Celtics were close to signing David West

[mloyko]

Not sure I but the argument that the Hornets would be awful if these trades go through. They will likely have starting line up of

C-Okafor
PF-Scola
SF-Odom
SG-Martin
PG-Dragic

Bench: Ariza, Jack, Belinelli, Quincey Poindexter

and whatever they get from the celtics..that is a pretty good top 7..this these trades make the hornets a better team

[YouGotRondo d]

gwashburn14 gary washburn
If you're a #celtics fan, you should root for the CP3 trade to go through because I'm hearing that's what's holding up the David West trade

I think the Paul deal goes through and this shortly after

I think the West move is linked to the Paul move. So, I think they go through at the same time, or even West first then Paul. I think the hold up is getting Stern to sign off on the whole thing.

Don't know what Stern's logic is on that one. If Paul walks, and NO gets nothing, they might as well be contracted.

With the package of players they got they will still be a legit threat in the West.

A legit threat to be the 7th or 8th seed, and be stuck in mediocrity with no stars on their roster and no realistic chance of winning for the foreseeable future.

They'd be better off rebuilding around younger guys on reasonable contracts. 

It would be hit or miss. With this trade they'll still have a nice assortment of draft picks which they could use to move up in the draft.

Take a team full of really good vets, add one potential superstar and you have a legit contender. NO got lucky one time.

OTOH, look at a team like Minnesota. By your logic they should be a Finals contender this year. They'll be lucky to sniff .500.

Of course, Kahn isn't helping them by continuing to hoard all his players instead of packaging them for an elite player..

I'm curious:  where did my logic say the Twolves would be Finals contenders this year? 

And how often is a mediocre team able to trade mediocre draft picks to move up into the top-tier of a great draft?

I did exaggerate your position, but I believe there is enough evidence to suggest that, in a situation like NO is in, it may in fact be the best choice to assemble proven veterans and 1st round draft choices.

As far as moving up in the draft is concerned, you are correct when you suggest that it is difficult to move into the "top-tier" of the draft. However, as we both know, future elite players (a step below superstars) are not always found in the top-tier, and it is possible to move up from the 20s to the teens with a suitable package.

Consider these names, all outside top tier-
Rondo (21st), A.Bynum (10th), Granger (17th), J.Smith (17th), Collison (21st), Jennings (10th)

It becomes a lot more hit or miss, but it is still feasible to put together a contending team using this strategy.

[Roy H.]

Not sure I but the argument that the Hornets would be awful if these trades go through. They will likely have starting line up of

C-Okafor
PF-Scola
SF-Odom
SG-Martin
PG-Dragic

Bench: Ariza, Jack, Belinelli, Quincey Poindexter

and whatever they get from the celtics..that is a pretty good top 7..this these trades make the hornets a better team

I don't think anybody is arguing that the Hornets will be terrible.  In fact, a lot of people are arguing that the Hornets are dooming themselves to mediocrity, rather than to rebuilding or contention.

[greg_kite]

Not sure I but the argument that the Hornets would be awful if these trades go through. They will likely have starting line up of

C-Okafor
PF-Scola
SF-Odom
SG-Martin
PG-Dragic

Bench: Ariza, Jack, Belinelli, Quincey Poindexter

and whatever they get from the celtics..that is a pretty good top 7..this these trades make the hornets a better team

I don't think anybody is arguing that the Hornets will be terrible.  In fact, a lot of people are arguing that the Hornets are dooming themselves to mediocrity, rather than to rebuilding or contention.

I think that team is at least a playoff team.  The only somewhat weak spot is the point, and that's if Dragic is bad.  He's shown potential, he might be pretty good with playing time.  But getting three starters/near All Stars for Paul is a pretty decent haul.  And with Okafor that gives them 4 guys who would start pretty much anywhere else.

But that's besides the point, the C's are getting David West!  How amazing is that considering we were praying for Joel Pryzbilla and Krylo Fesenko last week?

Wouldn't you rather have West than any unrestricted free agent other than maybe Chandler, Dalambert or Nene, who weren't coming cheap anyway?

[Moreover]

Not sure I but the argument that the Hornets would be awful if these trades go through. They will likely have starting line up of

C-Okafor
PF-Scola
SF-Odom
SG-Martin
PG-Dragic

Bench: Ariza, Jack, Belinelli, Quincey Poindexter

and whatever they get from the celtics..that is a pretty good top 7..this these trades make the hornets a better team

Odom can't play the 3 any more. They'll start Ariza and bring Odom off the bench.

Mavs
OKC
Lakers
Houston
Memphis
San Antonio

At best, that team is top-7. They were the #7 seed last season. I can see the Blazers or even Phoenix being better than them. It's a new roster, with no training camp, a compressed season for a team with no depth at all - I'm not even sure they can keep Belli.

But the deal is horrible because they're basically trading Chris Paul for the right to be mediocre for 2 seasons. That's it, nothing else. They'd be better off by just dumping Paul for cap room and a couple of picks.

[Kane3387]

Below is a deal I just created in the trade machine on ESPN.

Scola, okafor, and Paul to lakers

Gasol to rockets

Bynum, Martin, and dragic to hornets.

It might take something like this for the deal to go through.

[mloyko]

scott_souza Scott Souza
Jermaine O'Neal: have not been told anything. Understand it's a business. If traded, wants to somehow end up with contender.

certainly sounds like he knows the end is near

[PosImpos]

Not sure I but the argument that the Hornets would be awful if these trades go through. They will likely have starting line up of

C-Okafor
PF-Scola
SF-Odom
SG-Martin
PG-Dragic

Bench: Ariza, Jack, Belinelli, Quincey Poindexter

and whatever they get from the celtics..that is a pretty good top 7..this these trades make the hornets a better team

I don't think anybody is arguing that the Hornets will be terrible.  In fact, a lot of people are arguing that the Hornets are dooming themselves to mediocrity, rather than to rebuilding or contention.

yeah, who wants to be a 7th or 8th seed this year?  with the stacked 2012 draft coming up, this is a really good year to suck.

[mloyko]

gwashburn14 gary washburn
Jermaine O'Neal says he knows NOH don't want to keep him. Would have to be third team involved in deal #celtics

well that confirms a deal is in the works.

[kozlodoev]

gwashburn14 gary washburn
Jermaine O'Neal says he knows NOH don't want to keep him. Would have to be third team involved in deal #celtics

well that confirms a deal is in the works.

So how has he "heard nothing" if he knows NO doesn't plan to keep him? This all looks mega weird.

[mloyko]

Scott Souza tweeted to me it kinda sounds like JO is resigned to what is about to happen, looks like he knows his time in Boston is coming to an end.

[jambr380]

Scott Souza tweeted to me it kinda sounds like JO is resigned to what is about to happen, looks like he knows his time in Boston is coming to an end.

This side of trades is always kind of sad. I feel bad for Jermaine, as he seemed healthy and upbeat about this coming season. Hopefully he can be put in the right situation. I also hope D. West outperforms him, as he is more expensive, not a center, and is signed for two additional years, which restricts us next year in the FA market.

[BballTim]

Not sure I but the argument that the Hornets would be awful if these trades go through. They will likely have starting line up of

C-Okafor
PF-Scola
SF-Odom
SG-Martin
PG-Dragic

Bench: Ariza, Jack, Belinelli, Quincey Poindexter

and whatever they get from the celtics..that is a pretty good top 7..this these trades make the hornets a better team

Odom can't play the 3 any more. They'll start Ariza and bring Odom off the bench.

Mavs
OKC
Lakers
Houston
Memphis
San Antonio

At best, that team is top-7. They were the #7 seed last season. I can see the Blazers or even Phoenix being better than them. It's a new roster, with no training camp, a compressed season for a team with no depth at all - I'm not even sure they can keep Belli.

But the deal is horrible because they're basically trading Chris Paul for the right to be mediocre for 2 seasons. That's it, nothing else. They'd be better off by just dumping Paul for cap room and a couple of picks.

  Houston?

[kozlodoev]

So it took half an hour for Stern to shoot the previous deal, why is it taking so long with this one? I crave (good) news

[pennant_fever]

Scott Souza tweeted to me it kinda sounds like JO is resigned to what is about to happen, looks like he knows his time in Boston is coming to an end.

This side of trades is always kind of sad. I feel bad for Jermaine, as he seemed healthy and upbeat about this coming season. Hopefully he can be put in the right situation. I also hope D. West outperforms him, as he is more expensive, not a center, and is signed for two additional years, which restricts us next year in the FA market.

Any chance Jermaine could be bought out by the Hornets and wind up back in Boston? That would seem to be a good situation for him, and the Celtics could likely use him off the bench...