If Okafor can be had for Expirings, What could we get for Perk?

[wdleehi]

I don't want to see Perk downgraded to a more expensive player.

[Who]

That Perk to Oklahoma trade is a fun one to think about (from OKC's perspective). I'd like to see Perk playing alongside Jeff Green and Kevin Durant in the frontcourt. That would be very interesting.

On the idea as a whole, I'm not convinced that Okafor is better than Perk and I certainly don't believe he's worth the pay-grade differences (even after Perk earns $8-10 mil a year on the next contract). I'd rather keep Perkins.

[Fan from VT]

That Perk to Oklahoma trade is a fun one to think about (from OKC's perspective). I'd like to see Perk playing alongside Jeff Green and Kevin Durant in the frontcourt. That would be very interesting.

On the idea as a whole, I'm not convinced that Okafor is better than Perk and I certainly don't believe he's worth the pay-grade differences (even after Perk earns $8-10 mil a year on the next contract). I'd rather keep Perkins.

That would be a really interesting one, I agree.

KG is here for 2 years after this one. He (and Pierce) make so much money that we will either still be good or stink depending entirely on how he and pierce last. After that, the way I see it he and Pierce walk away and we could potentially go forward with:

Rondo with 3 yrs. 36 million remaining
Harden with 1 yr. 5.8 remaining
Okafor with 2 yrs. 28 million remaining

Note that the fact Harden is still on his rookie deal means there'd be enough cap space to add a max free agent and another solid one the year KG and 'sheed expire, assuming we keep Pierce and Allen on deals designed to end at the same time.
or

Rondo with 3 yrs. 36 remaining
Perkins with 4 yrs 36 million remaining (if he signs a 5 yr 35 million deal when his current one expires.


Until that time, If ray re-signs for 2 yrs. 16 million (8 mil each year) and Pierce re-signs for a 1 year, 12 million dollar deal, then we could potentially have the following roster for this year and the next two before the above scenario unfolds, all for nearly the exact same amount of money Wyc is spending this year:

Rondo/House
Allen/Harden
Pierce/Daniels (or someone like him)
KG/Wallace
Okafor/Williams

Then once the "big 3" retire together at the end of KG and Shee's contracts, I'd rather go forward with Rondo, Harden, and 2 yrs of Okafor than Rondo and 3 yrs/36 of Perk.

[PosImpos]

So far Harden hasn't shown enough to make him a worthy trade target.  Plus, I don't think OKC would trade him away either, considering they haven't seen what his potential really is.

[wjb3000]

I don't know how much better Okafor is than Perk (if at all), but I like the idea. If we can trade our expirings into something of value, then it just gives us more pieces to move to upgrade our roster where needed.

I think there are a number of teams that would be interested in Perk, and although I am not looking to trade him, I would like to hear what teams may offer in order to get him.

I also really like Okafor and he is definitely a professional. He would fit right in here...again, Perk is the best deal in basketball and is as good of a one on one post defender in the league as there is, but whenever you can improve your team, you have to think about it...

No offense, but this thinking doesnt make sense.  If all OKC can get for Okafor is expirings,  what makes you think that we could get anything more than that for him?  We don't need expirings in the future, we will have plenty of them with what we have.

With that being said, from a talent standpoint, I think Okafor is worth more than expirings for a team looking for a quality big man, we just aren't that team.

[hardlyyardley]

why trade perk....cost effective....solid....improved every year and only 25

[indeedproceed]

If Okafor can be had for expirings, why aren't we trading for Okafor?

[Roy Hobbs]

If Okafor can be had for expirings, why aren't we trading for Okafor?

4 years, $53 million after this year.

[Brickowski]

If Okafor can be had for expirings, it's time for Ainge to get serious about going after Chris Paul.

[Fan from VT]

If Okafor can be had for expirings, it's time for Ainge to get serious about going after Chris Paul.

True, if he's that desperate to save money, I can't see Paul being happy. Crazy thing is, I could see this scenario I had in another post actually working out if things got really desperate. Just tweak it how you think is best:
-try to take West instead of Okafor, but still take on Peja's money?
-Don't do the Perk/Azubuike follow-up but try to get NO to include Wright as payment for the chance to startover? (leaves us very thin on wing athleticism/defense if not)

Regardless, fun to think about NO getting desperate and the C's being able to leap in and grab one of the top 3 players in the NBA using Rondo and Ray.

Can you tell I'm procrastinating Homework?:

Here's an intricate "Save New Orleans Money" Trade (works after dec. 15th):

Golden State:

Give: Azubuike, Acie Law
Receive: Perkins


New Orleans:
Give: Paul, Peja, Okafor
Get: Rondo, Ray Allen, Tony, Scal, Acie Law, Baby, Giddens


Boston:
Give: Perk, Rondo, Ray Allen, Tony, Scal, Acie Law, Baby, Giddens

Get: Azubuike, Okafor, Peja, Paul


GS gets a cheap center for 2 more years and gives up one of their many wing players, opening time for others. They could also do this deal giving up morrow and claxton, or some similar combo.


New Orleans immediately saves $10,000,000 and receives only expiring deals to get them under the tax; they can then go forward with some nice pieces and rebuild the team: Rondo, Wright, West, Baby.

Boston:
Sure, it's taking on money, but it really adds a dimension to the team, and there's no realistic flexibility in the foreseeable future anyway. Azubuike is nearly as good a shooter as Ray, and much cheaper/athletic. Okafor is a bit of an upgrade from Perk and is a more dynamic athlete. Peja provides another bench floor spacer. And you have Chris Paul anchoring your team, which is a surefire way to stay competitive:

Paul/House
Azubuike/Daniels
Pierce/Peja
KG/Wallace
Okafor/Williams

Tell me that team is not scary?



BTW, this trade also works with just the C's and Hornets. Same idea, except that i'd rather not start Peja while still having Okafor, KG, Perk, Wallace and Williams all together, so I figured a simultaneous trade of Perk for a shooting guard would help even out the team. Targets included: Azubuike (would love the C's to get him if they could), Morrow, Ronnie Brewer (but Utah has no 2 depth), Rudy Fernandez (would Portland want another center for a Perk/Oden/Aldridge rotation? if so, I'd take Rudy back and put him in instead of Azubuike), Barbosa (but not sure if Perk would fit with phoenix's plans), etc.

[PRIDE]

Okafor might get traded for Kenny Thomas. I think a Baby-TA-Scal trade is better for New Orleans. They get a young PF/C and they shed 6 mil off their cap with TA and Scals expiring contracts.

[moiso]

If Okafor can be had for expirings, why aren't we trading for Okafor?

4 years, $53 million after this year.

rip off.  And he's a glorified Perk.