Trade Confirmed
Washington sends: Monta Ellis
Chicago sends: Joe Johnson
I still think Chicago should have traded Deng instead. I like that Bulls team with Monta alongside JJ and Iggy on the wings. Less so with Deng there and no JJ.
I think Chicago would have been better off dumping Glen Davis and keeping their JJ, Iggy and Deng trio than making this move.
Very good upgrade for Washington. JJ is a really good player and he should fit in reasonably well alongside Tony Parker and Pau Gasol.
Reason as to why Chicago agreed to take cursed Monta is because of Deng and Iggy. They can cover up whatever defensive flaw Ellis has.
JJ and Monta would be like Jennings and Monta, fighting over shots and not having good defense to give back. With Deng and Iggy, Monta can chuck shots, drop 30, and get covered defensively because both are stellar wing defenders.
I think having that (1) extra ball-handler and passer in JJ as well as having (2) a true 2nd shot-creator and (3) quality strong long distance jump-shooter alongside Monta ... was very important to your offense working.
There isn't enough spacing now and there is no plan B when Monta isn't able to generate a quality shot for himself. Teams can back off Deng and Iggy and clog the driving lanes when Monta is on the ball. They can back off of Monta too and dare him into long jumpers. And when that happens neither Deng or Iggy (or Brand or Noah) are strong enough shot-creators to give you a quality second option offensively. The offense will still be one of the weaker ones in the league.
The perimeter defense with Monta, Iggy and Deng is spectacular but Chicago still would have had one of the best perimeter defenses in the league with Monta, JJ and Iggy.
I think you've lost more offensively than you have gained defensively by choosing Deng over JJ.
I disagree.
While they are not shooting well from behind the arc, it's not a good idea to leave Deng and Iggy alone there. Besides, Deng always parks himself in the three point area, so he stretches the defense already, lay back on him and MOnta will find him 1-3 times, and he can hit that shot.
Big Baby has a perimeter game, he can run pick and pops with Monta, opening the floor for him once more to use that Mississippi Bullet speed of his and his ability to finish.
There is enough ability for this team to create floor spacing for Monta. Again, they may not be shooting at an efficient rate, but I dare anyone to leave Iggy and Deng wide open behind the arc. I dare anyone to leave Big Baby wide open 10-17 feet in the perimeter, because they can hit those shots and Monta can find them open.
And with the defense, Deng is way better than JJ.