OKC hasn't used their TE from Kevin Martin

[diconzo]

Was looking at OKC's financial situation and noticed that they refuse to go into the luxury tax and will not use their trade exception from Kevin Martin (which happens to fit Brandon Bass almost exactly). I'm wondering, what gives? They're definitely a contender but I don't think they've been the favorites to come out of the west since the Harden trade. Durant will be an UFA in 2016, although it's unlikely he leaves, he could turn down OKC if they aren't even attempting to make use of their best years. Maybe it's just me, because it's not my money, but if I managed/owned a small market team that had the second best player in the world, not even in his prime yet, adding as many pieces as possible would be objective #1.

[D.o.s.]

Their ownership sucks.

[Who]

I think they are the best team in the West already.

I don't see a lot of value in that $6.5 million trade exception. It is not like it is going to get them a star player or an upgrade over Perk at starting center. It'll probably only net them a bench player and their bench is already a very strong group. A top notch reserve backcourt (who are going to be due pay rises in near future). A strong backup PF/C in N.Collison. A pair of useful backup centers in S.Adams and H.Thabeet. Another backup SF with size would be nice but it's not a necessity.

[Moranis]

Not that I ever think this would happen (can't see Houston and OKC wanting to trade with each other), but this would be an interesting trade for all three teams

BOS - Perkins, Lamb, Adams
OKC - Asik, Lee
HOU - Bass, Bradley, Jones

[wdleehi]

They are 17-4.


They are already deep.





Why spend that much for a 15 minute a game player?

[Endless Paradise]

They've got a better record than the Rockets and they had their best season in franchise history after trading away Harden.  They'll be fine.  I say they're still the favorites as long as Durant and Westbrook are healthy, especially since it's looking like Durant wants to make a strong statement for the MVP award this year.

[diconzo]

Not that I ever think this would happen (can't see Houston and OKC wanting to trade with each other), but this would be an interesting trade for all three teams

BOS - Perkins, Lamb, Adams
OKC - Asik, Lee
HOU - Bass, Bradley, Jones

I thought of something similar, but I agree that an OKC/HOU trade is highly unlikely.

BOS - Lamb, Adams, Sefolosha, Thabeet (non-guaranteed salary)
OKC - Bass, Bradley, Crawford

also keeps OKC out of the luxury tax while improving their defensive wing (Bradley for Sefolosha), their 6th man scoring plug (Crawford for Lamb, who they have been reportedly shopping for an upgrade). The only hitch is Bass is a completely different big than Adams. OKC doesn't really have a small-ball PF to put beside Serge though, something Bass could fit to a T.

[Endless Paradise]

Not that I ever think this would happen (can't see Houston and OKC wanting to trade with each other), but this would be an interesting trade for all three teams

BOS - Perkins, Lamb, Adams
OKC - Asik, Lee
HOU - Bass, Bradley, Jones

I thought of something similar, but I agree that an OKC/HOU trade is highly unlikely.

BOS - Lamb, Adams, Sefolosha, Thabeet (non-guaranteed salary)
OKC - Bass, Bradley, Crawford

also keeps OKC out of the luxury tax while improving their defensive wing (Bradley for Sefolosha), their 6th man scoring plug (Crawford for Lamb, who they have been reportedly shopping for an upgrade). The only hitch is Bass is a completely different big than Adams. OKC doesn't really have a small-ball PF to put beside Serge though, something Bass could fit to a T.

They use Durant as their small-ball PF with Westbrook and Jackson and it's been lethal.

[Moranis]

Not that I ever think this would happen (can't see Houston and OKC wanting to trade with each other), but this would be an interesting trade for all three teams

BOS - Perkins, Lamb, Adams
OKC - Asik, Lee
HOU - Bass, Bradley, Jones

I thought of something similar, but I agree that an OKC/HOU trade is highly unlikely.

BOS - Lamb, Adams, Sefolosha, Thabeet (non-guaranteed salary)
OKC - Bass, Bradley, Crawford

also keeps OKC out of the luxury tax while improving their defensive wing (Bradley for Sefolosha), their 6th man scoring plug (Crawford for Lamb, who they have been reportedly shopping for an upgrade). The only hitch is Bass is a completely different big than Adams. OKC doesn't really have a small-ball PF to put beside Serge though, something Bass could fit to a T.

I can't see OKC doing that.  They want to move Perkins and upgrade the center spot, I just can't see them giving up all of that young talent and expiring deals taking on long term salary in Bass without giving up Perkins in the deal.

[diconzo]

Not that I ever think this would happen (can't see Houston and OKC wanting to trade with each other), but this would be an interesting trade for all three teams

BOS - Perkins, Lamb, Adams
OKC - Asik, Lee
HOU - Bass, Bradley, Jones

I thought of something similar, but I agree that an OKC/HOU trade is highly unlikely.

BOS - Lamb, Adams, Sefolosha, Thabeet (non-guaranteed salary)
OKC - Bass, Bradley, Crawford

also keeps OKC out of the luxury tax while improving their defensive wing (Bradley for Sefolosha), their 6th man scoring plug (Crawford for Lamb, who they have been reportedly shopping for an upgrade). The only hitch is Bass is a completely different big than Adams. OKC doesn't really have a small-ball PF to put beside Serge though, something Bass could fit to a T.

They use Durant as their small-ball PF with Westbrook and Jackson and it's been lethal.

Oh man I forgot Durant can basically play wherever he wants  . What about Bass+Lee for Perk+Lamb? Still keeps OKC under the luxury tax. Makes them a smaller team but Bass is definitely a better overall basketball player than Perkins. Also opens up room for Adams to play more minutes. Lee is an upgrade defensively over Lamb and isn't a slouch on offense either. Would OKC entertain it? Lamb would be a nice long term piece and having Perk back would be cool, not to mention how bad we need a center, and he just turned 29. Future backup center/veteran bruiser when we actually contend again? If we had a 30 something defensive backup C in 2010 we might have 18 banners.

I can't see OKC doing that.  They want to move Perkins and upgrade the center spot, I just can't see them giving up all of that young talent and expiring deals taking on long term salary in Bass without giving up Perkins in the deal.

They probably believe that upgrade is Adams. It's a pipe dream to trade for Adams, but he's such an intriguing prospect. Especially for the Celts 

[D.o.s.]

No thank you to the withered shell of Perk, even though I look back on his time in green fondly, and double-no thank you to helping the Thunder get out from under his contract.

[diconzo]

No thank you to the withered shell of Perk, even though I look back on his time in green fondly, and double-no thank you to helping the Thunder get out from under his contract.

Because cap space is important this summer? Definitely would rather have Perk's 2 year deal than Lee's 3 year deal on the books so in the summer of 2015 we can actually make a legitimate offer to the free agents. Gerald Wallace is obviously road block #1 but Lee on the books for 2015-16 isn't helping the Celts.

http://www.hoopsworld.com/2015-nba-free-agents

[aporel#18]

no need to give up Bradley

Boston sends Bass+Lee to Houston
Boston gets Perk+PJ3+Dallas 2014 first rounder from OKC, future 2nd rounder from Houston

Houston sends Asik to OKC, future 2nd rounder to Boston
Houston gets Bass+Lee from Boston, rights to Abrines from OKC

OKC sends Perk+PJ3+Dallas pick to Boston, Abrines rights to Houston
OKC gets Asik

Not giving a young player of pick to get Asik/help Morey out of his "genius backloaded contract" trap.

Houston gets rid of Asik's 15M next season, gets the best player in the trade in Bass, a capable guard on an ugly contract in Lee, and the shiny draft rights to Abrines. That's worth a future 2nd in the 50s.

OKC gets rid of Perk's terrible (worst in the trade, maybe in the whole NBA) contract, gets Asik (healthy Perk) and only gives up Abrines' rights, PJ3 and a Dallas pick that may be in the 20s.

Boston takes on Perk's terrible contract, but he's a fan favorite, gets PJ3 and Dallas pick, plus a late second rounder that could be useful to get the next Colton Iverson. And cut almost 2M in salaries.

Houston and OKC get better this year, Boston gets worse but can take this step backwards because it will pay off as soon as 2015.

Combine this trade with this proposed by JBcat (sending Bogan's expiring to Chicago instead of Lee and with Chicago sending us the Charlotte 2014 first rounder they own) and you've cut 7M in salaries, with three open roster spots and a lot of flexibility now and in the future:

I'll start off with the trade 3 team trade I proposed the in the Celtics/Bulls/and Knicks thread in which I got some positive feedback on.

Trade #1
Celtics get Amare (2 years left of his deal)
Knicks get Boozer and Wallace
Bulls get Humphries, Lee, and Shrumpert (clears enough salary room for the Bulls to re-sign Deng without going over the tax)
We could possibly get a first from either team or both (in Knicks case 2018 pick)

Rondo/Crawford/Pressey
Bradley/Crawford/Brooks
Green/PJ3
Sully/Kelly/(Amare)
Perk/Fav

+ 4 2014 first round picks

Perk+Amare: if they can't play, they combine for 30M expiring in 2015 aka Ratliff 2.0