'll also have Big Al entering FA next year)

- Now if you don't believe in Vonleh (I want to believe but I understand why people don't) getting Batum for him is a steal because Batum is miles better than Hendo. Batum can defend four positions which is extremely valuable in today's NBA and he is a viable 3 point threat. There are still injury concerns with Kemba, Batum, and MKG but it looks like the Hornets are loading up to make a run for the playoffs so this should help them in the short term even if it ends up looking bad in the long term (Vonleh realizing his potential)

- Let me come back to the Blazers for a second. Now if they aren't able to resign LMA, Matthews, or RoLo then why not try to acquire young talent? Focus on Lillard and build around him, if they believe in Vonleh and think that the will be their PF of the future than I have no problem with it. However if they are able to resign LMA than I don't get it. Selling off Batum for a developing player and a mediocore player like Henderson doesn't make sense, especially in the Western Conference. I think that this trade signifies the latter.

Grades

Blazers - INCOMPLETE (Gun to my head- D)
Hornets - C-

Pretty good breakdown. Batum could play the 4 in small ball lineups with mkg at the 3 and big al at the 5 or they could go big with a wing rotation of batum/mkg.

I want cody zeller for the wolves. Martin for zeller.

Towns/zeller/wiggins/rubio/lavine as the core future. Thats going to be fun to watch and root for.

[TRKO [enjin:12664595]]

Man this is an interesting trade in so many different ways.

- For Portland this could mean several different things. The first and most obvious of which is what does this mean for LMA? Do the Blazers view Vonleh as potential replacement for him in case he leaves or simply as a backup big? This could be the first of many moves by the Blazers if they feel that they won't be able to retain LMA or Matthews. Still trying to gather my thoughts about what this could mean for the Blazers but I know how I feel about it for the Hornets

- The Hornets acquiring Batum is a bit of a head scratcher for me. I mean isn't he just a better 3 point shooting version of MKG? It's not like Henderson was a great fit next to MKG either but yeesh, you'd think they'd learn to put a shooter in that lineup. The acquisition of Lamb makes things a little easier to understand since he has a reputation as a shooter (even though he barely ever plays) so they could mix and match with Lamb coming off the bench.

- The Hornets wasted their pick on Vonleh. Looking back on the 2014 draft Vonleh was really the BPA at #8 but he never really fit on the roster with Zeller/Biz/ and they were hoping to get McBob back but still they could have/ should have used that asset better. Now they are reportedly looking to move Zeller as well and they could very well select another PF for the 3rd time in as many years. That is Wolves level bad.

- To put the cherry on top Batum is in the last year of his contract. In case you need to be reminded next year the cap spikes. This presents a number of concerns for the Hornets if they are indeed sold on Batum as a member of their squad. 1. Teams will have the cap space to poach talent like Batum. 2. This will create bidding wars across the league for solid players like Batum likely resulting in the Hornets overpaying. AND 3. Overpaying Batum will limit the other moves they can make (they'll also have Big Al entering FA next year)

- Now if you don't believe in Vonleh (I want to believe but I understand why people don't) getting Batum for him is a steal because Batum is miles better than Hendo. Batum can defend four positions which is extremely valuable in today's NBA and he is a viable 3 point threat. There are still injury concerns with Kemba, Batum, and MKG but it looks like the Hornets are loading up to make a run for the playoffs so this should help them in the short term even if it ends up looking bad in the long term (Vonleh realizing his potential)

- Let me come back to the Blazers for a second. Now if they aren't able to resign LMA, Matthews, or RoLo then why not try to acquire young talent? Focus on Lillard and build around him, if they believe in Vonleh and think that the will be their PF of the future than I have no problem with it. However if they are able to resign LMA than I don't get it. Selling off Batum for a developing player and a mediocore player like Henderson doesn't make sense, especially in the Western Conference. I think that this trade signifies the latter.

Grades

Blazers - INCOMPLETE (Gun to my head- D)
Hornets - C-

Awesome write up. Really enjoyed reading it.

[Coolbreeze44]

Good stuff Volans. Interesting that from your standpoint, both teams became worse.

[Volans19]

Good stuff Volans. Interesting that from your standpoint, both teams became worse.

The Hornets got better no doubt. I just don't like the roster fit and am not a fan of the way the Hornets waster their assets.

[zigzag22 [enjin:6591633]]

If Sacramento actually pulls the trigger on Boogie, you could argue they make the Wolves inept front office over the last decade look like the San Antonio Spurs. That franchise isn't just the worst in the NBA, it is probably the worst in North American sports.

[worldK]

I maybe in the minority here but if the lakers are willing to give up the #2 pick and randle then the kings should pull the trigger as soon as possible.

I know okafor/randle are unproven in the league but cousins is such a headcase and his tenure in sacramento has been controversial. It has actually put the franchise in bad light with the number of coaches fired during cousins time. The instability with the players, coaches, management in conflict with each other. Okafor is not a bad consolation price at all.