Trade Idea with Rockets - Makes C's Contenders This Year and Next

[theham]

Ray Ray, JO, a first rounder and filler (Daniels, Pavlovic) for Kevin Martin, Dalembert and T Williams.

First of all, I think the Rockets would do this in a second. They could flip Ray to a contender for a draft pick and/or youngster and an expiring (like the deal Simmons proposed - Ray to the Clips for Foye, Bledsoe and a pick). With Martin off the books, next year they'd have enough space for TWO max free agents  - they could sign DWIll (he's from Texas) and Dwight, then deal Lowry for a swing man (say Granger) or Lowry and Scola for Pau. Plus they'd have two extra first rounders and other young guys (Bledsoe, Morris, Patterson, Budinger, Parsons, Hill). Instant contender.

It's great for the C's, too. Kevin Martin does a lot of the things Ray Ray does, but he's better off the dribble and in the paint, is on the books for next year and is young enough that he could be a rebuilding piece moving forward. Plus, I believe he's fallen out of favor to some extent in Houston.  Dalembert is also on the books for next year (a very reasonable $6.7 mil team option) and is obviously a huge upgrade over JO. And Williams provides OK depth at the swing.

Their squad this year would be:

PG: Rondo, Dooling, Bradley
SG: Martin, Pietrus
SF: Pierce, Williams
PF: KG, Bass, JaJuan
C: Sam, Wilcox

If everything comes together just right, that team could contend this year.

I really like this deal for next year, too. The C's could re-sign KG (say a one-year deal for $8 mil) and BB (4 years for $25 mil), sign Jeff Green to a one-year deal, assuming he's cleared to play (say 1-year for $6 mil - they can offer more than the mid level and apparently he and his agent were thrilled with the way the C's handled his health situation), maybe bring back Pietrus or someone else who can play good D and stretch the floor (Courtney Lee?), add a back-up point guard (Dooling?) and back-up big man (Wilcox/Jeff Foster?) and draft the best player available with their remaining pick. That team looks like this:

PG: Rondo, Bradley, Dooling
SG: Martin, Lee/Pietrus
SF: PP, Green
PF: KG, Bass, JaJuan
C: Dalembert, Foster/Wilcox

(Plus the pick)

That team is pretty [dang] stacked and could easily contend.  And it wouldn't cost ownership any more money than this year's team. Plus, they would have few long term commitments and could rebuild again if they needed to as Paul and Rondo's deals run out after 13/14.

Thoughts?

[BostonArizona]

I actually like this trade in terms of value and fit...but Im just not high on Kevin Martin.

[kg is king]

Houston would reject this trade in a heart beat. Why give up two young pieces for two old men on the brink of retirement? Nobody in the league wants our old bodies.

Keep the core, ride it out, let KG and Ray expire, then rebuild.

[LooseCannon]

Houston would reject this trade in a heart beat. Why give up two young pieces for two old men on the brink of retirement? Nobody in the league wants our old bodies.

I actually think that Daryl Morey would not mind clearing his cap space in Houston and making a run at a good free agent.  So, I think he might come up with a counter-proposal that lets him dump the contract of Luis Scola.

It would be totally unshocking to me if Ainge offered Allen, O'Neal, and a first-round pick for Scola and Martin before the season after the Chris Paul trade fell through, then balked when Houston asked for Avery Bradley to be thrown in.