Three-Team Trade

[HeadDoctorJ]

The Trade:

• To BOS: Eric Gordon, Austin Rivers, Harrison Barnes, Ognjen Kuzmic
  
• To GSW: Jeff Green, Brandon Bass, Brandan Wright
• To NOP: David Lee, Jameer Nelson

***Because Nelson and Wright must be traded in isolation (unless they wait 60 days following the Dallas trade), the trades would have to go down separately yet simultaneously, like this:

• Wright to GSW; Barnes & Kuzmic to BOS
• Nelson to NOP; Rivers to BOS
• Green & Bass to GSW; Lee to NOP; Gordon to BOS

Why They Do It:

BOS gets good young talent for veterans who won't be a part of their future. Here's what the post-trade roster would look like:

• PGs: Smart, Rivers, Pressey
• Wings: Barnes, Bradley, Turner, Crowder, Young, Gordon, Thornton, Wallace
• Bigs: Zeller, Sullinger, Olynyk, Kuzmic
• Probable Starters: Smart, Bradley, Barnes, Sullinger, Zeller (*Turner 6th man)

GSW solidifies their rotation with Bass effectively replacing the oft-injured Lee, Wright backing up the oft-injured Bogut, and Green assuming the minutes and responsibilities of Barnes. Added bonus: clearing Lee's contract from their books in advance of next season, when they will have to pay Draymond Green.

NOP bids adieu to Gordon's awful contract and replaces it with the virtually identical contract of Lee, with the upside that Lee could contribute meaningful and efficient minutes off the bench alongside a front court of: Anthony Davis, Omer Asik, and Ryan Anderson (mixing and matching these four bigs would offer a compelling variety of front court options). Nelson offers three-point shooting and effective ball-handling and play-making when both Holliday and Evans sit, and his experience may be preferable to Rivers' youth in crunch time and playoffs (which is NOP's goal, whether reasonable or not). If NOP insists, I would be happy to part with a garbage 2nd round pick or two as well (i.e., not PHI's or BOS's 2nd rounders).

Who says no?

[ronaldo943]

You're kidding yourself if you think GSW would trade Barnes and Lee for Green, Bass and Wright.

[HeadDoctorJ]

Well, they should consider it, as it would help them solidify a championship-caliber rotation. Currently they are over-reliant on two injury prone bigs, and though Bogut is indispensable, Lee with his absurd contract is certainly expendable. They desperately need to fortify their front court for the playoffs and for the regular season to rest Bogut.

Wright = very solid backup rim protector
Bass = very solid big with playoff experience
Green = very solid starter (especially in Barnes' role as third/fourth option scoring in transition and within motion of offense off screens, etc)

Lee = overpaid and injury prone
Barnes = good young player but likely not more crucial for a championship than those three BOS players

[fantankerous]

You're kidding yourself if you think GSW would trade Barnes and Lee for Green, Bass and Wright.

I agree.  TP.

[moiso]

You're kidding yourself if you think GSW would trade Barnes and Lee for Green, Bass and Wright.

I think they would do it.

[greece66]

I like the trade in so far as it includes all four Cs I'd like to see traded until the deadline.
Very hard to say if it's going to happen.
I can only hope we trade all four of them without picking up another bad contract a la Wallace (and given 2016 FA Ainge would only do so under very specific circumstances).

[Csfan1984]

I don't like it from Warriors, Pelicans and C's perspective. Warriors lose Barnes and Lee for rentals. C's lose two solid guys and only get one back and are hit with cap eaters. Pelicans don't need Lee they need a wing scorer like a Green or Barnes.

[Roy H.]

Why would anybody want Eric Gordon at this point?

[ronaldo943]

You're kidding yourself if you think GSW would trade Barnes and Lee for Green, Bass and Wright.

I think they would do it.

Then you're on the same boat with him.

[Ilikesports17]

Think about it, Green is a better/more experience version of Barnes so that is an immediate upgrade. In the long run perhaps not, but for this year Green could make them a better team for sure. Next, David Lee is injury prone and on a bad contract and they have proven they dont need him. Bass is a guy that can do many of the things lee can do and some at a higher level (midrange game) and wright offers defense energy athleticism etc and hes proven as a bit player he can do well.

Now do the warriors accept? maybe, maybe not. but it is in no way crazy to think that they do. They get and immediate upgrade at the 3 spot and they get to ditch the injury prone bad contract of david lee in return for the pros pro and playoff experienced Brandon Bass and the get Brandon Wright too, just for fun.

[littleteapot]

What the Warriors did with the Kevin Love trade talks shows that they are not going to go "all in" any time soon, and for good reason. They have an amazing group of young talent. They're much better off just letting Thompson, Barnes, Draymond Green and even Steph Curry (who is only 26) play into their primes and try to assemble the right pieces around them. As good as they are right now, they're probably just going to keep getting better. If they weren't willing to give up young pieces to get Kevin Love, why would they do it for Jeff Green and Brandon Bass?

[HeadDoctorJ]

I think the big difference GSW may see is that Klay is integral to perhaps the greatest backcourt of all time and covers up Curry's defensive deficiencies. They likely see Barnes as less crucial than Klay to their success. Also, they may wonder whether they will be able to afford Barnes in 2016 (especially since extensions for Klay, Curry, and Green will kick in by then and Bogut will still be on the books). Though Wright, Bass, and Green can all walk after this season, I bet GSW could re-sign two of them.

[Endless Paradise]

I agree that Barnes is less integral to the Warriors' success and that they'd probably consider moving him. In fact, I've written a few times about how Philly is a natural trade partner for them in that they have cap space and a glaring need for a wing player. Golden State can dump Lee on them and use Barnes as a sweetener.

The only thing is I don't see the Warriors making any significant moves during the season.

[Geo123]

Why would anybody want Eric Gordon at this point?

+1

[HeadDoctorJ]

Obviously no one wants Gordon, but taking on his contract is a price we would pay in this scenario for getting good young players. His contract will be off the books (along with Wallace) after next season and in time for 2016 free agency. We almost certainly will not need cap space for 2015 free agency, so let's use it effectively to take on bad contracts for a fee (the fee is Barnes, btw).

The Warriors may not make any significant moves this season, but I believe this trade would help them win a ring.

The Pelicans do need a wing scorer (like JGreen or Barnes). Could they get one for the price of Gordon & Rivers? I think this trade makes them better, period. And if they want a wing scorer and can't get one in-season, they may be able to flip Lee in the offseason for one. (Lee & Evans to BKN for Johnson & Jack?)