Go get Shane Battier right now!

[Chris]

With the way Orlando is throwing around money, I am sure they would be offering up their trade exception to get Battier, if he were in fact available.  That would be much more valuable than our garbage. 

[celticinorlando]

i am not even going to allow myself to think about getting him because it will never happen

[Neurotic Guy]

Like it or not, the price to get Shane Battier will include one of the players in perks-a-beast rotation. 

Like perks-a-beast says, noncontending teams have no interest in Battier and Houston, if they make the trade, would clearly be doing it for salary cap reasons.  Out of the top teams, who would be able to offer a better deal than the Celts?

Mike

Unfortuently, the Lakers could probably offer Farmar and Walton.

Ewwwwwww, who wants Walton's contract?

Again, Houston's objectives matter here. Salary relief or talent?

It's not an either/or when you are talking about a valuable player like Battier.  I think Houston should expect to get salary relief AND talent.  A healthy expiring contract around 5-7 million, and a good young prospect might be enough (Walker/ Giddens not enough IMO -- actually BBD might be just right) .  Remember, this is for a proven, solid 6/7th man in any rotation -- a starter in some.

I'd say TA and Pruit (only 3.3 million expiring combined) plus BBD in an S&T might be close. I'd also provide a protected future pick to make it happen.  Battier is perfect for this team, IMO.  I don't fear losing BBD, but of course the C's can't send Scal in this deal or would be in need of 2 bigs.  Add an end of the bench 7-footer and a back-up 1 and call it a team.  

Battier fills multiple roles as an energy guy with 3-point range and great defensive skills and intelligence.  I know Battier is not a 4, but he could play a few minutes defending smaller 4's (hasn't he done this adequately in the past?).  Mainly, he fills a Posey role while allowing PP to rest! Also, a guy who is very cool and competent in crunch time.  What a great 'get' he would be.
  

[MBunge]

With the way Orlando is throwing around money, I am sure they would be offering up their trade exception to get Battier, if he were in fact available.  That would be much more valuable than our garbage. 

What use would Houston have for a trade exception that expires before the start of next season?  They're not going to use it to acquire a player.

Mike

[paintitgreen]

He'd be a great addition, I just think somebody else will be able to put together a better package to get him. If you're talking salary relief, the Lakers, for example, the Lakers could use Adam Morrison with Farmar. Or Portland could just offer a cheap young player on a rookie contract and absorb the entire cost since they have the space to take him on. Washington has expirings and could use him starting at the 2. Cleveland could offer up Ilgauskas and Hickson and take on another player or two from Houston. The possibilities are endless for matching the offer when our offer isn't one of good players, just expiring contracts, especially ones that don't have to be that large because Battier isn't super expensive.

Which brings you back to this - Battier doesn't cost Houston a ton. Why would they give him up for just expirings? I know they clear out some more cap space next summer, but Battier is very good value. They're not gonna just give him away.  

What use would Houston have for a trade exception that expires before the start of next season?  They're not going to use it to acquire a player.

No, but you're trying to just give them nothing, but a nothing they have to pay for. WIth the Orlando offer, they don't have to pay for anything. And they can use the trade exception in the middle of next summer after they've already used their cap space.

[MBunge]

I think Houston should expect to get salary relief AND talent.  A healthy expiring contract around 5-7 million, and a good young prospect might be enough (Walker/ Giddens not enough IMO -- actually BBD might be just right) .  Remember, this is for a proven, solid 6/7th man in any rotation -- a starter in some.   

Who's going to give them that, though?  Noncontenders have no use for a player like Battier and what contenders can offer talent AND salary relief?  Let's remember, it's probably in Houston's best interest to suck as much as possible this coming season.  If they're not going to resign McGrady to a contract extension (and why would they?), the goal has to be to get the most salary cap relief AND the best draft pick heading into the next offseason.

Mike

[bobdelt]

Yeah that's the spirit! Make sure you're so bad, that no free agent will ever want to sign with you!

If tanking was a good strategy, the Clippers would be winners.

[Hoops]

Like it or not, the price to get Shane Battier will include one of the players in perks-a-beast rotation. 

That's not necessarily true. Scalabrine, Tony Allen, Bill Walker, and possibly a 2nd round pick could get it done and would save houston money for the summer of 2010.

Everyone wants to use the excuse of cap room for 2010 to justify a bad trade. There's no reason in the world Houston would make this deal. If they want to shed salary, they could find much more palatable ways of doing it (likely without giving up Battier). Battier for Boston's poo platter won't cut it.

[TheCelticTruth]

one thing i think is being overlooked in these trades we discuss is that it is very hard for a late first round draft pick to make our team or crack the rotation if he makes the team, so our first round picks may very well be more valuable to other teams than to us and can be included in these potential deals, especially if we go out and get a guy who will be around post big 3 era...just a consideration

[JHTruth]

Like it or not, the price to get Shane Battier will include one of the players in perks-a-beast rotation. 

That's not necessarily true. Scalabrine, Tony Allen, Bill Walker, and possibly a 2nd round pick could get it done and would save houston money for the summer of 2010.

Everyone wants to use the excuse of cap room for 2010 to justify a bad trade. There's no reason in the world Houston would make this deal. If they want to shed salary, they could find much more palatable ways of doing it (likely without giving up Battier). Battier for Boston's poo platter won't cut it.

Such as? I'm not really sure how they could get rid of significant salary without moving guys like Battier once they're rid of Yao and TMac. I guess I just don't see the need to keep guys like Battier around when the team is imploding. Yao's career is likely freaking over, T-Mac will not be resigned. What is the point? Guys like Battier and Scola were brought in to complement Yao and T-Mac, not carry a mediocre team to the first round.

It makes the most sense to get some young pieces and relief for these guys..

[jv2764]

only way this works is adding brooks and rondo to the trade.

now Celts fans would you want to do that?  I think not.

Houston gets Rondo, TA, Scal

Boston gets Brooks and Battier

[JHTruth]

Like it or not, the price to get Shane Battier will include one of the players in perks-a-beast rotation. 

That's not necessarily true. Scalabrine, Tony Allen, Bill Walker, and possibly a 2nd round pick could get it done and would save houston money for the summer of 2010.

Everyone wants to use the excuse of cap room for 2010 to justify a bad trade. There's no reason in the world Houston would make this deal. If they want to shed salary, they could find much more palatable ways of doing it (likely without giving up Battier). Battier for Boston's poo platter won't cut it.

Such as? I'm not really sure how they could get rid of significant salary without moving guys like Battier once they're rid of Yao and TMac. I guess I just don't see the need to keep guys like Battier around when the team is imploding. Yao's career is likely freaking over, T-Mac will not be resigned. What is the point? Guys like Battier and Scola were brought in to complement Yao and T-Mac, not carry a mediocre team to the first round. How long is Battier going to last playing on this team?

It makes the most sense to get some young pieces and relief for these guys..

[TheCelticTruth]

only way this works is adding brooks and rondo to the trade.

now Celts fans would you want to do that?  I think not.

Houston gets Rondo, TA, Scal

Boston gets Brooks and Battier

i dont think we should make any moves that take away from our potential core (unless were talking sign and trade with davis)

[MBunge]

He'd be a great addition, I just think somebody else will be able to put together a better package to get him. If you're talking salary relief, the Lakers, for example, the Lakers could use Adam Morrison with Farmar. Or Portland could just offer a cheap young player on a rookie contract and absorb the entire cost since they have the space to take him on. Washington has expirings and could use him starting at the 2. Cleveland could offer up Ilgauskas and Hickson and take on another player or two from Houston. The possibilities are endless for matching the offer when our offer isn't one of good players, just expiring contracts, especially ones that don't have to be that large because Battier isn't super expensive.

Which brings you back to this - Battier doesn't cost Houston a ton. Why would they give him up for just expirings? I know they clear out some more cap space next summer, but Battier is very good value. They're not gonna just give him away.  

What use would Houston have for a trade exception that expires before the start of next season?  They're not going to use it to acquire a player.

No, but you're trying to just give them nothing, but a nothing they have to pay for. WIth the Orlando offer, they don't have to pay for anything. And they can use the trade exception in the middle of next summer after they've already used their cap space.

1.  The Lakers are going to give up their most talented point guard so they can pay Luke Walton 10 million dollars a year (including luxury tax) to be a benchwarmer?  Where do they Lakers get a quality PG after next season when they're millions of dollars over the luxury tax?

2.  Why would Cleveland give up anything so Battier can play limited minutes out of position for them?  In case you forgot, LeBron's manning the 3 spot for them and they're not looking to limit his minutes by much.

3.  It would be stupid for Washington to give away expiring deals for a role player like Battier, but I'll grant they've done stupider things than that.

4.  Why would Portland want to use up ANY of their cap space for a player who doesn't address ANY of their needs?

5.  Houston does want to sell tickets for next season, which makes giving Battier away for Orlando's exemption a non-starter.

The reason why Houston would want just expirings for Battier is if they don't resign McGrady.  That would put them 20+ million under the cap.  They can then sign one or two stars to play with Yao, then either extend Yao or let him walk after 2010-2011 and have room under the cap to sign someone else.

Mike

[jv2764]

With Yao officialy on the shelf until at least the 2010 season, Danny must immediately move to trade for Battier.  Scal, TA and Walker for Battier works (I thrown in Walker because I can't imagine Houston would have any use for Pruitt).

Boston gets a better version of what they were looking for in Grant Hill and would be a resigned BBD and a backup PG from having the best roster in the league without damaging their longterm salary structure.

Houston loses another 7 million in salary in 2010.  If they don't resign McGrady, they'll be about 20+ milion under the cap and capable of bringing in one or two top stars with a returning Yao.

Get it done, Danny!

Mike

How bad you want Battier?

U willing to include Rondo or Perk in the deal?  Don't think the deal gets done without one of those 2 in the deal.  If I am HOuston that what I would hold out for.