Clippers trading the 1st pick?

[JSD]

A number of GMs continue to insist that the Clippers want to move Baron Davis and might be open to moving the pick to Memphis or Oklahoma City if either is willing to take on Davis' contract as part of the deal. Both teams will have the cap room this summer to make it happen.

ESPN.com

This in interesting and would put the Clippers in a good position financially.

[Fafnir]

A number of GMs continue to insist that the Clippers want to move Baron Davis and might be open to moving the pick to Memphis or Oklahoma City if either is willing to take on Davis' contract as part of the deal. Both teams will have the cap room this summer to make it happen.

ESPN.com

This in interesting and would put the Clippers in a good position financially.

If they really do like Rubio as their PG this move makes sense. I don't think either Memphis will even think about it.

OKC might because getting Griffin would be huge for their marketing and a veteran point could be a coup if they decide to try and make a playoff run next year.

[Moranis]

the drop off between Blake Griffin and everyone else in this draft is massive.  If LAC also throws in B. Diddy, they better be getting back a number of young and up and coming players.  For a trade with OKC you have to start adding from Jeff Green and moving up from there.  With Memphis, I think it starts with Marc Gasol.  In each case the Clippers would need more back or it just doesn't make sense on the court even if financially it might.

[moiso]

I really hope the Clips trade the first pick.  I feel horrible that Griffin may have to spend 3 years on that pathetic excuse for a team.  Nobody ever seems to reach their potential on that team for one reason or another.  The whole team is selfish from the owner to all the players who sit out half the season with minor injuries.

[Evantime34]

If the Clips want to get ride of the huge contract of Baron Davis they shouldn't need to give up the first pick overall to do so. They could find a team that is under the Cap and trade him for a second round pick or they can find expiring contracts to get rid of him for. If  the Clippers need to give up the 1st pick overall to get rid of a bad contract I will be shocked.

[JSD]

If the Clips want to get ride of the huge contract of Baron Davis they shouldn't need to give up the first pick overall to do so. They could find a team that is under the Cap and trade him for a second round pick or they can find expiring contracts to get rid of him for. If  the Clippers need to give up the 1st pick overall to get rid of a bad contract I will be shocked.

The Clips may be asking for more but I think the idea is to swap lotto picks with OKC and for them to eat Davis . (pure speculation on my part)

[LarBrd33]

the drop off between Blake Griffin and everyone else in this draft is massive.  If LAC also throws in B. Diddy, they better be getting back a number of young and up and coming players.  For a trade with OKC you have to start adding from Jeff Green and moving up from there.  With Memphis, I think it starts with Marc Gasol.  In each case the Clippers would need more back or it just doesn't make sense on the court even if financially it might.

I mean I guess trading Jeff Green would make some sense, because he's playing PF and isn't a PF, but the Thunder still wouldn't have a center.  I'd say they should trade Westbrook, because I hate his game and think he's overrated, but then that would be asking Blake Griffin to play center next to Jeff Green.  If I'm the Thunder and giving up Jeff Green and the #3, I'm trying to at least get them to throw in one of their centers (Camby or Kaman) with the #1.

Something like...

Chris Kaman (9.5 million for 3 more years)
Baron Davis (11.2 million for 4 more years)
#1 pick

for

Jeff Green (great prospect)
#3 pick (solid prospect)
Earl Watkins (I think he's 6.2 million expiring)
Nick Collison (I think he's got 2 years at reasonable 6.2 million)

Obviously the clippers do that so they can dump a bunch of salary.  The Thunder do it for a big talent upgrade.  Maybe Thunder would have to throw in a future protected 1st rounder or something. 

[JSD]

the drop off between Blake Griffin and everyone else in this draft is massive.  If LAC also throws in B. Diddy, they better be getting back a number of young and up and coming players.  For a trade with OKC you have to start adding from Jeff Green and moving up from there.  With Memphis, I think it starts with Marc Gasol.  In each case the Clippers would need more back or it just doesn't make sense on the court even if financially it might.

I mean I guess trading Jeff Green would make some sense, because he's playing PF and isn't a PF, but the Thunder still wouldn't have a center.  I'd say they should trade Westbrook, because I hate his game and think he's overrated, but then that would be asking Blake Griffin to play center next to Jeff Green.  If I'm the Thunder and giving up Jeff Green and the #3, I'm trying to at least get them to throw in one of their centers (Camby or Kaman) with the #1.

Something like...

Chris Kaman (9.5 million for 3 more years)
Baron Davis (11.2 million for 4 more years)
#1 pick

for

Jeff Green (great prospect)
#3 pick (solid prospect)
Earl Watkins (I think he's 6.2 million expiring)
Nick Collison (I think he's got 2 years at reasonable 6.2 million)

Obviously the clippers do that so they can dump a bunch of salary.  The Thunder do it for a big talent upgrade.  Maybe Thunder would have to throw in a future protected 1st rounder or something. 

I actually like this trade a lot from both teams perspectives. It would allow the Clippers to enter into the post-Dunleavy era with some young talent and a bunch of cap room. OKC on the other hand becomes an instant playoff contender with a core in place for years to come.

[huzy]

Wow! This would be a completely misguided move in my opinion.

Baron and Griffin should be the building blocks of this team, not the trade chips.

This is how I view that roster:

Keepers-Blake Griffin
-Baron Davis
-Eric Gordon
-Marcus Camby
-Steve Novak (If they become a playoff contender, this is a great guy coming off the bench)

Trade Assets-Chris Kaman
-Al Thornton
-Deandre Jordan

Move by all Means Necessary-Zach Randolph
-Ricky Davis

The only players on both Memphis and OKC that would be worth accepting for Griffin are Durant and Westbrook (That’s not happening)

I don’t think Rubio is a sure thing and in the right atmosphere Baron is an elite point guard. Griffin will be the next star in this league. It’s $ in the bank. It would be ludicrous to pass up on him for Rubio….ludicrous!

[JSD]

The only players on both Memphis and OKC that would be worth accepting for Griffin are Durant and Westbrook (That’s not happening)

 

[huzy]

Quote
The only players on both Memphis and OKC that would be worth accepting for Griffin are Durant and Westbrook (That’s not happening)

 

What I'm saying is that if you're going to trade the first pick, which will be Griffin, you need a star caliber player to headline that deal in return.

If you look at Memphis, Rudy Gay are the closests options OJ Mayo. I don't think that's enough.

In the case of OKC, outside of Durant and Westbrook, Jeff Green is the next viable trade chip. I don't think a trade centered around him and the 3rd pick is sufficent.

Ultimately, I think trading down for a deal that includes someone like Jeff Green or Marc Gasol isn't worth the risk of drafting Rubio instead of Griffin.

[Lucky17]

If the Clippers trade away the only sure thing in this draft, they're an even bigger joke of a franchise than we thought.

[Hoyo de Monterrey]

A number of GMs continue to insist that the Clippers want to move Baron Davis and might be open to moving the pick to Memphis or Oklahoma City if either is willing to take on Davis' contract as part of the deal. Both teams will have the cap room this summer to make it happen.

ESPN.com

This in interesting and would put the Clippers in a good position financially.

If the SloppySonics added Griffin, he would certainly help, as would Thabeet. However, I just can't get around a possible lineup rotation of:

Rubio
Westbrook (undersized at the 2)
Durant
Green/Collison
Krstic/Swift

If those guys wanted to go small like that they could be deadly. Future certainly looks bright for Sam Presti and Co. and it'll be interesting to see if Memphis deviates from the generally accepted Griffin-Rubio @ 1/2. Krstic isn't great, admittedly, but is not worthless either, and if Thabeet goes at 2 Rubio would be awesome.

Griffin will be a Clipper though. If not, all 25 Clippers fans will revolt and kidnap Dunleavy.

[Moranis]

the drop off between Blake Griffin and everyone else in this draft is massive.  If LAC also throws in B. Diddy, they better be getting back a number of young and up and coming players.  For a trade with OKC you have to start adding from Jeff Green and moving up from there.  With Memphis, I think it starts with Marc Gasol.  In each case the Clippers would need more back or it just doesn't make sense on the court even if financially it might.

I mean I guess trading Jeff Green would make some sense, because he's playing PF and isn't a PF, but the Thunder still wouldn't have a center.  I'd say they should trade Westbrook, because I hate his game and think he's overrated, but then that would be asking Blake Griffin to play center next to Jeff Green.  If I'm the Thunder and giving up Jeff Green and the #3, I'm trying to at least get them to throw in one of their centers (Camby or Kaman) with the #1.

Something like...

Chris Kaman (9.5 million for 3 more years)
Baron Davis (11.2 million for 4 more years)
#1 pick

for

Jeff Green (great prospect)
#3 pick (solid prospect)
Earl Watkins (I think he's 6.2 million expiring)
Nick Collison (I think he's got 2 years at reasonable 6.2 million)

Obviously the clippers do that so they can dump a bunch of salary.  The Thunder do it for a big talent upgrade.  Maybe Thunder would have to throw in a future protected 1st rounder or something. 

Clippers get absolutely hosed in that trade even with the financial implications.  It is an absolutely atrocious trade for them.

[bobdelt]

How does that make sense?


Clippers trade the number 1 pick and Davis and in return they get the number 2/3 pic?

Is davis that big of a negative? I think the Clipper culture hurt him this past year - but on another team and focused, he'll be a great player again.