New Orleans trades Emeka Okafor and Trevor Ariza to Washington for Rashard Lewis

[StartOrien]

Two more tweets from Givony:

Jonathan Givony ‏@DraftExpress
New Orleans now has unlimited cap space, in addition to the #1 pick, the #10 pick, and Eric Gordon. Not a bad time to be a Hornets fan.

Jonathan Givony ‏@DraftExpress
Rashard Lewis' 23.8 million dollar contract can be bought out for 13.7 million before July 1st. Trade saves New Orleans around 30 million?

Ha, imagine just a straight up swap with Davis for Howard, signing Deron Williams, resigning Eric Gordon, and keeping the #10 pick.

Oh the places you'll go.

I'd hold on to Davis on his rookie deal over Howard coming off surgery.

D-Will doesn't wanna play with Davis. He Loves Howard.

At the same time, if I'm Deron Williams and interested in the Hornets I kinda like the idea of playing with Davis and then keeping room for another top flight free agent the next year.  

With Howard you contend next year, and each year as long as you're together and don't burn out from age/injury.

With Davis, you're still a piece/couple of years away.

If you're moving ahead with a core of Deron Williams, Eric Gordon and Anthony Davis you probably have your choice of 2013 free agents. Quick look, here's who could fit:

Andre Iguodala
Paul George
James Harden
Blake Griffin
Serge Ibaka
Paul Milsap
Andrew Bynum
Byron Mullens
Dwight Howard

[Celts Fan 92]

the wizards got da better end of dis trade IMO Okafor nd Ariza are decent players nd mix in well wit Nene Jordan Crawford nd Wall good defensive frontcourt tbh

[Lucky17]

I guess the next question is, who does NO target in free agency?

What franchise-level free agents would elect to sign up with the Hornets, who will have little more than Davis and presumably Eric Gordon to build around?

Deron Williams. No doubt about it.

Think he'll go for that? That team will still be .500 at best, won't it?

And a franchise in a considerable amount of turmoil, in a town that doesn't seem to love them too much, that is still rebuilding on top of it all.

Or, he could go to the Mavericks with arguably the best owner in the NBA, a first ballot HOF'er, and all the money/amenities/love he can handle.

Yep. And one could argue that Brooklyn, with its uber-rich owner, new digs, substantial buzz, and potential roster (Howard?), could also be more attractive.

[StartOrien]

I guess the next question is, who does NO target in free agency?

What franchise-level free agents would elect to sign up with the Hornets, who will have little more than Davis and presumably Eric Gordon to build around?

Deron Williams. No doubt about it.

Think he'll go for that? That team will still be .500 at best, won't it?

And a franchise in a considerable amount of turmoil, in a town that doesn't seem to love them too much, that is still rebuilding on top of it all.

Or, he could go to the Mavericks with arguably the best owner in the NBA, a first ballot HOF'er, and all the money/amenities/love he can handle.

I read that wrong, I read it as 'target.' Still, I think he's gotta give it some serious thought. Davis, Gordon, #10 pick, and another free agent or possibility at looking at trading for D12 (or, there's always an option that they could sign him after)

[indeedproceed]

Two more tweets from Givony:

Jonathan Givony ‏@DraftExpress
New Orleans now has unlimited cap space, in addition to the #1 pick, the #10 pick, and Eric Gordon. Not a bad time to be a Hornets fan.

Jonathan Givony ‏@DraftExpress
Rashard Lewis' 23.8 million dollar contract can be bought out for 13.7 million before July 1st. Trade saves New Orleans around 30 million?

Ha, imagine just a straight up swap with Davis for Howard, signing Deron Williams, resigning Eric Gordon, and keeping the #10 pick.

Oh the places you'll go.

I'd hold on to Davis on his rookie deal over Howard coming off surgery.

D-Will doesn't wanna play with Davis. He Loves Howard.

At the same time, if I'm Deron Williams and interested in the Hornets I kinda like the idea of playing with Davis and then keeping room for another top flight free agent the next year. 

With Howard you contend next year, and each year as long as you're together and don't burn out from age/injury.

With Davis, you're still a piece/couple of years away.

If you're moving ahead with a core of Deron Williams, Eric Gordon and Anthony Davis you probably have your choice of 2013 free agents. Quick look, here's who could fit:

Andre Iguodala
Paul George
James Harden
Blake Griffin
Serge Ibaka
Paul Milsap
Andrew Bynum
Byron Mullens

Yeah, solid players all (except for Paul George. Just an over-hyped mess, proved it this year)

But Dwight Howard is a superstar and the best center in the league.

Anthony Davis hasn't played minute one of his NBA career yet, and Deron WIlliams just suffered through 2 straight non-competitive years during his prime.

Highly doubt he'll be able to be sold on a rebuild, no matter how logical.

[slamtheking]

thought this was pretty lopsided in favor of Washington but thinking NO didn't do to bad if they can dump Lewis.  I think this would have been more balanced if NO had gotten a better pick out of it.

[StartOrien]

Highly doubt he'll be able to be sold on a rebuild, no matter how logical.

I think no matter how long he's been uncompetitive, if you're going to provide someone with the ability to play alongside Eric Gordon, Anthony Davis and a Paul George type, he's going to be all ears.

You take a strike to hit a home run. And if you can get a super athletic wing, who is a great defender and hits the 3 at a great rate it might even be a grandslam.

[Yogi]

What is Washington thinking?  They think this group will become a contender one day?  if not they just committed a whole lot of money the next few years for a 1st round exit.  Don't understand why pull the trigger now.  What if Charlotte picks Beal at number 2? They'll have to choose MKG, Barnes or Robinson when they already have Vesely, Nene, Okafor, Blatche, Ariza, Crawford etc.

[indeedproceed]

Highly doubt he'll be able to be sold on a rebuild, no matter how logical.

I think no matter how long he's been uncompetitive, if you're going to provide someone with the ability to play alongside Eric Gordon, Anthony Davis and a Paul George type, he's going to be all ears.

You take a strike to hit a home run. And if you can get a super athletic wing, who is a great defender and hits the 3 at a great rate it might even be a grandslam.

Really you're just throwing passes in the rain if you think that puck is going through the 5 hole. Its a sticky wicket for Deron Williams, no matter how you cut the red tape at the photo finish.

[mctyson]

thought this was pretty lopsided in favor of Washington but thinking NO didn't do to bad if they can dump Lewis.  I think this would have been more balanced if NO had gotten a better pick out of it.

Seems like a wash (no pun intended) to me.  Wiz get better now, add vets around Wall, try to build a winning culture, but no locked up long term to Okafor or Ariza.

NO gets cap space to go after 2012 or 2013 free agents.  I think they hold on to the space with no major moves.

Having said that....


Rashard Lewis anybody???



anybody???

[StartOrien]

Highly doubt he'll be able to be sold on a rebuild, no matter how logical.

I think no matter how long he's been uncompetitive, if you're going to provide someone with the ability to play alongside Eric Gordon, Anthony Davis and a Paul George type, he's going to be all ears.

You take a strike to hit a home run. And if you can get a super athletic wing, who is a great defender and hits the 3 at a great rate it might even be a grandslam.

Really you're just throwing passes in the rain if you think that puck is going through the 5 hole. Its a sticky wicket for Deron Williams, no matter how you cut the red tape at the photo finish.

This.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lLqRq2Bp9U

[Yogi]

NO not just building around Davis and Gordon.  They also have the 10th pick.  They could possibly get Leonard, Lillard, Jones or Sullinger to go with those guys.  They also already have Vasquez, Jack, Ayon etc.  No need for Deron Williams or Dwight Howard.  They are following the Oklahoma City blue print. 

[snively]

New Orleans frees up money to spend on Gordon and one or two of the mid-tier free agents and Washington gets two more overpaid vets to propel them into Bucks-style mediocrity (though, to be fair, Wall & this year's pick give them a more exciting foundation than Milwaukee). 

[StartOrien]

New Orleans frees up money to spend on Gordon and one or two of the mid-tier free agents and Washington gets two more overpaid vets to propel them into Bucks-style mediocrity (though, to be fair, Wall & this year's pick give them a more exciting foundation than Milwaukee). 

I think it's two different teams. Maybe I'm overvaluing him, but Okafor and Nene is a pretty formidable front court. Very strong, two way players.

[Bombastic Jones]

And a franchise in a considerable amount of turmoil, in a town that doesn't seem to love them too much, that is still rebuilding on top of it all.

Or, he could go to the Mavericks with arguably the best owner in the NBA, a first ballot HOF'er, and all the money/amenities/love he can handle.

Dallas scares me.  I am worried they will get DWill and then grab Ray from us.

As for the NO - Was deal; I like it for both teams.