OKC Trade Idea (Not w/Celtics)

[ianboyextreme]

http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=c83fyb5

This is as close to a perfect trade as can be. It gives Memphis a legitimate first option all star and it gives OKC a player that will give it the ball movement it really needs. It also allows Kevin Durant to be more effective as he would get more shots.

You could also add in Perry Jones to make it more enticing for Memphis.

[bobbyv]

Bigs are more valuable in this league than guards, especially ones like Marc Gasol. As good as Westbrook is, I don't see them trading Gasol.

[connor]

I really like that deal for OKC, not so much for Memphis.

Gasol is one of the few big men in the NBA with such a solid all-around game. He is a low-post presence, decent mid-range, great rebounder, EXCELLENT passer, great basketball IQ. Does everything well. And Conley is underrated in my opinion. Great floor general, excellent defense, really efficient.

OKC vastly improves down low, gets a solid replacement PG who will facilitate ball movement better and allows KD to be the center of their offense (as he should be).

I know Westbrook is arguably the best PG in the league, but bigs are so much more valuable in this league that I don't know if Memphis would want to give up Gasol. Westbrook gives them a true first option scorer, but Perkins is a huge downgrade and redundant with Z-Bo down-low. They'd be too bogged down in the paint (Gasol is great because he can work further out and so can Z-Bo so they are paired well together).

Adding in Lamb and PJ3 is definitely nothing to scoff at and might make Memphis think about it but I'd say they say no. And I wouldn't be surprised if OKC says no. Despite all the talk about Westbrook and Durant not being good as a duo, they seem to think it can work and probably aren't looking to move Russel.

If OKC throws down Toronto's lottery guaranteed first too Memphis might bite

[jdz101]

People underrate Westbrook on here.

He is a top 15 player in this league who never gives up. Sure he overshoots and has brainfades on defense, but if you have Russ you keep him.

[Who]

I prefer to keep Westbrook. I think their current team is better than that new look OKC team would be. If Harden was still there, I would have been tempted by this but without him there I am not wild about it. I would rather have a strong 2nd scorer in Westbrook than an all-round center in Marc Gasol.

[connor]

I prefer to keep Westbrook. I think their current team is better than that new look OKC team would be. If Harden was still there, I would have been tempted by this but without him there I am not wild about it. I would rather have a strong 2nd scorer in Westbrook than an all-round center in Marc Gasol.

Wouldn't Conley's consistent (but average) scoring, plus the inside scoring Gasol provides, that they just don't get from Perk, make up for the loss of Westbrook? Plus KD should get more looks without Russel at PG and Gasol's ability to kick it back out.

I'm on the fence as to whether that new look team would be better or not and I don't think if I was a GM I could bring myself to trade Westbrook because he is so talented, but I have to admit the upgrade they would get inside with Gasol and Conley's solid play (and better defense) makes me think that the new look team would be better overall and they'd still have KD to drive them.

I think Memphis actually gets the worse end of the deal.

[aporel#18]

I'd love to watch a Marc-Ibaka-Durant frontcourt. Best in the NBA by a mile, and then you add Conley, who is a better floor general than Westchuck? You can have Sefolosha or Kevin Martin with them, and you'll only need a bench. If I'm OKC I'd throw the Raptors pick, but even with that I doubt Memphis does it.

Zach + Perk is not a good idea, Westbrook + TA is athletic but not very smart guard play. Marc and Z-Bo are Memphis strength, and I doubt they break that.

[chambers]

People underrate Westbrook on here.

He is a top 15 player in this league who never gives up. Sure he overshoots and has brainfades on defense, but if you have Russ you keep him.

I agree he's a great player, but his mental gaffs cost them so many important wins.
Not that it was an important game, but watch him 'giving up' repeatedly after not getting any foul calls against the Knicks the other night. He'd attack the rim wildly out of control (as he's famous for), not get a call after throwing it up and bricking. He'd then huff and puff and whine to the refs on the floor while the Knicks got the defensive rebound, zoomed up court and took advantage of the 5 on 4 scenario. Scored multiple times off this, and most of them were three pointers where they swung the ball around the perimeter until the open shooter buried it.
His great performance of 37 points 11 rebounds and 8 assists was overshadowed by his poor attitude which cost them the game.
I won't even go into the 2012 finals.
Anyway, I think that OKC could use a big and Westbrook is expendable. I'd actually try and get Randolph from the Grizz for Westbrook.
ie Randolph, Lamb, PJ3 for Westbrook.

Put him in the paint with Ibaka and they'd be a monster.

[Who]

I think the trade is a good idea for Memphis.

They need to blow up that team and start over. They are no longer a title contender and Z-Bo is getting up there in years. They don't have enough quality trade assets to make a major move in the short term and Randolph's value is only going to decline from here on out. I don't see a way for them to revive that team.

They have already moved Rudy Gay. Zach Randolph should be the next one to go. I think this Z-Bo/M.Gasol power play era is coming to a close for Memphis. They just haven't realized it yet.

So, for me, the question is would you rather build around Marc Gasol and Mike Conley or Russell Westbrook long term? I definitely choose Westbrook. Then I start dismantling the rest of the squad and rebuilding around him.

[pearljammer10]

I think the trade is a good idea for Memphis.

They need to blow up that team and start over. They are no longer a title contender and Z-Bo is getting up there in years. They don't have enough quality trade assets to make a major move in the short term and Randolph's value is only going to decline from here on out. I don't see a way for them to revive that team.

They have already moved Rudy Gay. Zach Randolph should be the next one to go. I think this Z-Bo/M.Gasol power play era is coming to a close for Memphis. They just haven't realized it yet.

So, for me, the question is would you rather build around Marc Gasol and Mike Conley or Russell Westbrook long term? I definitely choose Westbrook. Then I start dismantling the rest of the squad and rebuilding around him.

Why do they need to blow it up? They are 22 - 9 since the Rudy Gay trade (as of a couple days ago).

Financially they are pretty cash strapped but they are a better team without Gay.

[Yogi]

OKC would do that trade in a heartbeat. 

Russell Westbrook is a star player, but Gasol is just as good.  Perry Jones III is useless.  OKC would have to trade Lamb and their lottery pick from this years draft for Mike Conley.  I am not sure people realize exactly how good Conley is.  They would probably have to throw in a future first as well in order for Memphis to swallow the Perkins contract.  I doubt Memphis would want to blow up this team though.  They are a legit contender out West.  They are also under the luxury tax line.  Not a lot of teams can say that.  They have some raw but talented youth as well in Wroten, Daye and Davis. 

[CelticG1]

Kevin durant needs more shots? Like how many 40? If anything he needs less shots

[Stizz44]

No way OKC does this trade. Especially after they just traded Harden last October.

If they kept Harden I can see this trade happening, but not now.

[Who]

I think the trade is a good idea for Memphis.

They need to blow up that team and start over. They are no longer a title contender and Z-Bo is getting up there in years. They don't have enough quality trade assets to make a major move in the short term and Randolph's value is only going to decline from here on out. I don't see a way for them to revive that team.

They have already moved Rudy Gay. Zach Randolph should be the next one to go. I think this Z-Bo/M.Gasol power play era is coming to a close for Memphis. They just haven't realized it yet.

So, for me, the question is would you rather build around Marc Gasol and Mike Conley or Russell Westbrook long term? I definitely choose Westbrook. Then I start dismantling the rest of the squad and rebuilding around him.

Why do they need to blow it up? They are 22 - 9 since the Rudy Gay trade (as of a couple days ago).

Financially they are pretty cash strapped but they are a better team without Gay.

They are not a title contender anymore.

I don't see how they can get back there either. Not enough trade assets. Zach Randolph is getting older and declining. The clock is ticking and they are running out of time.

[connor]

I think the trade is a good idea for Memphis.

They need to blow up that team and start over. They are no longer a title contender and Z-Bo is getting up there in years. They don't have enough quality trade assets to make a major move in the short term and Randolph's value is only going to decline from here on out. I don't see a way for them to revive that team.

They have already moved Rudy Gay. Zach Randolph should be the next one to go. I think this Z-Bo/M.Gasol power play era is coming to a close for Memphis. They just haven't realized it yet.

So, for me, the question is would you rather build around Marc Gasol and Mike Conley or Russell Westbrook long term? I definitely choose Westbrook. Then I start dismantling the rest of the squad and rebuilding around him.

Why do they need to blow it up? They are 22 - 9 since the Rudy Gay trade (as of a couple days ago).

Financially they are pretty cash strapped but they are a better team without Gay.

They are not a title contender anymore.

I don't see how they can get back there either. Not enough trade assets. Zach Randolph is getting older and declining. The clock is ticking and they are running out of time.

They have a large amount of trade exceptions (like 12m) and some cap room coming available, they could add some solid talent from a team looking to free up some cap space and aren't looking to take salary back in return (Indy- Granger? LAL-Pau? Gordon-NO? etc.). They added Ed Davis who has some solid up-side and I liked the little that I saw from Tony Wroten (although he is probably a long shot at developing into something).

I wouldn't say they are dead in the water. They have potential to be a solid contender (not a favorite but they could do damage). If they can't add anything and don't improve much next season, summer 2014 is when I'd look to rebuild. Moving Z-Bo for some value (not huge, but some) shouldn't be hard and that would put them in a good cap position to chase younger stars.

Too early to give up IMO.