Detroit-Orlando deal in the works

[chilidawg]

Further thoughts:  Jennings slots in well as the back up point, and Illyasova as the back up to Gordon.  Orlando needed a little more veteran leadership and to create room for Hezonga and Gordon to play. I think this works out better for them than Detroit.

[Endless Paradise]

Looking back to last summer, I remember it sounded like Orlando wasn't that high on re-signing Harris to begin with, but letting a RFA walk away for nothing when you don't have a better use for the cap space is asinine.

Orlando ultimately didn't get much for Harris, but signing him to a big money deal didn't end up being a bad decision for them.  They got some value for him.  Looking at it that way, this deal makes some more sense.  They never wanted to keep him long term.

This is exactly why the Thunder re-signed Kanter, fwiw. Just pointing that out for the remaining few out there who, inexplicably, still don't understand that the only logical thing the Thunder could have done last summer was match Portland's offer sheet for Kanter.

[makaveli]

kinda makes sense for both teams, harris a great potential all star stud, but hasn't worked out for him in orlando, filled with other potential all stars. Detroit gets better, orlando in worst case scenario gets better than their 1-15 (or whatever record) in year of 2016.
but my first thought was like, dammmmnnn, detroit stole the ball.

[PhoSita]

Looking back to last summer, I remember it sounded like Orlando wasn't that high on re-signing Harris to begin with, but letting a RFA walk away for nothing when you don't have a better use for the cap space is asinine.

Orlando ultimately didn't get much for Harris, but signing him to a big money deal didn't end up being a bad decision for them.  They got some value for him.  Looking at it that way, this deal makes some more sense.  They never wanted to keep him long term.

This is exactly why the Thunder re-signed Kanter, fwiw. Just pointing that out for the remaining few out there who, inexplicably, still don't understand that the only logical thing the Thunder could have done last summer was match Portland's offer sheet for Kanter.

I dunno with Kanter, though, I mean, is anybody going to trade for that contract?  Seems a little different than the Harris situation.  You can envision Harris starting for a good team some day.  Kanter ... I just don't know how that could work.  He's so bad defensively, and that's not news.

[Endless Paradise]

Looking back to last summer, I remember it sounded like Orlando wasn't that high on re-signing Harris to begin with, but letting a RFA walk away for nothing when you don't have a better use for the cap space is asinine.

Orlando ultimately didn't get much for Harris, but signing him to a big money deal didn't end up being a bad decision for them.  They got some value for him.  Looking at it that way, this deal makes some more sense.  They never wanted to keep him long term.

This is exactly why the Thunder re-signed Kanter, fwiw. Just pointing that out for the remaining few out there who, inexplicably, still don't understand that the only logical thing the Thunder could have done last summer was match Portland's offer sheet for Kanter.

I dunno with Kanter, though, I mean, is anybody going to trade for that contract?  Seems a little different than the Harris situation.  You can envision Harris starting for a good team some day.  Kanter ... I just don't know how that could work.  He's so bad defensively, and that's not news.

It's not different at all. If OKC let him walk, they would have had no way of replacing him as they were well over the cap. Letting him walk would have quite literally been OKC making the conscious decision to downgrade the talent going into KD's free agency year.

As bad as he is defensively, he's still a really good offensive player and rebounder (which is why he's one of the league leaders in PER). See: https://www.numberfire.com/nba/news/7400/enes-kanter-is-an-advanced-stat-anomaly

Also, read this for good measure: http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on-basketball/25458590/no-really-the-thunders-title-chances-may-rest-on-enes-kanter

Andrea Bargnani was traded two years ago for a first rounder. Kanter - who actually rates as a better defender than Bargnani even this season - is just 23 years old and has made tangible improvements on defense. His contract is only untradeable if you're buying way too much into the anti-Kanter talk from the summer. He's still an asset and a prospect.

[tomrod]

Great trade for both teams. Orlando clears space for Gordon, and deal Harris who is not really a go to guy, but fits in what they are building in Detroit. Also Jennings and Ilyasova are great fits in Orlando.

[sofutomygaha]

I hope Orlando offered Harris to Atlanta for Jeff Teague first.

[PhoSita]

Kanter - who actually rates as a better defender than Bargnani even this season - is just 23 years old and has made tangible improvements on defense. His contract is only untradeable if you're buying way too much into the anti-Kanter talk from the summer. He's still an asset and a prospect.

Yeah, I guess it's not crazy for OKC to bet that Kanter will either improve enough that they can give him minutes in line with his deal, or that his production off the bench will convince somebody to take a chance on him despite his horrid defense.

I'm skeptical that he'll ever be a guy you can trust to play 28+ minutes a game, and it seems like he gives up just as much on one end as he gets you on the other, but history tells us the Thunder will probably be able to trade him for something if they want to, especially since everybody has too much cap space the next couple of years.

[Endless Paradise]

Deal was finalized: Harris for Jennings and Ilyasova. No picks.

http://www.nba.com/magic/news/magic-acquire-jennings-and-ilyasova-pistons-exchange-harris

[cltc5]

Yippie.  Well get what more picks and point guards?  Come on make a move!

[fairweatherfan]

Deal was finalized: Harris for Jennings and Ilyasova. No picks.

http://www.nba.com/magic/news/magic-acquire-jennings-and-ilyasova-pistons-exchange-harris

All right then, I'm definitely on board with bad deal for Orlando.  Maybe they plan to resign one or both of them.  Really seems like they've planned to dump Harris pretty much since they resigned them.

[LarBrd33]

Apparently, Danny was not fond of Harris, because we could've easily beat that deal without really giving up all that much at all.

Hopefully that means Ainge is working on getting a bigger fish.

[PhoSita]

Deal was finalized: Harris for Jennings and Ilyasova. No picks.

http://www.nba.com/magic/news/magic-acquire-jennings-and-ilyasova-pistons-exchange-harris

All right then, I'm definitely on board with bad deal for Orlando.  Maybe they plan to resign one or both of them.  Really seems like they've planned to dump Harris pretty much since they resigned them.

I think it's the only explanation.   They wanted to sign and trade him this past summer, or use the cap space on somebody else (i.e. Millsap), and nothing worked out.  They re-signed him with the plan of trading him at the deadline this year.  They must have reached the conclusion that they weren't going to get much for him, and took the best deal they got.

Harris getting traded for so little suggests that teams either don't think much of Harris, or else they're all jealously guarding their cap space.


It's interesting that the Celts weren't in on this at least to drive up the cost.  Supposedly Ainge was interested in Harris last year.  Maybe LarBrd is right and this means Danny has bigger fish to fry.

[ssspence]

Apparently, Danny was not fond of Harris, because we could've easily beat that deal without really giving up all that much at all.

Hopefully that means Ainge is working on getting a bigger fish.

Right. Would be hard to believe Ainge tried in any way to acquire him.

[BornReady]

I feel Detroit got a steal in this
By only needing to give up illysavo and Jennings
For Harris without giving up a 1st rounder

Probably helped by Harris down year and large contract
Orlando had too much young talent
This at least gives the magic some vets to mentor their young players
And more playing time for hezonja
And more money to spend on fee agency next summer