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

[Lucky17]

I feel like NO needs another legit starter on that team now. Jarret Jack is the only Hornet under contract next season who isn't a rookie or 2nd year player in the NBA.

I wonder if a trade with Utah for Paul Millsap might be possible.

[Kane3387]

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.

People will love that team if they join Howard and Williams with Gordon and when the Saints miss the playoffs. Miami wasn't all that different before James and Bosh joined Wade.

[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.

People will love that team if they join Howard and Williams with Gordon and when the Saints miss the playoffs. Miami wasn't all that different before James and Bosh joined Wade.

Nor that different after.

[indeedproceed]

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.

People will love that team if they join Howard and Williams with Gordon and when the Saints miss the playoffs. Miami wasn't all that different before James and Bosh joined Wade.

Agree, but that's with Howard. My response was for the full rebuild with Davis/Gordon

[Kane3387]

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.

People will love that team if they join Howard and Williams with Gordon and when the Saints miss the playoffs. Miami wasn't all that different before James and Bosh joined Wade.

Nor that different after.

I meant that they were a first round exit that the community really could care less about. People weren't going to games and they were overshadowed by other sports teams. Now they are the top trending team in all of sports.

If Dwight Howard goes to NO and joins Deron Williams with Eric Gordon then they will sell out every game.

[StartOrien]

Agree, but that's with Howard. My response was for the full rebuild with Davis/Gordon

That city really seemed to rally around the Saints pretty good. I don't see why they wouldn't with a competitive and exciting team.

[LarBrd33]

I'm not seeing this from the WIzards perspective at all.  Rashard Lewis was a massive expiring contract... shouldn't they have held onto him until the deadline to see if they could land something actually substantial? (like if the Knicks continue to struggle and decide to dump Melo or Amare for cap space so they can sign some help the following summer)  Instead they take on Okafor and Ariza?  Weren't we just reading that the Hornets were so desperate to get rid of those guys (and their bloated contracts) that they were willing to give up the 10th pick to anyone who would take them?...  You mean they just dumped both of them on the Wizards and earned a draft pick in the process??  

Granted, I think Okafor and Ariza are definitely capable basketball players who can help a team win... but from a financial perspective it seems to go against everything we were expecting.

[MMacOH]

This just made the CLE dream of adding MKG much more feasible.   

I like the deal for both teams.  NO is positioning itself to be a playoff team rather quickly.

[StartOrien]

I'm not seeing this from the WIzards perspective at all.  Rashard Lewis was a massive expiring contract... shouldn't they have held onto him until the deadline to see if they could land something actually substantial? (like if the Knicks continue to struggle and decide to dump Melo or Amare for cap space so they can sign some help the following summer)  Instead they take on Okafor and Ariza?  Weren't we just reading that the Hornets were so desperate to get rid of those guys (and their bloated contracts) that they were willing to give up the 10th pick to anyone who would take them?...  You mean they just dumped both of them on the Wizards and earned a draft pick in the process??  

Granted, I think Okafor and Ariza are definitely capable basketball players who can help a team win... but from a financial perspective it seems to go against everything we were expecting.

It's not like it's super crippling though. Okafor is on for this year and next. Ariza for this year and a player option he's likely to exercise next. If it does't work out, they can blow it up in a year.

[hpantazo]

I'm not seeing this from the WIzards perspective at all.  Rashard Lewis was a massive expiring contract... shouldn't they have held onto him until the deadline to see if they could land something actually substantial? (like if the Knicks continue to struggle and decide to dump Melo or Amare for cap space so they can sign some help the following summer)  Instead they take on Okafor and Ariza?  Weren't we just reading that the Hornets were so desperate to get rid of those guys (and their bloated contracts) that they were willing to give up the 10th pick to anyone who would take them?...  You mean they just dumped both of them on the Wizards and earned a draft pick in the process??  

Granted, I think Okafor and Ariza are definitely capable basketball players who can help a team win... but from a financial perspective it seems to go against everything we were expecting.

I agree. I'm a bit upset that we didn't manage to take advantage of the wizards if they were so willing to make a bad move.

[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). 

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.

It's a nice front court, but I don't think it's exceptionally formidable.  Ok's hardly a strong two-way player, more like a decent, reliable one (when he's healthy I should say).  Nene's a strong offensive player (in a supplementary role), but an inconsistent defensive one.

[Lucky17]

I'm not seeing this from the WIzards perspective at all.  Rashard Lewis was a massive expiring contract... shouldn't they have held onto him until the deadline to see if they could land something actually substantial? (like if the Knicks continue to struggle and decide to dump Melo or Amare for cap space so they can sign some help the following summer)  Instead they take on Okafor and Ariza?  Weren't we just reading that the Hornets were so desperate to get rid of those guys (and their bloated contracts) that they were willing to give up the 10th pick to anyone who would take them?...  You mean they just dumped both of them on the Wizards and earned a draft pick in the process??  

Granted, I think Okafor and Ariza are definitely capable basketball players who can help a team win... but from a financial perspective it seems to go against everything we were expecting.

It's not like it's super crippling though. Okafor is on for this year and next. Ariza for this year and a player option he's likely to exercise next. If it does't work out, they can blow it up in a year.

Okafor and Ariza can be bridge players. They improve the culture in DC and give Wall some immediate talent to work with, while the younger players (Seraphin, Vesley, the #2 pick) continue to develop.

The Wiz could have cut Lewis, but that wouldn't have improved the talent on the roster (no cap space for free agents gained).

Or they could have held onto him until the trade deadline, and hoped that another team might make them an offer, but languishing for another entire season in the basement of the East would likely have taken a real psychological toll on Wall and the other younger players.

It's a brighter day in DC.

[snively]

I'm not seeing this from the WIzards perspective at all.  Rashard Lewis was a massive expiring contract... shouldn't they have held onto him until the deadline to see if they could land something actually substantial? (like if the Knicks continue to struggle and decide to dump Melo or Amare for cap space so they can sign some help the following summer)  Instead they take on Okafor and Ariza?  Weren't we just reading that the Hornets were so desperate to get rid of those guys (and their bloated contracts) that they were willing to give up the 10th pick to anyone who would take them?...  You mean they just dumped both of them on the Wizards and earned a draft pick in the process?? 

Granted, I think Okafor and Ariza are definitely capable basketball players who can help a team win... but from a financial perspective it seems to go against everything we were expecting.

I agree. I'm a bit upset that we didn't manage to take advantage of the wizards if they were so willing to make a bad move.

They didn't give up anything but cap flexibility, which we weren't in a burning need for. 

I'm sure they would have happily traded Lewis and a 2nd rounder for Pierce (the only mildly questionable contract clogging our books), but none of us would want that.

[Birdman]

Washington-
 had to make this trade b/c theres no free agents that wants to play for them.
Hornets-also theres no top free agents thats wants to play for that franchise either.
So 2 teams that will have a hard time getting free agents to come there. Hornets got to rebuild hrough the draft the next 3 years. Im a huge Kentucky Wildcats fan and love Davis but I just dont see him as a top player in the future like everyone thinks hes going to be.

[Army_of_One_Nation]

Looks like the Cavs need to trade up to get Beal or stay put and draft MKG.