jmmagicfan

Except he asked for a trade, so if they can get a cheaper replacement, on a similar length contract, like Fournier, it might be an additional incentive for the Conley move.

I have always liked Mike Conley, but there are a couple of drawbacks. He does have two years of sizable salary after this one, he is 31 years old, and he has had some injury issues the past few years; but as ?4TW said, these all kind of work with our time frame, and salary timing. My biggest concern though, is the fact he has played most of his career in Memphis slow-down type of offense, and I am not sure he would be as adept in the up-tempo that we should be running with BIG. Having said that, I do have a trade idea below. It is basically Conley/Parsons/Dillon Brooks/Jevon Carter for Fournier/Mozgov/Vucevic/Grant/top 3 protected option to switch 1st round picks this year or OKC pick for next. This gets them a similar player to Parsons in Fournier, but $7.5M cheaper, Vucevic's expiring as a tryout if they are shopping Gasol, Mozgov who might be a fill/tank mode for 2019-20 or who could be waived/stretched, and Grant's expiring as a tryout. You could also sub in Simmons for Grant, which still works. They can either keep Simmons for 19-20 at the reasonable contract, or waive him and only pay the guaranteed $1M. http://www.espn.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=yc3oefxt We would be as follows: Conley/Augustin/Briscoe/Carter Ross/Iwundu/Brooks/Frazier Isaac/Parsons/Simmons Gordon/Martin Bamba/Birch If you subbed in Simmons, you would probably play Iwundu at both wings as a second or third backup.

I would like to see both of them gone, for different reasons. It's them finishing I can't handle; because for the most part, they can't. Vuc is playing better than he ever has, and his defense is the best it's been since his first year here; but I can't see him being happy coming off the bench. If we get a young(er) point guard to create a more up-tempo game, he doesn't fit. If he stays, he and DJ coming off the bench could make for a strong bench, playing a different tempo than the starters. The problem is, an unhappy Vuc is not a good player. So you either have to play the slower tempo and let him start, or you have to move on from him; and the last 5-6 years have shown we aren't going anywhere with Vuc as our best player/1st option. If I have to watch Fournier play much more 4th-quarter, hero-ball I may hurt someone. Part of our problem, and why we let people back in, is that Fournier becomes a black-hole in the 4th, especially if the other team is on a run. He over-dribbles, and either gives to Vuc for a contested shot at the end of the shot-clock; or takes one himself. We have no ball movement in the 4th once Fournier touches the ball. He doesn't have the speed to create his own shot in the 4th, and seems to lack the self-awareness to know it. Also, everyone in the league knows that Fournier isn't going to give up the ball in the 4th, and they are prepared for it.

Can't access twitter from work, what is up?

You're forgetting Birch, Mozgov, and the trade bringing in Willy Hernangomez; not to mention Isaac/Gordon may be able to slide over in small-ball scenarios. And it is only a pie-in-the-sky, just for fun post anyway.

99.5% of the time - the exception being if you get a Chris Webber/Penny Hardaway deal; where the guy you really want is gonna be a 2-4 pick and you can get him plus future assets.

No, not the rights to Fran - we might be able to get more for those - like a tissue or a toothpick, even.

Any interest in Tyus Battle from Syracuse with one of the two second-round picks?

Thanks, my work computer wouldn't open the link. I wondered what it said.

You and I posted the same basic take on this at the same time!

Translation: "We know we're screwed with the news that is out there, so we are trying to change the story to regain some of our bargaining power"

TRoss cold-blooded assasin

Forced Griffin into a contested fade-away. That’s pretty good D

Overtime!!

You got that right! The shell of 36 y.o. Dwyane Wade has missed 9/36 games, averaging what may be a career low 14.1 ppg and yet still is one of the top two guards in East voting; and that may not even be the worst!?! Unfortunately, too much voting is done by "name recognition" only, and not by who is actually have an all-star worthy year. This will never change unless they let the coaches pick the full team, and then let the fans vote for the starters.