OT: The Hornets about to blow it up? (1 Viewer)

[Fez Hammersticks]

A source with knowledge of the situation says the Kings are discussing a trade with New Orleans that would send Kenny Thomas to the Hornets and bring center Emeka Okafor to Sacramento.

The deal would be ideal for the Hornets, as Thomas' expiring contract worth $8.7 million is just the kind of contract that would trim their enormous payroll. The question, of course, is whether the Kings see Okafor as a big man solution worth the five years and $62.5 million left on his deal.

The 6-foot-10, 255-pound center who was the second pick of the 2004 draft out of Connecticut has averaged 13.9 points and 10.6 rebounds in his six-season career. He spent his first four seasons in Charlotte before being traded to New Orleans in late July for Tyson Chandler.

No deal is imminent and this is merely a discussion between the two sides at this point. - Sam Amick

LINK​

 

[anonymous gambler]

We should go after Okafor- expiring contracts, a good young player or two- This would give us great insurance if Pryzbilla leaves. Possibly, Okafor could play the 4...

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Meh. He's paid like an All-Star and wouldn't start in Portland.

Chris Paul or bust!

 

[THE HCP]

I promise you on everything that is holy that Okafor is NOT 6'10"! That fool is like 6'8"! Kinda like how they always said back in the day that Charles Barkley was 6'9"!

 

[Natebishop3]

Chris Paul or bust!

 

[shamelessblazer]

Just let Paul get really mad playing with terrible players then swoop in!

 

[Nikolokolus]

Prediction time: George Shinn will sell the Hornets before trading Paul, and even if he was going to trade him it would be for expiring contracts and high draft picks ... two things this team has precious little of.

 

[Ed O]

We should go after Okafor- expiring contracts, a good young player or two- This would give us great insurance if Pryzbilla leaves. Possibly, Okafor could play the 4...

Totally agreed. We would go from a rather small team to a big one. He's expensive but he'd shore up the ONE obvious hole on our roster: the backup power forward spot.

Ed O.

 

[hasoos]

You know its generally not a good sign with a player when they are traded 2 times before a season has even completed.

 

[Boob-No-More]

You know its generally not a good sign with a player when they are traded 2 times before a season has even completed.

You mean like Sheed? He was such a cancer in Atlanta he only lasted one game before the kicked his sorry ass to the curb.

Seriously, there are many different reasons to trade a player. If the Hornets trade Okafor, it will be an obvious salary dump.

That team is stuck in hell right now. They NEED to rebuild, but Chris Paul will NOT be happy about that. They are 3-8 right now. If Paul misses three weeks with his ankle sprain they could easily be 3-16 or 4-15 when he returns. At that point, it will be almost impossible for them to make the play-offs. Paul was already extremely unhappy when they started 3-5. Imagine how he'll feel if they are 3-16.

They have multiple big contracts that currently have them paying luxury tax both this season and next - unless they can dump one, or more, of those contracts. They have a cash strapped owner and a fan base that's unwilling, or unable, to financially support the team.

They need to do something dramatic - sell the team, or start dumping players.

BNM

 

[Natebishop3]

I would trade for Okafor if he wouldn't mind coming off the bench.

I would do a Blake/Outlaw/filler for Okafor.

Miller/Bayless
Roy/Rudy
Webster/Cunningham/Batum (until he's healthy)
LMA/Okafor
Oden/Joel

And if Joel leaves after next season, we have Okafor play both front court positions.

 

[B-Roy]

12 million dollar backup? Holy shit??

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

$10,538,937

$11,540,375

$12,541,812

$13,543,250

$14,544,687

With LMA playing 30-35 min/per and Greg eventually will play around the same, why go out for such an expensive backup when the minutes aren't there for him? Especially on his contract.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I would trade for Okafor if he wouldn't mind coming off the bench.

I would do a Blake/Outlaw/filler for Okafor.

Miller/Bayless
Roy/Rudy
Webster/Cunningham/Batum (until he's healthy)
LMA/Okafor
Oden/Joel

And if Joel leaves after next season, we have Okafor play both front court positions.

If we traded for Okafor, it would pretty much guarantee Przy would leave anyway ... so why not just go ahead and offer him up in trade. In this case the Hornets get a decent defensive center who's contract is about to expire and if they really like him he'd be a helluva lot cheaper than either Chandler or Emeka are/were.

So maybe the trade ends up being Travis' expring deal, Joel and Bayless for Okafor, Collison. The team gets a combo guard who can play spot minutes at the 1, can play off the ball at the two, a wing who will eventually be healthy or will expire anyway and a defensive anchor that they are missing with the departure of Tyson. On the other hand we get a true point guard who can shoot and played good D in College, and a center-power forward rotation of LMA/Okafor/Oden.

FYI: the Bayless/Travis/Joel for Okafor/Collison trade is a dead match in contract value.
http://www.realgm.com/src_checktrade.php?tradeid=5284309

 

[Ed O]

With LMA playing 30-35 min/per and Greg eventually will play around the same, why go out for such an expensive backup when the minutes aren't there for him? Especially on his contract.

So you think Portland is better not spending the money and going with Juwan Howard at the backup PF spot?

I'm not quite sure that makes any sense to me.

Ed O.

 

[B-Roy]

So you think Portland is better not spending the money and going with Juwan Howard at the backup PF spot?

I'm not quite sure that makes any sense to me.

Ed O.

But 12 million dollars? Really? You can't find someone who is at least a little bit cheaper?

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Relying on Juwan doesn't make much sense but neither does paying a backup $62m over the next 5 seasons.

 

[Nikolokolus]

But 12 million dollars? Really? You can't find someone who is at least a little bit cheaper?

It's a lot, but if you were to go with a 3 forward/center rotation in the front-court of LMA, Oden and Okafor you'd be getting pretty good value -- more value than paying Joel 7 million a year and a backup the the MLE for instance.

 

[B-Roy]

It's a lot, but if you were to go with a 3 forward/center rotation in the front-court of LMA, Oden and Okafor you'd be getting pretty good value -- more value than paying Joel 7 million a year and a backup the the MLE for instance.

But you're assuming no injuries or foul trouble.

 

[Nikolokolus]

But you're assuming no injuries or foul trouble.

That's why you keep guys like Howard for the veteran's minimum around, plus Cunningham and when healthy Pendergraph can probably give you 5-10 non-detrimental minutes a night. Injuries are always a concern, but I think this move would be worth the risk

 

[andalusian]

It's a lot, but if you were to go with a 3 forward/center rotation in the front-court of LMA, Oden and Okafor you'd be getting pretty good value -- more value than paying Joel 7 million a year and a backup the the MLE for instance.

I would rather do Joel + Outlaw than Okafor. Joel gives you the defense Okafor gives you (or more) - and Outlaw gives you a different look and the ability to go small and create mismatches.

Just my opinion.

 

[Ed O]

But 12 million dollars? Really? You can't find someone who is at least a little bit cheaper?

Why spend less on an inferior player?

If we could get someone as good--or better--for cheap, sure.

But, barring that, why not get the best possible player you can? Unless there's some indication that he would not be willing to be a backup on a championship-level team.

Ed O.

 

[magnifier661]

Why spend less on an inferior player?

If we could get someone as good--or better--for cheap, sure.

But, barring that, why not get the best possible player you can? Unless there's some indication that he would not be willing to be a backup on a championship-level team.

Ed O.

Do you think he would be happy being a back-up? Something tells me he wouldn't be.

 

[Ed O]

Do you think he would be happy being a back-up? Something tells me he wouldn't be.

I dunno. I don't know his personality. I think that he's probably smart enough to know:

1. He's making a shit-ton of money.
2. He'd be an important player on one of the best teams in the NBA.
3. Injuries happen.

Every player wants to excel, of course, but it's quite possible he'd be content in this situation.

Ed O.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

If he didn't make so much money I'd be all over this idea.

Two summers ago Chad Ford said that many scouts say Okafor is really a backup on a contending team. It's just too bad he's being paid like a star.

 

[ucatchtrout]

Meh. He's paid like an All-Star and wouldn't start in Portland.

Chris Paul or bust!

Agree.

I think eventually Paul will be traded.
Their owner said recently he'd never trade Paul.
They say this now, but do the math.
Something has got to give.
New Orleans is way over the cap and has got do something drastic to reduce payroll......unless there is an AMNESTY.

While watching the Hornets' summer league team play Thursday night in Las Vegas, Chris Paul told a reporter there's chance he soon could be traded.

With the luxury tax threshold set this upcoming season at $69.92 million and the Hornets' current payroll at $78.8 million, they are desperate to dump salaries to avoid having to pay the tax penalty next summer.Due to its financial limitations, New Orleans is the only team in the Southwest Division that has yet to acquire a player through free agency or by a trade to improve its roster this offseason.

"In this league, anything can happen,'' Paul told Pro Basketball News. "I can be dealt. It's possible. It's possible.''

In response Friday, Hornets President Hugh Weber said the possibility of them trading Paul is zero.

"There is no chance of him getting traded,'' Weber said sternly. "I don't know how to say it any stronger, but there is just no deal we would contemplate for Chris. I can't speak for Chris, but I think he was talking about the nature of the business and the fact that the question was asked the way it was.''

Hornets General Manager Jeff Bower said from Las Vegas Friday morning he is investigating many things in regard to free agency and possible trades to improve the roster, but he said trading Paul would not meet any of those objectives.

"I have not nor will I enter any discussions for him,'' Bower said."(Trading Paul) is not going to happen. I think what Chris said just shows his selflessness that he's not different than anyone else on the team.''

Paul signed a three-year contract extension that included an option for a fourth year last summer. Paul's contract is valued at $68 million when the fourth year is included.

Link to source

 

[PapaG]

$12 million/per for a back-up PF is insane, especially when Oden needs to be extended this summer and will get the max in two years.

A horrible move, if it was ever made, which it won't be.

There are better PFs for that price, or even for cheaper. David Lee could probably be had for cheaper anyhow as the trade deadline approaches. Blake/Outlaw or Bayless/filler - git 'r dun.

 

[julius]

Oh come on people, what team benefits from other teams who are desperate to get rid of all star quality players?

Obviously he's going to the Lakers for Sasha Pavlovic, Shannon Brown and Derek Fisher.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Oh come on people, what team benefits from other teams who are desperate to get rid of all star quality players?

Obviously he's going to the Lakers for Sasha Pavlovic, Shannon Brown and Derek Fisher.

Thanks, you've just given me a migraine headache.

 

[Minstrel]

Trading for Okafor to potentially back up both center and power forward (and therefore play a LOT of minutes) makes a lot of sense to me. The main caveat is what Paul Allen is willing to pay. If he has his own, self-imposed salary cap, then it may not be the best use of cash with Oden due for a huge salary if he remains healthy and keeps developing, and potentially players like Fernandez, Bayless and Batum becoming expensive down the line (if they work out the way we hope).

If Allen is willing to pay the freight, though, an Oden/Aldridge/Okafor front court rotation would be devastatingly good. I like what Przybilla brings, but Okafor can back up both front court positions (Przybilla essentially only backs up the center position) and Okafor is younger. The greater expense only matters if Allen doesn't want to pay it...it has no cap implications because Portland is going to be over the cap for the rest of this core's run anyway.