Hornets willing to give up lotto pick to dump Okafor

[LooseCannon]

I wouldn't do it mid-season.  I would consider working out a deal in the off-season after it is known what spot NO is drating.  It would be one of those deals where it would be agreed upon before the draft, New Orleans would pick who Boston wants, and the trade would be made official after the July moratorium.

[jambr380]

I find it hared to believe we wouldn't take a top 10 pick and a lot of help at the center position just to take on a contract for two extra years. Sign Ray and KG for two more years and develop our number one picks...it's a no-brainer.

And if it doesn't work out, we can always trade KG or Ray, as has been the possible plan this year.

[StartOrien]

I guess New Orleans could be shopping the pick because they're league owned, and WE ALL KNOW Stern fixes the draft and will make sure that they don't end up losing much.

*mic drop, anxiously awaits three pages of crazy conspiracy theories*

[arctic 3.0]

I find it hared to believe we wouldn't take a top 10 pick and a lot of help at the center position just to take on a contract for two extra years. Sign Ray and KG for two more years and develop our number one picks...it's a no-brainer.

And if it doesn't work out, we can always trade KG or Ray, as has been the possible plan this year.

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[Cman]

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?
 

In exchange for the 3rd best odds at the #1 pick in the draft this year? Yep.

Not saying NO will do it (they won't), but if they actually would you'd do so in a heartbeat.

I find it hared to believe we wouldn't take a top 10 pick and a lot of help at the center position just to take on a contract for two extra years. Sign Ray and KG for two more years and develop our number one picks...it's a no-brainer.

And if it doesn't work out, we can always trade KG or Ray, as has been the possible plan this year.

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Ditto to the above. No way does NO trade Okafur + the pick for cap relief, but this is a great deal for Boston (or any other team) on paper.

[StartOrien]

In all seriousness though, I'd take Okafor for expiring deals without the lottery pick. That interior defense could give us a puncher's chance of being a contender this year, and I think there's worse ways of spending money on a short term deal for a legit center, even if the money's high.

Enter the summer with Rondo, Pierce (for one more year), Okafor (for one more year) and 11 million dollars to spend. It extends a window, while allowing us flexibility to rebuild on our terms.

[ManUp]

I wouldn't do it mid-season.  I would consider working out a deal in the off-season after it is known what spot NO is drating.  It would be one of those deals where it would be agreed upon before the draft, New Orleans would pick who Boston wants, and the trade would be made official after the July moratorium.

If they're offering their own pick and not the one they got from Minny(which I doubt)what possible reason is there to wait? Do you think that if they have a top 3 pick that the deal is still just a salary dump? I don't. You take the deal while it's still just a really great chance at a top 3 and not written in stone. I take my chances with Okafor and the Hornets pick over Howard and free-agency any day.

Edit: I posted this while thinking Charlotte Hornets not New Orleans. Charlotte has the league worst record. Either way I still jump all over a deal that gets us that pick.

[colincb]

1) I don't think it's totally out of the question for NO if the pick is their lower pick from their viewpoint. Okafor is a very good, but not great, player who can rebound, defend, and dunk.  He's not going to be attractive to some one who might want to buy the team. No star power and not going to win you games by himself. Tyson Chandler comes to mind.

2) Tough to see the NBA, who owns the Hornets, amnestying him.

3) He certainly would be better with Rondo lobbing balls to him. He's a top 10 offensive rebounder too by the way.

4) It doesn't kill our cap next season.  cap is not the issue. Having players worthy of spending $35-40 million of cap that we have next summer is THE problem.

I'd do it in a heart beat which is the first deal I've seen so far that I would.  Of course, it's a rumor. JO, Wilcox, and Daniels works (as well as other combos including Dooling and Pav) and it's all off NO's books next year.

Re-sign RA and KG for 60 cents on the dollar, Rondo-Ray-PP-KG-Okafor to start. Bass, JJJ, AB, Petrus, three 1sts ($4-5 MM) and another $10-12 million for 1-2 players plus a 1-2 vet-mins. Pretty good bridge. $80-85 million payroll.

[Jon]

I wouldn't do it mid-season.  I would consider working out a deal in the off-season after it is known what spot NO is drating.  It would be one of those deals where it would be agreed upon before the draft, New Orleans would pick who Boston wants, and the trade would be made official after the July moratorium.

Why would you wait until the end of the year?  Half of the incentive making this deal is that the Celtics get a real center (arguably the best center of the Big Three Era) to make one last hoorah. 

[snively]

I guess New Orleans could be shopping the pick because they're league owned, and WE ALL KNOW Stern fixes the draft and will make sure that they don't end up losing much.

*mic drop, anxiously awaits three pages of crazy conspiracy theories*

By that token, why wouldn't they just hang on to their picks, confident that Stern will ensure they end up picking #1 and #2?

[florida dodger]

If the draft is rigged, which is questionable, they can't make it that obvious.

We're not necessarily talking Davis and Okafor for cap relief.

But maybe Gilchrist or Rivers for cap relief.  (I would still do it, because I agree with the fellow who says this would give us our best center of the Big 3 era.)

I guess New Orleans could be shopping the pick because they're league owned, and WE ALL KNOW Stern fixes the draft and will make sure that they don't end up losing much.

*mic drop, anxiously awaits three pages of crazy conspiracy theories*

By that token, why wouldn't they just hang on to their picks, confident that Stern will ensure they end up picking #1 and #2?

[LooseCannon]

I wouldn't do it mid-season.  I would consider working out a deal in the off-season after it is known what spot NO is drating.  It would be one of those deals where it would be agreed upon before the draft, New Orleans would pick who Boston wants, and the trade would be made official after the July moratorium.

Why would you wait until the end of the year?  Half of the incentive making this deal is that the Celtics get a real center (arguably the best center of the Big Three Era) to make one last hoorah. 

I would like to preserve cap flexibility.  I'm working under the assumption that you still have to give up something of value to get the Hornets' own pick and that value is probably more than what the Celtics have. 

If it is Jermaine O'Neal, Wilcox or Dooling, JuJuan Johnson, and the Celtics' two 2012 first round picks for Okafor, two scrubs to clear roster spots, and the Minnesota pick, do you do it?  What if it is Ray Allen, Johnson, and the two picks?  The Hornets are entertaining offers, but I don't think they will just do a pure salary dump for expiring contracts.  Obviously, if they are open to trading either pick, they want more for the better pick, so they're not going to give it up for a bunch of expiring contracts.

[mctyson]

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?

You wouldn't get a first round draft pick resigning your own player.  The only reason this thread exists is that NO seems to be paying - rather steeply - to move Okafor's contract.

[Jon]

I wouldn't do it mid-season.  I would consider working out a deal in the off-season after it is known what spot NO is drating.  It would be one of those deals where it would be agreed upon before the draft, New Orleans would pick who Boston wants, and the trade would be made official after the July moratorium.

Why would you wait until the end of the year?  Half of the incentive making this deal is that the Celtics get a real center (arguably the best center of the Big Three Era) to make one last hoorah. 

I would like to preserve cap flexibility.  I'm working under the assumption that you still have to give up something of value to get the Hornets' own pick and that value is probably more than what the Celtics have. 

If it is Jermaine O'Neal, Wilcox or Dooling, JuJuan Johnson, and the Celtics' two 2012 first round picks for Okafor, two scrubs to clear roster spots, and the Minnesota pick, do you do it?  What if it is Ray Allen, Johnson, and the two picks?  The Hornets are entertaining offers, but I don't think they will just do a pure salary dump for expiring contracts.  Obviously, if they are open to trading either pick, they want more for the better pick, so they're not going to give it up for a bunch of expiring contracts.

Good question.  

If the deal is simply JO, Wilcox, Daniels and other fillers for Okafor and the Minnie pick, it's a no brainer for me.  Sure, the Minnie pick is likely only going to be in the 10-15 range; however, it gives us one last (albeit) distant shot the Big Three and three picks in what should be a strong draft.  

I really think the cap flexibility is somewhat overvalued, especially as far as free agency is concerned.  Right now no one wants to come here, largely because it's perceived this team is on the way down.  However, if Danny got 3 picks in this draft, developed JJ, Bradley, and perhaps even Green and Bass (who would no longer be problems to sign to 1-2 years deals), and maintains a winning team by bringing back Ray and KG, the C's could really put themselves in a great spot for 2013 or 2014.  By then Pierce and Okafor would be expiring (or could be used as expiring deals), as well as potentially KG and Ray (if they are brought back).  And if Danny plays his cards right, he'll either have developed pieces around Rondo to lure a big free agent in 2014 or will have pieces to trade with expiring contracts for stars.

Now, as for what you stated.  I'd somewhat hesitate at giving up JJ and our two picks.  However, I'd certainly be willing to part with at least one pick and perhaps JJ or Bradley.  

[LooseCannon]

I really think the cap flexibility is somewhat overvalued, especially as far as free agency is concerned.

I think people overvalue cap flexibility with respect to free agency, but I think people vastly undervalue it with respect to trades.