Ultimately I think if you offered up Noel for Smart straight up, both sides say no because there's some value to keeping "your guy" who's already embedded into the team culture (assuming Philly even has something that could be called a culture.)
If this were a video game, it would make perfect sense though. They have pretty much completely equal trade value (same age, similar stage of development, Noel plays a position where starters are harder to find but Smart is under team control for a year longer.) You could make arguments for why one is better than the other but it's all marginal.
It is funny that about 8 months ago this would be considered a steal for the celtics, but now due some regression from Noel and improvement from Smart it is viewed as a fair swap.
"Improvement" from Smart? How's that math work. He's shooting 32% and 24% from three right now. If Noel has "regressed" 10 games into the season, so has Smart.
Is there a way we can do a 4 or 5 team trade that nets us Bismack, Anthony Bennett, Stauskas and McLemore right now? All those guys are looking elite right now. I think those 4 with Noel would be a dynasty. #playerevaluation #onpoint
Spot on. Don't forget Embiid too though. When LB likes you, it's pretty much a kiss of death.
And har har... For all the flack I got about liking the Bismack Biyombo's of the world, it's interesting that nobody has pointed out that Willie Cauley Stein's season averages of 4.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, 0.9 blocks, with 52% from the line in 19mpg are strikingly similar to Biyombo's stats of 4.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, 0.9 blocks with 76% FT shooting in 16.9mpg.
WCS: 4.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, 0.9 blocks, with 52% from the line in 19mpg
Biyombo: 4.6 points, 5.9 rebounds, 0.9 blocks with 76% FT shooting in 16.9mpg
That was all my point ever was... that I wouldn't trade the farm to move up in the draft and take the next Bismack Biyombo... I'd rather just throw some cheap money at Biyombo in free agency and give up ZERO assets. I stand by it. I'd rather keep the picks and get 80% of WCS than give up all our picks for a guy who looked pretty [dang] similar. Will I eventually be proven wrong on that? Perhaps. Have I been proven wrong on that so far?
NOPE. WCS is 21 ... Biyombo is 22... who knows what either develops into long-term.
I think I also suggested that I'd consider moving the #16 pick for Stauskas or Bennett. Am I fool? Perhaps. Rozier is averaging a blistering 1.8 points, 1.3 rebounds, on 18%/11%/00% shooting so far. Bennett is averaging 1.3 points, 1.7 rebounds on 11%/00%/88% shooting so far. Stauskas is averaging 9.5 points, 3 rebounds, 2.2 assists on 32%/27%/72% shooting so far. Will I eventually be proven wrong on liking the ceiling of those two prospects more than what we were taking 16? Perhaps. Have I been proven wrong on that so far.
NOPE. Rozier is 21. Stauskas is 22. Bennett is 22. Who knows what any of them develop into long-term. They all suck so far on the NBA level. I think Rozier showed the least potential on the amateur level.
As for Ben McLemore. I still like him. I'd love to trade for him. I started a thread yesterday that suggested that now is a good time to trade Jared Sullinger. You trade guys like Sullinger when they are on a hot streak. You trade FOR guys like Ben McLemore when they are on a cold streak. Right now is a good time to buy McLemore stock. He's limited to 17.8 mpg on that cluster-f of a Kings team... but he's shooting 42%/46%/79%.. and he's coming off a season in which he started all 82 games and averaged 12 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 44%/36%/81% shooting. He's 22 years old. Would I still gamble on him? YOu're [dang] right i would.
Look, ya'll will have plenty of opportunity to gloat at my expense for opinions of mine that were proven wrong. But 10 games into the season when I haven't in-fact been proven wrong isn't the time to do that. I made my apologies for the Embiid situation... I was running around telling everyone that Embiid said he felt fine, was running around without a boot, dunking without issue and ready to go... Turns out, none of what I said was inaccurate. All these things were happening... I just wasn't aware that Embiid was doing all of this in spite of his team and his doctors... that the team was lying about his condition... and that his situation was a complete disaster. Nobody here was aware of that either... they were just speculating on the worst cuz "oden". It's been several months and we still don't know if he did in-fact re-break his foot... and that situation continues to get weirder and weider as more details trickle out. I took my licks for sharing info... so be it. It happens.
