Originally Posted by
THE GR8
IMO this summer we really need to get rid of Landry Fields and Douglas more than anybody because I dont see what purpose they serve on this team right now. TD didnt play all season and i dont expect him to, and Fields has been a bum since weve gotten Melo and at this point he is just taking playing time from Shumpert, JR Smith, and hopefully a better SG we can sign in free agency. I think the draft is the best possible time to explore trading both of the players.
Now that Houston was able to receive the #18 pick for Buddinger, there is little doubt in my mind that we can get a mid to late first rounder straight up for Landry Fields. One of those teams takes that deal.
I also think we can maneuver a late first rounder outta Douglas. Lets not forget that TD led the NBA in 3s after the All-Star break this season and could probably give a team more than any late first round pick right away. I hear that the Warriors may be interested in him due to Stephen Curry's injury concerns and they own the #30 pick, and I bet you we could entice other teams picking around that area. Teams with late 1st round picks are usually always in win-now mode and teams looking to make a playoff run that could use some backcourt depth or some outside shooting additions would probably be willing to trade their late 1st rounder for Douglas because most late first round picks wont readily contribute during their first few seasons on winning teams. It would even strengthen the pot if we offered our own #48 pick along with Douglas in order to get a 1st round pick, so that the team we trade with can still find a player to develop for down the road or stash in Europe for a few seasons along with Douglas, which would compensate more for losing their draft pick. It is also a bonus that 2nd round picks have non guaranteed contracts unlike 1st round picks, and this can be very beneficial for deeper teams like the Thunder. Who knows? Maybe the elite teams in the West with late 1st round draft picks would be even more inclined to help us out more than other teams looking to become trade partners considering that with Derrick Rose's injury problems, the Celtics looking like they are one shove away from falling off the edge, Indiana and Atlanta's lack of star power, and Dwight Howard's uncertainty with the Magic, we are looking like the closest thing there is to a legitimate hurdle to the Heat empire in the East, and the last thing that teams like the Thunder want to come across in the NBA Finals is a well rested and uncontested Heat team.
Maybe if we could turn Landry/Douglas into 2 first rounders we could even explore trading up higher if a team drafting is not completely in love with the players available and would be willing to trade down. Alot can happen at the draft and I think the Knicks should be active.
Also, Houston is now clearly going after a superstar considering that they are gathering all of these draft picks together and their target appears to be Dwight Howard. However if it comes out that Dwight wont resign in Houston (which I hear he wont) maybe we could bring up the backup option of Amare to them who would be guaranteed under contract and still makes them a contender in the West.
I have already brought this up but they are more attractive now than ever given the fact that they still have two PGs that are better than any of our PGs (If we could pull off landing Lowry than Grunfeld should just be given executive of the year preseason but I would be very content with Dragic as yall know), they are clearly going all in for a superstar and are tired of mediocrity, and they now have more draft picks than they already had making them more expendable. If we dont even attempt to work out a deal with them we are just plain foolish and obviously too proud to trade Amare even in a good trade scenario, which is a problem because you cant let pride/loyalty get in the way of building a champion when we are clearly not there yet. Amare/Melo have yet to prove they can work together and when there is a team like Houston that has the draft picks and PGs to potentially offer us an amazing deal you gotta explore that.
While im on the topic of Amare trade scenarios, it seems like Cleveland/Washington are both in love with Bradley Beal. If Cleveland trades up to #2 to snag Beal and the Bobcats are not in love with a player at #3 do you think there is any possibility of a Amare for #3 and Okafor? idk just thinking out loud
Okafor has a similar bad contract to Amare but would give Washington a filthy pick and roll with John Wall/ Amare. He would definitley contribute more right away than anybody that the Wizards could draft at #3, %%%@ even throw in Landry/Douglas since the Wizards are looking for a 2 guard and shooters. A lineup of Wall/Fields/Ariza/Amare/Nene in the depleted Eastern conference would have a bright future ahead.
We would get Okafor who could hold down the 4 and make a nasty defensive combo with Tyson while allowing Melo to be the clear #1 option. And with the #3 pick we could draft MKG who would be a perfect 2 guard to pair next to Melo and play defense and do all that good stuff New Yorkers love in their players.
idk I guess the Wizards trade option is pretty unlikely to go down, unless we included Shumpert instead of Landry, which I think they would want included in order to accept trading such a high draft pick, since they dont seem to like the idea of MKG or Barnes at the 2, Landry cant shoot worth $++#, and Shumpert is a true SG who can also run the point at times allowing Wall to play off the ball on occasion. But idk if I would be down to trade Iman but than again the prospect of MKG on the Knicks would help me get over losing him. Still a very unlikely scenario either way, figured I would still throw it out there though...
However we should seriously contact Daryl Morey and the Rockets.
