Hornets willing to give up lotto pick to dump Okafor

[bfrombleacher]

Expirings plus some youth for Okafor and pick?

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=6p3z5n2

Okafor and unprotected 1st for Bradley,JJJ,JOneal,Steisma,Quis

Saves Hornets/David Stern almost 10 mil over 3 years, nets them a young PF with tons of a potential and solid defensive guard with room to grow

Celtics then have one of the best starting 5 again, plus a nice core to still build around and contend for a few years with Big 3 in reserve roles

I like Jajuan and Bradley a lot But for a first and a center...

I feel like we can give up less and/or they can give up more. They really seem to want that cap space.

[KGs Knee]

So I see this discussion is back.

1st-I'm not buying NO's motivation to just dump Okafor.  But maybe, and that's a BIG maybe.

2nd-It would be Minny's pick, not their own.  NO ain't trading a possible #1 (overall) for a salary dump.  The best Minny's pick is likely to be is #10, and that's being hopeful.  Still not bad for us, just try not to get any illusions of grandeur.

3rd-Okafor is currently injured.  He has been out since Feb 10 (knee swelling).  Do we really need any more injured big men?

Tie that all together and I give this a 5% chance of happening.  That's being generous.

[ssspence]

Wait wait wait...

If N.O. could just amnesty Okafor, why would they give up a lottery pick just for expiring contracts? Couldn't they just get out from the entire contract through the amnesty and keep their lottery pick? Why would they want Ray?

Exactly.  It is a vague rumor that doesn't make sense given the value of quality big men in the NBA (which Okafor is).

Well, with amnesty, they'd still have to pay Okafor the money.  They'd essentially be selling their lottery pick for $28 million (and wouldn't be on the hook for the rookie's salary).  That's not such a bad return.

Has the NBA lined up an owner yet?  $28 million less in future commitments could be a nice selling point.

I just don't believe that they couldn't find a taker for Okafor without having to include a lottery pick.  

But maybe they are that desperate...

I think the question is: who would take him? The Cs are a prime example of a team trying to compete now who has a huge need at the 5, and they wouldn't. They'd require the pick to think about it.

I don't see why either team needs Ray in this deal. Could just be as follows:

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=7oso4wr

Also, maybe the Cs send back the Clippers pick to get it done.

[EDWARDO]

So I see this discussion is back.

1st-I'm not buying NO's motivation to just dump Okafor.  But maybe, and that's a BIG maybe.

2nd-It would be Minny's pick, not their own.  NO ain't trading a possible #1 (overall) for a salary dump.  The best Minny's pick is likely to be is #10, and that's being hopeful.  Still not bad for us, just try not to get any illusions of grandeur.

3rd-Okafor is currently injured.  He has been out since Feb 10 (knee swelling).  Do we really need any more injured big men?

Tie that all together and I give this a 5% chance of happening.  That's being generous.

Agree on #1.
Agree on #2
#3 doesn't matter much... we have virtually no chance of winning this year, so its all arranging deck chairs on the Titanic anyway... take the pick and run. The 10th pick (and a shot at some lucky bounces to get us into the top 3) in this year's draft is like the 6th pick in a normal draft.

[CFAN38]

Maybe even include the clippers pick + JO + Wilcox + Dooling for Okafor + the lesser of there picks + a 2nd?

[Chris]

Maybe even include the clippers pick + JO + Wilcox + Dooling for Okafor + the lesser of there picks + a 2nd?

Yeah, I think that makes more sense.

Or maybe something like the lesser of our pick + expiring contracts for Okafor + their pick top 3 or 5 protected for a couple years. 

[jdz101]

Sorry...couldnt resist.

[Evantime34]

There is already a thread about this.

[BostonArizona]

Of all the trades the celtics have been rumoured in(or created within this forum), JO / Wilcox / Dooling for Okafor / 1st is the most viable move I've seen.

I would do that deal without even blinking an eye and I'm only motivated to do this trade for the pick.

If Okafor does recover from injury before seasons end I think we could really put a run together come post-season(at least in my head we can  ).

[florida dodger]

I agree.  I would do this trade, but not just for the pick.  Okafor is just what we need, a rebounding center.  A bit overpaid, but aren't they all?

Of all the trades the celtics have been rumoured in(or created within this forum), JO / Wilcox / Dooling for Okafor / 1st is the most viable move I've seen.

I would do that deal without even blinking an eye and I'm only motivated to do this trade for the pick.

If Okafor does recover from injury before seasons end I think we could really put a run together come post-season(at least in my head we can  ).

[Marcus13]

idk our cap space well enough.  How much would brining on Okafor's contract effect our ability to go get a playmaker this off-season?

I think you make this deal, then flip the Clippers pick for Jamal Crawford, personally and still have two first round picks this year

[KGs Knee]

Maybe even include the clippers pick + JO + Wilcox + Dooling for Okafor + the lesser of there picks + a 2nd?

Yeah, I think that makes more sense.

Or maybe something like the lesser of our pick + expiring contracts for Okafor + their pick top 3 or 5 protected for a couple years. 

The problem I'd have with that is we'd stand a good chance at not seeing that pick for a while likely.  NO has very little talent currntly, and very little hope of getting better any time soon.  They will likely be picking in the top 5 for a while.  I'd rather just have the Minny pick this year.

I'll say this, I still highly doubt NO is really willing to give up either of their draft picks just so they don't have to pay Okafor.  NO has no talent worth building with, outside of Gordon who is likely leaving this offseason, so they need all the picks they can get.

However, if they really are, I would probably do this trade (minus the Clipper pick) if Howard ends up getting traded this season.  Otherwise, I'd rather hold out hope we can sign him this offseason, as unlikely as it may or may not be.  It's worth a shot.

[florida dodger]

1.  I don't think Okafor inury is very serious.  But injured players can be traded anyhow if physical is waived.  JO and Wilcox injury probably more serious than Okafor.

2.  Hornets apparently want to save thier amnesty for Ariza or don't want to risk paying most of the rest of Okafor's 30+ million over 2.5 years.

3.  I've been saying for longest time that Hornets are bankrupt and want to shed salary.  Okafor can be had under these circumstances for sure (without giving up JJJ and Bradley I would think.)

4.  It's probably the Minnesota pick in question not the original Hornets pick because that is too god to be true.

5.  Reboounding.  We need a center peiod.

6.  If for some reason, Howard changes his mind and decides to play with Rodno in the offseason, Pierce can be traded or amnestied.  So salary is not a big problem here.

7.  If the trade is something like JO, Wilcox, and Stiemsama for Okafor and the Minnesota pick.  I would absolutely do this.  I'd even be tempted to throw in Bucks conditional 2nd rounder.

We need him; let's go get him.  Offseason free agency is drying up anyhow.  Okafor gives us an outside shot of making a run this year.

Maybe even include the clippers pick + JO + Wilcox + Dooling for Okafor + the lesser of there picks + a 2nd?

Yeah, I think that makes more sense.

Or maybe something like the lesser of our pick + expiring contracts for Okafor + their pick top 3 or 5 protected for a couple years. 

The problem I'd have with that is we'd stand a good chance at not seeing that pick for a while likely.  NO has very little talent currntly, and very little hope of getting better any time soon.  They will likely be picking in the top 5 for a while.  I'd rather just have the Minny pick this year.

I'll say this, I still highly doubt NO is really willing to give up either of their draft picks just so they don't have to pay Okafor.  NO has no talent worth building with, outside of Gordon who is likely leaving this offseason, so they need all the picks they can get.

However, if they really are, I would probably do this trade (minus the Clipper pick) if Howard ends up getting traded this season.  Otherwise, I'd rather hold out hope we can sign him this offseason, as unlikely as it may or may not be.  It's worth a shot.

[TripleOT]

So it wasn't a good idea to pay Perk $32m or so over four years,  but it's a good idea to pay Okafor $28m over two years?

IMO it was a good idea to pay Perk, and since the Cs didn't, they will have to overpay their next real center. If the Celtics could grab Okafor for Jo and scraps, I'd probably do it. especially if they're willing to toss in a number one pick.

The Clips jettisoned Baron Davis' fat contract for what ended up being the first pick in the draft, IIRC. The Hornets would be a much more attractive team with no eight figure deals on their books. 

Boston would go back to being a contender again, and if they thought they could get solid play from the Fossilizing 3, they could extend the 'window' a few more years, hopefully with the great Jeff Green as a bridge to the future (bridge to nowhere?)



 

[snively]

That Okafor deal is pretty bad, especially in the C's situation (depending on cap space to replace existing core).  Can't see NO trading anything but the late lottery Minny pick, either.

That should be enough for another team, but not the C's.