Detroit-Orlando deal in the works

[Smartacus]

Think Orlando's motivation was to get a more seasoned veteran at the point. A lot of people on these boards have questioned Elfrid Payton vs Smart but if they resign Jennings that could be an indication that they're not comfortable with Payton running their sets.

Interesting that Illyasova was a Skiles guy too. Used to be a poor man's Kevin Love on those Bucks teams. Bet this marks the end of Channing Frye in Orlando. This begs the question.... Do we want Oladipo? http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/240810/Magic-Willing-To-Discuss-Trade-Of-Victor-Oladipo-Tobias-Harris

I don't think I've thought about him in Boston for more then 5 minutes these past couple of months. Stevens does seem to like guys with Indiana ties though. Is he better than AB? Not right now but he could be? Smart Dipo would be a nightmare to score on.

[chilidawg]

Looking back to last summer, I remember it sounded like Orlando wasn't that high on re-signing Harris to begin with, but letting a RFA walk away for nothing when you don't have a better use for the cap space is asinine.

Orlando ultimately didn't get much for Harris, but signing him to a big money deal didn't end up being a bad decision for them.  They got some value for him.  Looking at it that way, this deal makes some more sense.  They never wanted to keep him long term.

This is exactly why the Thunder re-signed Kanter, fwiw. Just pointing that out for the remaining few out there who, inexplicably, still don't understand that the only logical thing the Thunder could have done last summer was match Portland's offer sheet for Kanter.

I dunno with Kanter, though, I mean, is anybody going to trade for that contract?  Seems a little different than the Harris situation.  You can envision Harris starting for a good team some day.  Kanter ... I just don't know how that could work.  He's so bad defensively, and that's not news.

It's not different at all. If OKC let him walk, they would have had no way of replacing him as they were well over the cap. Letting him walk would have quite literally been OKC making the conscious decision to downgrade the talent going into KD's free agency year.

As bad as he is defensively, he's still a really good offensive player and rebounder (which is why he's one of the league leaders in PER). See: https://www.numberfire.com/nba/news/7400/enes-kanter-is-an-advanced-stat-anomaly

Also, read this for good measure: http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on-basketball/25458590/no-really-the-thunders-title-chances-may-rest-on-enes-kanter

Andrea Bargnani was traded two years ago for a first rounder. Kanter - who actually rates as a better defender than Bargnani even this season - is just 23 years old and has made tangible improvements on defense. His contract is only untradeable if you're buying way too much into the anti-Kanter talk from the summer. He's still an asset and a prospect.

Off topic, I know, but last year Kanter had the worst DRPM of any center, just behind Bargnani.  This year he's next to last, just ahead of Bargnani. I guess you could see that as a sign as progressing, I see it as two straight years confirming he's really bad defensively.

[jbpats]

Wow, Otown gave up a player with an extremely bright future for pennies on the dollar. In the right system I strongly feel Harris has potential to be an all star.

For a price this low it's a shame the C's didn't take a chance..

[Endless Paradise]

Looking back to last summer, I remember it sounded like Orlando wasn't that high on re-signing Harris to begin with, but letting a RFA walk away for nothing when you don't have a better use for the cap space is asinine.

Orlando ultimately didn't get much for Harris, but signing him to a big money deal didn't end up being a bad decision for them.  They got some value for him.  Looking at it that way, this deal makes some more sense.  They never wanted to keep him long term.

This is exactly why the Thunder re-signed Kanter, fwiw. Just pointing that out for the remaining few out there who, inexplicably, still don't understand that the only logical thing the Thunder could have done last summer was match Portland's offer sheet for Kanter.

I dunno with Kanter, though, I mean, is anybody going to trade for that contract?  Seems a little different than the Harris situation.  You can envision Harris starting for a good team some day.  Kanter ... I just don't know how that could work.  He's so bad defensively, and that's not news.

It's not different at all. If OKC let him walk, they would have had no way of replacing him as they were well over the cap. Letting him walk would have quite literally been OKC making the conscious decision to downgrade the talent going into KD's free agency year.

As bad as he is defensively, he's still a really good offensive player and rebounder (which is why he's one of the league leaders in PER). See: https://www.numberfire.com/nba/news/7400/enes-kanter-is-an-advanced-stat-anomaly

Also, read this for good measure: http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on-basketball/25458590/no-really-the-thunders-title-chances-may-rest-on-enes-kanter

Andrea Bargnani was traded two years ago for a first rounder. Kanter - who actually rates as a better defender than Bargnani even this season - is just 23 years old and has made tangible improvements on defense. His contract is only untradeable if you're buying way too much into the anti-Kanter talk from the summer. He's still an asset and a prospect.

Off topic, I know, but last year Kanter had the worst DRPM of any center, just behind Bargnani.  This year he's next to last, just ahead of Bargnani. I guess you could see that as a sign as progressing, I see it as two straight years confirming he's really bad defensively.

There's other methods of measuring defense.

[saltlover]

Upon further reflection, I bet Teague winds up on the Magic.  Jennings and Teague have a near identical salary.  Jennings would be an expiring backup vet for the rest of the Hawks' season as they hand the keys over to Schroder.  I bet Jennings and a pick go to Orlando.

[D Dub]

Upon further reflection, I bet Teague winds up on the Magic.  Jennings and Teague have a near identical salary.  Jennings would be an expiring backup vet for the rest of the Hawks' season as they hand the keys over to Schroder.  I bet Jennings and a pick go to Orlando.

good point, TP. 

explains why Orlando didn't negotiate down to the deadline. 

[TheFlex]

Watch out for Detroit. At least two of ATL's core players each have one foot out the door (Teague and Horford), + Splitter just went down for the year. Chicago was struggling big time before the break, including season ending injuries to J. Noah and Mirotic. Same goes for Miami with Tyler Johnson out until the playoffs, Wade & Dragic getting banged up (a handful of DNPs over the last 20 games + playing hurt in a handful more), and now Bosh perhaps being forced to retire.

Detroit just needed to tread water before the break with KCP going down for a handful of games and Reggie Jackson playing hurt. It appears, as expected, as if KCP will return immediately after the break, while Jackson surely recuperated during the off time. With those two healthy and energized in combination with ATL/CHI/MIA's aforementioned struggles, Detroit would have been a threat moving forward without any trade deadline acquisitions. Adding a player with the offensive skills and the physical versatility of Harris in place of the largely injured Jennings and the painfully streaky Ilyasova could be a game-changer for them and this year's Eastern Conference playoff picture.

[crimson_stallion]

Think Orlando's motivation was to get a more seasoned veteran at the point. A lot of people on these boards have questioned Elfrid Payton vs Smart but if they resign Jennings that could be an indication that they're not comfortable with Payton running their sets.

Interesting that Illyasova was a Skiles guy too. Used to be a poor man's Kevin Love on those Bucks teams. Bet this marks the end of Channing Frye in Orlando. This begs the question.... Do we want Oladipo? http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/240810/Magic-Willing-To-Discuss-Trade-Of-Victor-Oladipo-Tobias-Harris

I don't think I've thought about him in Boston for more then 5 minutes these past couple of months. Stevens does seem to like guys with Indiana ties though. Is he better than AB? Not right now but he could be? Smart Dipo would be a nightmare to score on.

At the start of last year it might have made sense going after Oladipo. 

Back then Smart was an unknown quantity, Rondo had no outside shot, and Bradley's pasing/dribbling was still very limited.  Having a guy who could score, defend, hit threes and pass/handle the ball decently would have been nice.

Now that we have Thomas, Marcus is emerging, Bradley has started improving his passing/handle to near respectable levels, and with Rozier/Young/RJ as wildcards...Oladipo just seems completely redundant.

[crimson_stallion]

Watch out for Detroit. At least two of ATL's core players each have one foot out the door (Teague and Horford), + Splitter just went down for the year. Chicago was struggling big time before the break, including season ending injuries to J. Noah and Mirotic. Same goes for Miami with Tyler Johnson out until the playoffs, Wade & Dragic getting banged up (a handful of DNPs over the last 20 games + playing hurt in a handful more), and now Bosh perhaps being forced to retire.

Detroit just needed to tread water before the break with KCP going down for a handful of games and Reggie Jackson playing hurt. It appears, as expected, as if KCP will return immediately after the break, while Jackson surely recuperated during the off time. With those two healthy and energized in combination with ATL/CHI/MIA's aforementioned struggles, Detroit would have been a threat moving forward without any trade deadline acquisitions. Adding a player with the offensive skills and the physical versatility of Harris in place of the largely injured Jennings and the painfully streaky Ilyasova could be a game-changer for them and this year's Eastern Conference playoff picture.

I definitely like the move for Detroit.

I'm not the hugest fan of Harris, but in Detroit he's pretty much a perfect fit alongside Drummond. 

An athletic four who can defend quicker bigs and stretch the floor?  While Drummond defends the basket and gobbles up rebounds? 

That's a very nice front court for years to come.

Credit to Stan Van Gundy - he has done one hell of a job of turning around what was previously a horribly lost franchise.  He's made all the right moves.