Melo would look Fab in Atlanta (trade idea)

[Chris]

Maybe its just because I have been reading too many Josh Smith rumors over the last 2 years, or because I am not thrilled with drafting Melo.  But I have a theory that Melo might have only partially been picked for the C's.

Now, I am not saying Danny didn't want Melo.  I don't think he would have picked him if he didn't like him to some degree.  But I also wonder whether there was more to it. 

Atlanta has been talking about pairing Horford with a true center for a long time.  They also followed up the Melo pick by the C's by what I would call a panic pick with Jenkins. 

So my theory is that Atlanta really wanted Melo, and thought he was falling in their laps.  So, Danny, with eyes on Smith, swooped him up right before them.

This is all part of the plan to put together a package next week for Josh Smith, using Melo and either cap space or sign and trades.  Along with perhaps a future first.

Danny's hands were tied on draft night to trade for Smith, however after Sunday, the binds come off, and he can make a real run at him.  And I hope Melo will be part of it.

[jdub1660]

TP

while I disagree Jenkins was a panic pick
I agree Danny could've picked Melo and of Sulinger as trade bait for JSmith
An ideal trade that I would LOVE to see
Smith and Jenkins to Bos
Bass,Bradley, Melo, and JJJ or Sully to ATL

Maybe we have to get a 3rd team involved to take Ray
Memphis takes Ray and pick, Bos gets Mayo
Clippers take Ray, s/t Young to Bos, Foye to Atl

[Boris Badenov]

I had the same thought - that this was a pick for someone else - but I hadn't connected it to the Smith rumors. Interesting idea.

It makes sense, except that I can't for the life of me think about what package we send to Atlanta. Bass is part of it, clearly. I guess a 2013 first would help.

I just don't know why Atlanta bites on that. They can't get more for Smith?

[henr1k]

I wouldn't mind Melo and Bass S&T for Smith. But no future picks or Bradley/Sullinger.

Atlanta doesn't have leverage with Smith, he has only 1 year left on his contract - no team will give up valuable assets unless he is willing to sign an extension.

If that trade happens it would basically mean that C's traded Big Baby + Perkins for Smith. Not a bad return after all.

[celtsfan84]

I wouldn't mind Melo and Bass S&T for Smith. But no future picks or Bradley/Sullinger.

Atlanta doesn't have leverage with Smith, he has only 1 year left on his contract - no team will give up valuable assets unless he is willing to sign an extension.

If that trade happens it would basically mean that C's traded Big Baby + Perkins for Smith. Not a bad return after all.

Atlanta can get a better offer than that, regardless of any leverage Smith might have.  Might even be able to sign and trade Smith at the end of this coming year.  We'd need to add picks or other players.

Would be hard to develop JaJuan, Sullinger, our 2013 1st, Charlotte's 2013 2nd, E'Twuan etc... all at the same time anyway with Rondo, Bradley, Pierce and Smith taking up minutes (and hopefully KG for another season or two).  And if we are taking a run with KG, Pierce, Smith, Rondo, and Bradley, they'd want more vets to stabilize the bottom of the roster. Giving up one or more of those young assets that we don't have time to develop wouldn't be a crime.

[henr1k]

I wouldn't mind Melo and Bass S&T for Smith. But no future picks or Bradley/Sullinger.

Atlanta doesn't have leverage with Smith, he has only 1 year left on his contract - no team will give up valuable assets unless he is willing to sign an extension.

If that trade happens it would basically mean that C's traded Big Baby + Perkins for Smith. Not a bad return after all.

Atlanta can get a better offer than that, regardless of any leverage Smith might have.  Might even be able to sign and trade Smith at the end of this coming year.  We'd need to add picks or other players.

Would be hard to develop JaJuan, Sullinger, our 2013 1st, Charlotte's 2013 2nd, E'Twuan etc... all at the same time anyway with Rondo, Bradley, Pierce and Smith taking up minutes (and hopefully KG for another season or two).  And if we are taking a run with KG, Pierce, Smith, Rondo, and Bradley, they'd want more vets to stabilize the bottom of the roster. Giving up one or more of those young assets that we don't have time to develop wouldn't be a crime.

I have no problem including JJJ or Moore in the trade, but I wouldn't include Bradley, Sully or future pick.

As you mentioned, with Smith and Sully at 4, there would be no minutes available for JJJ. I still think JJJ has a place in the league but not sure Boston is a good fit.

[Eddie20]

I thought about the same thing, but Melo's upside is too intriguing. I would much rather sign and trade both Bass and Steimsma, along with Johnson and probably a future pick or two in order to get Smith. Perhaps we would need a 3rd team to get involved to do so.

Something like


Boston

Smith

Atlanta

Bass
Steimsma
Boston's 1st Rd Pick 2013 (top 20 protected)
Charlotte's 2nd Rd Pick
2nd rd pick from team 3rd team

3rd Team

Johnson


Then we use the MLE to sign Kaman. A 3-4 man big rotation of KG, Kaman, Smith, and Sullinger gives us a ton of versatility and talent. Plus, you always have Green who can slide to the 4 at times.

[celtsfan84]

I wouldn't mind Melo and Bass S&T for Smith. But no future picks or Bradley/Sullinger.

Atlanta doesn't have leverage with Smith, he has only 1 year left on his contract - no team will give up valuable assets unless he is willing to sign an extension.

If that trade happens it would basically mean that C's traded Big Baby + Perkins for Smith. Not a bad return after all.

Atlanta can get a better offer than that, regardless of any leverage Smith might have.  Might even be able to sign and trade Smith at the end of this coming year.  We'd need to add picks or other players.

Would be hard to develop JaJuan, Sullinger, our 2013 1st, Charlotte's 2013 2nd, E'Twuan etc... all at the same time anyway with Rondo, Bradley, Pierce and Smith taking up minutes (and hopefully KG for another season or two).  And if we are taking a run with KG, Pierce, Smith, Rondo, and Bradley, they'd want more vets to stabilize the bottom of the roster. Giving up one or more of those young assets that we don't have time to develop wouldn't be a crime.

I have no problem including JJJ or Moore in the trade, but I wouldn't include Bradley, Sully or future pick.

As you mentioned, with Smith and Sully at 4, there would be no minutes available for JJJ. I still think JJJ has a place in the league but not sure Boston is a good fit.

Why no future picks?

We'd have Rondo at the 1 for the long-term.
Bradley at the 2 for the long-term.
Someone like OJ Mayo or E'Twaun Moore as a backup guard.
Pierce at the 3 for the short term and Jeff Green or Pietrus backing him up. A future 3 can easily be found in free agency.
Smith and Sullinger at the 4.
KG temporarily at the 5. Stiemsma or Wilcox to back him up. And our draft picks will be way too late to get a capable 5.

And we have a first next year and Charlotte's 2nd next year (practically a first).  This is a pretty full roster and doesn't assume all that much.

I'd do Bass, Melo, JaJuan, 2013 1st in a heartbeat. Atlanta probably wouldn't.

[KGs Knee]

I'm guessing our picks were made with the full intention on keeping them.  Not sure either will have much trade value any time soon.

Sullinger carries far too much risk due to his questionable health, and Melo due to his questionable talent.  Melo is more likely to be in the D-League than a NBA rotation.  Melo is a project.

As far as what it will take to get Smith in a trade, I'm going to assume it will take more than we have to offer.  Maybe it was just due to the draft, but there were an awful lot of rumors involving Smith over the last few days, of which some fairly substantial assets were being rumored to be involved.  I'm beginning to think there is going to be a team out there willing to take a flier on Smith even without an extension agreement in place.

[Fafnir]

I think Danny will make that call, but I don't know if we have the pieces to get Smith. Melo isn't a bad piece to be able to offer certainly, nor is he a bad prospect for the C's future.