Just a Hunch: Okafor Included

[Evantime34]

The following quote, that mentions Nene being pursued by the Hornets gives me pause. With the new 150% rule for trades we  could trade Rondo and a small piece like Moore for Paul. However, most of the rumors at least include Jeff Green, which would lead to the Hornets saving less than $1 MM. This certainly doesn't clear significant cap room. I think the reason a third team is being included is to bring the salary coming back to the Hornets up to around the $22 MM that would be the minimum amount that they could take back in that deal. With the Pacers bidding on the best centers available I'm sure they would take Okafor to man their back line. The other option of a big contract that NO could move would be Ariza, although picking up Nene and keeping Okafor doesn't really make sense considering you'd have two players $12+ MM players that could only play the five. Thoughts?

"As New Orleans prepared to make a trade that could clear significantly more salary cap space for them, Hornets officials have reached out to see if they could still get involved in contract negotiations with free-agent center Nene and point guard J.J. Barea, league sources said. Nene’s bidding could be pushing upwards of $14 million a season, with the Nuggets re-emerging as a serious suitor to keep him, sources said. The New Jersey Nets, Rockets and Indiana Pacers have yet to show a willingness to spend $14 million-$15 million a year to sign Nene, and that could ultimately leave him destined to return to the Nuggets. Still, many teams have yet to extend their best offers in free-agent talks. “Dell has to figure out what he wants,” one team official in the talks said. “Does he want to rebuild, get players to flip [in other trades], or just fit guys into their roster. It’s up to New Orleans to decide the package they want now. No one wants this to extend into training camp – not them, or us.” Yahoo! Sports"

[Chris]

I don't think Danny will take on Okafor, unless the Amnesty clause does end up allowing them to waive traded players.

However, I absolutely think Danny is trying to work in 3rd teams to take on Okafor and/or Ariza as part of the package. 

For example, maybe Toronto would take on Okafor, and send Barbosa to Boston.

C's get: Chris Paul, Leandro Barbosa, Joey Dorsey (signed just above the minimum)
NO gets: Rondo, Bradley, Green (starting at $7 million), 2012 Clippers pick
Toronto gets: Okafor

That might work for everyone involved.

[papa shuttlesworth]

I am biased because I am a UConn fan, but I'd take Okafor on the Celtics. He is obviously not Dwight Howard, but he could easily equal or surpass what Perkins gave the starting lineup.

CP+RA+PP+KG+EO would be a great lineup and would actually work well as a team instead of just on paper. Assuming that KG retires and the Celtics can resign CP and RA comes back for cheap, CP+RA+PP+(free agent acquired with cap space)+EO could still contend next year.

(I guess I fall into the "lets keep this thing going as long as possible without blowing up the team" category)

[dmny5000]

The Hornets don't want Rondo, that is the reason they need a third team.

[Greenbean]

The Hornets don't want Rondo, that is the reason they need a third team.

I get the feeling that no one wants Rondo. Doesnt seem like GS wants him either. Indy might be the only team

[Jeff]

yeah, as active as he is and as creative as he's trying to be, I could see Ainge recruiting a team like the Pacers that misses out on the Nene sweepstakes interested in picking up a big salary along with assets (giving NO some cap space to play with)

[fairweatherfan]

I am biased because I am a UConn fan, but I'd take Okafor on the Celtics. He is obviously not Dwight Howard, but he could easily equal or surpass what Perkins gave the starting lineup.

CP+RA+PP+KG+EO would be a great lineup and would actually work well as a team instead of just on paper. Assuming that KG retires and the Celtics can resign CP and RA comes back for cheap, CP+RA+PP+(free agent acquired with cap space)+EO could still contend next year.

(I guess I fall into the "lets keep this thing going as long as possible without blowing up the team" category)

I have no problem with adding Okafor as a player - he'd be a big upgrade at C and would mesh well with the team.

It's his contract that's the big albatross, and makes including him tough.

[Evantime34]

The Hornets don't want Rondo, that is the reason they need a third team.

I don't know if that is true, I just think they want other people more.

[Cman]

I am biased because I am a UConn fan, but I'd take Okafor on the Celtics. He is obviously not Dwight Howard, but he could easily equal or surpass what Perkins gave the starting lineup.

CP+RA+PP+KG+EO would be a great lineup and would actually work well as a team instead of just on paper. Assuming that KG retires and the Celtics can resign CP and RA comes back for cheap, CP+RA+PP+(free agent acquired with cap space)+EO could still contend next year.

(I guess I fall into the "lets keep this thing going as long as possible without blowing up the team" category)

I have no problem with adding Okafor as a player - he'd be a big upgrade at C and would mesh well with the team.

It's his contract that's the big albatross, and makes including him tough.

Yes, especially when part of the issue will be convincing Paul that the Cs will go after Howard next offseason. If the Cs have Okafur, that means Howard is out the window, and likely means CP3 bolts.  I just don't see Boston bringing Okafur as well.

[Corey]

Okafor posted the best individual defensive metrics out of any center in the nba in man to man defense...even better than Dwight,

[ManUp]

I'd actually be all for getting Okafor if we can amnesty him by seasons end to make a run at DH. If we could get him without giving anyone major outside of Green it'd be a coup by Danny. Assuming he's healthy, that would put us exactly where we need to be for a real chance at a Championship this season. A front court of Garnett, Okafor, O'neal, Davis, and Johnson is exactly the type of depth we need in the front court to make it through the season.

[Inside-Out]

I was just thinking about how NO would rid itself of Okafor's contract.  I like the player, but the contract is a bit much (by about $4 million over what I'd give him).  Still, like the player.

Might it be worth bringing him in (if only to put the "we need a center" problem to rest for a few years)?

Much more salary would have to go out, though NO doens't want it.  Unfortunately, this would suck for Ray, because at $10 million for a SG, he's among the highest paid and at the most easily and cheaply replaced position (sorry, dude).

Taking back the salary might reduce the cost to us in terms of assets (picks) sent out.

So something along the lines of CP/Ariza/Okafor for Rondo, Ray, S&T BBD back home, and Bradley?

Could this lineup win the chip?

CP/Delonte/minimum 3rd stringer, perhaps old pal Bassy?
Pierce/Quisy/VW
JGreen/Ariza
KG/Murphy/Leon
Okafor/JO/Murphy

And we might still have an MLE to spend in there.  Who might fit with that group?

Is there a Santa Claus?

[Chris]

I'd actually be all for getting Okafor if we can amnesty him by seasons end to make a run at DH. If we could get him without giving anyone major outside of Green it'd be a coup by Danny. Assuming he's healthy, that would put us exactly where we need to be for a real chance at a Championship this season. A front court of Garnett, Okafor, O'neal, Davis, and Johnson is exactly the type of depth we need in the front court to make it through the season.

I think if they change that part of the Amnesty rule (its unlikely, but you never know), it will open up a whole lot of new trade posibilities around the league.

[Fafnir]

Okafor posted the best individual defensive metrics out of any center in the nba in man to man defense...even better than Dwight,

Man to man defense isn't the most important thing for a C.

Team defense and rebounding are the most crucial areas.

[theswitch]

I understand that Okafor's contract is miserable, but here's a guy on the right side of 30 who has been extremely durable, shoots 55% from the field, averages a double-double with solid defense and will give you 30 minutes a night at the center position. Yes, he's a much better individual defender than team defender, but he hasn't been in Boston yet.

A lineup of CP3, Ray, Paul, KG and Okafor would just be unbelievable, I can't imagine that team not getting it done. Okafor for 30 minutes a game and JO for 18 a game at the center position (or whoever else when JO gets hurt, but 18 a game should conserve him).