2014 Offseason Plan

[twslam07]

I posted this trade in another thread earlier, but I thought I would make it into an actual scenario. With the draft coming up, this scenario will probably be obsolete in a few days. However, I think this trade could not only help the Kings get to the next level, but it would help all teams involved as well.

ORL In:
#16
Moute
Outlaw

ORL Out:
Afflalo

Why for ORL?
Although Afflalo is a solid SG, he doesn’t fit with the rebuild that Orlando is going through. By trading away Afflalo, they free up the SG completely for Oladipo and they net a mid-first round pick in a “deep” draft. Moute and Outlaw serve as enders and will give Orlando cap space versus if Affalo decided to pick up his option.

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UTA In:
#8
#19
Kings' Unprotected 2015 1st
Thompson

UTA Out:
#5

Why for UTA?
The Jazz trade back three spots and pick up 2 more first round picks to help with their rebuild. They also grab a PF who would be a good compliment with Favors and Kanter.

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CHI In:
Love

CHI Out:
#16
#19
Kings' Unprotected 2015 1st
Gibson
Butler
Snell
Mirotic

Why for CHI?
Chicago makes this move to grab an all-star PF that compliments Rose and Noah very well. If they make another move to shed Dunleavy and Smith, they would have approximately 16 mil in cap space. That might be enough to sign Carmelo considering a team that consists of Rose, Carmelo, Love, and Noah would instantly become a title contender. If not, they still have around 12 mil in cap space to fill in around their big 3.

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MIN In:
#5
Butler
McLemore
Snell
Mirotic
McCallum
Landry

MIN Out:
Love
Moute

Why for MIN?
Love has indicated that he would walk when his contract is up. With this trade, they get a top 5 pick and could possibly select Embiid, Vonleh, Randle, or Smart to help their rebuild. They also get a collection of valuable young assets (Butler, McLemore, Snell, Mirotic, & McCallum) to develop or trade in the future.

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SAC In:
Gibson
Afflalo

SAC Out:
#8
Protection removed from 2015 1st rounder
McLemore
McCallum
Outlaw
Thompson
Landry

Why for SAC?
The Kings need to win now in order to keep Cousins happy. We can’t bank on our youth being able to give us meaningful and productive minutes as we progress as a team. By giving up our youth, we get two win now pieces that complement our core very well. We also shed long term salary by trading away Thompson and Landry.

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After this trade, the Kings would have this lineup:

PG – Thomas/Terry
SG – Afflalo
SF – Gay/Williams
PF – Gibson/Evans/Acy/Reed
C – Cousins

Our total payroll would be $64,299,432 (not counting Thomas’ QO). If we can agree to a 4 year $24 mil deal with Thomas, the payroll would be bumped up to $69,665,052 ($7,334,948 short of the luxury tax). This would give us the ability to offer the MLE and a couple of veteran minimum contracts.

We could look to give the MLE to Collison or Chalmers to man the starting PG spot while Thomas comes off the bench as our super sixth man. If we sign Collison to the MLE, our payroll would be $74,970,052 ($2,029,948 short of the luxury tax).

The team has plenty of PFs, but it could use a backup C. I would like to bring back Aldrich if we could. I thought he was a productive big man off the bench who boarded, blocked shots, and set some solid screens while in the game.

Lastly, we could probably use another wing to help out with our depth. Wesley Johnson might be a good option for the veteran minimum. He can shoot a little bit and swing between SG and SF. After signing Johnson and Aldrich, our payroll would be $76,738638 ($261,362 short of the luxury tax).

Our roster going into the 2014-2015 season would look like this:

PG – Collison/Thomas/Terry
SG – Afflalo/Johnson
SF – Gay/Williams
PF – Gibson/Evans/Acy/Reed
C – Cousins/Aldrich

I think this team could hold its own in the western conference and make a decent run in the playoffs. As Cousins continues to develop and the team begins to form chemistry, this team could potentially be a big threat in the west.

In the following season, we could offer Gay an extension if he showed well during the season. If we resign Gay to 4 years $56 million and Afflalo opts in to his final contract year, we would have around $12 million in cap space to surround Cousins, Gibson, Afflalo, Collison, & Thomas with complementary role players.

 

[TyFreak Evans]

If you're trying to suggest that the Orlando Magic, Minnesota Timberwolves, Chicago Bulls, and Utah Jazz all try to murder the Sacramento Kings, you may be up to something...No way this trade goes down. We (Kings) would be giving up way too much....

 

[Chicken Chaser]

I forgot Willie Reed was a part of the Kings roster. I thought he was waived or something. I guess it was only D-league

 

[Tetsujin]

Nothing could possibly go wrong when you trade half of your roster. Nothing

 

[twslam07]

If you're trying to suggest that the Orlando Magic, Minnesota Timberwolves, Chicago Bulls, and Utah Jazz all try to murder the Sacramento Kings, you may be up to something...No way this trade goes down. We (Kings) would be giving up way too much....

I guess I just don't value our young assets as much as you. McLemore has the potential to be a good SG. Will he ever be as good as someone Afflalo? If I were to make a bet off of what I have seen so far, I would say no. If he can be as good as a Danny Green, I would take that. But how long will it take him to get there?

McCallum showed flashes of being a good player, but he's a high floor - low ceiling type of player. He didn't show much creativity while running the point. Can he continue to improve in that area? Maybe. Ultimately, I see him as a role-playing PG in this league in the mold of a Chalmers/Cole. Knock down open shots while providing good defense and a little playmaking.

#8 could turn into a great player or a poor player as you know. However, I don't like the prospects that will be there at #8. Gordon is a tweener, McDermott is going to struggle to defend his position and plays the same position as Gay, & Stauskas plays the same position as McLemore.

I really don't put as much stock in these three pieces as you do especially when we're getting two high end role players who compliment our core very well.

 

[twslam07]

Nothing could possibly go wrong when you trade half of your roster. Nothing

More than half our roster will be gone by the time PDA is done. I'm not sure why doing it sooner rather than later is worse. You would assume you like to have the core of the team together sooner so they can begin to build chemistry, but maybe that's just me...

 

[Big Cuz 15]

are we involved in that trade?

 

[twslam07]

are we involved in that trade?

Indeed. Read the first post in the thread.

 

[Big Cuz 15]

i tried to but there was half the league involved in that trade.

 

[twslam07]

i tried to but there was half the league involved in that trade.

Haha no worries. Not everyone can comprehend such complex deals.

 

[mac]

I feel like Utah and the Wolves are getting away with daylight robbery

 

[Tetsujin]

I feel like Utah and the Wolves are getting away with daylight robbery

Yeah, Utah somehow winds up with seemingly half the picks in the draft and only moves back three picks for their trouble.

 

[Letsgokings13]

No thank you

 

[funkykingston]

The logic for the Kings side of this deal is that (1) it balances out the roster with good role players to fit alongside Cuz & Rudy and theoretically move IT to a bench role (2) it moves the team into a win now mode vs waiting on talent to develop and (3) it allows them to shed significant salary in the form of Landry/Thompson/Outlaw. Of course Outlaw is an expiring so that's not a big deal but Landry & JT have contracts that run for another 3 seasons each and cost and average of $13 million. Getting them off the books is not an insignificant part of this move. I think JT has real value as the third big on a good team but PDA has apparently been trying to move him and I can see the rationale. He's an expensive bench player and he's a holdover from the previous regime who (based on the interview he did with Ham and his on court body language) is not ideal for team chemistry.

Would I be thrilled with this trade as a Kings fan? Not really, because I don't think that's a contending roster and there aren't really any significant trade chips left to get it to that level, especially with next year's first rounder now officially gone.

But more importantly, why would Minnesota & Orlando do this deal? For the Jazz I can see it. Unless a guy they absolutely love slips to them then they are moving back three spots while picking up two more first rounders and a very serviceable third big. For Orlando they are basically dealing Afflalo for cap relief and a mid round pick. Even in a deep draft I think that's undervaluing a guy who put up 18 ppg on 46% shooting and 43% from 3 and who (when he wasn't a top offensive option) has been a plus defender in the past. And I really don't see it from Minny's point of view. Mirotic is a nice prospect as a stretch 4 with potential but beyond that they are dealing for 3 fringe starter SGs in Butler, McLemore and Snell, a 2nd or 3rd string PG in McCallum and a bloated contract in Landry with the biggest draw being the #5 pick.

If that's the case, why wouldn't the T'Wolves just deal with the Celtics and get #6, #17 and Kelly Olynyk? I believe the Celts would have room under the cap to absorb Love's deal without sending out extra salary. And if that weren't enough Boston could sweeten the deal with Avery Bradley. I'm a big Jimmy Butler fan, I like Snell's potential and I think McLemore will come around this season but if I'm Minnesota I'd rather not add so many SGs and salary when I could get two starters with upside in Bradley and Olynyk (who also fit well with Rubio) AND two draft picks without taking on bad contracts.

 

[Warhawk]

Haha no worries. Not everyone can comprehend such complex deals.

I don't think it is a matter of comprehension as much a matter of practicality and common sense.

 

[macadocious]

 

[twslam07]

The logic for the Kings side of this deal is that (1) it balances out the roster with good role players to fit alongside Cuz & Rudy and theoretically move IT to a bench role (2) it moves the team into a win now mode vs waiting on talent to develop and (3) it allows them to shed significant salary in the form of Landry/Thompson/Outlaw. Of course Outlaw is an expiring so that's not a big deal but Landry & JT have contracts that run for another 3 seasons each and cost and average of $13 million. Getting them off the books is not an insignificant part of this move. I think JT has real value as the third big on a good team but PDA has apparently been trying to move him and I can see the rationale. He's an expensive bench player and he's a holdover from the previous regime who (based on the interview he did with Ham and his on court body language) is not ideal for team chemistry.

Would I be thrilled with this trade as a Kings fan? Not really, because I don't think that's a contending roster and there aren't really any significant trade chips left to get it to that level, especially with next year's first rounder now officially gone.

But more importantly, why would Minnesota & Orlando do this deal? For the Jazz I can see it. Unless a guy they absolutely love slips to them then they are moving back three spots while picking up two more first rounders and a very serviceable third big. For Orlando they are basically dealing Afflalo for cap relief and a mid round pick. Even in a deep draft I think that's undervaluing a guy who put up 18 ppg on 46% shooting and 43% from 3 and who (when he wasn't a top offensive option) has been a plus defender in the past. And I really don't see it from Minny's point of view. Mirotic is a nice prospect as a stretch 4 with potential but beyond that they are dealing for 3 fringe starter SGs in Butler, McLemore and Snell, a 2nd or 3rd string PG in McCallum and a bloated contract in Landry with the biggest draw being the #5 pick.

If that's the case, why wouldn't the T'Wolves just deal with the Celtics and get #6, #17 and Kelly Olynyk? I believe the Celts would have room under the cap to absorb Love's deal without sending out extra salary. And if that weren't enough Boston could sweeten the deal with Avery Bradley. I'm a big Jimmy Butler fan, I like Snell's potential and I think McLemore will come around this season but if I'm Minnesota I'd rather not add so many SGs and salary when I could get two starters with upside in Bradley and Olynyk (who also fit well with Rubio) AND two draft picks without taking on bad contracts.

Finally, someone gives me a post I can respond to!

You definitely have a firm grasp on the value for the Kings in this trade, but I guess my question for you is this... Why do you think this is not a contending team? If we're rolling with Cousins and Gay as our top 2 guys, who else can we add? Gibson and Afflalo are both high end role players that happen to complement our big 2 very well. With Collison and Thomas manning the PG position you'll have more than enough solid PG play each and every night. I'm not sure what else you can do to make this team better other than get really, really lucky in the lottery and draft a superstar. The starting lineup and sixth man would be very solid this season, but next offseason, we would have cap space to strengthen the bench even further.

I guess what I'm trying to say is what team do you think we can construct that would be better than the one that I put together?

For Minnesota, the trade is more about them getting assets to aid in their rebuild. The fact that the pick they are getting is 1 spot earlier than the Celtics bodes well and they get many young players with potential that can be developed or packaged to bring back another big name player.

When it comes to Afflalo, he is not really useful to the Magic other than being a mentor. They are rebuilding and they could free up the SG position entirely for Oladipo. I just think that the 16th pick will be the Magic's future plans and Afflalo won't. By doing this trade they assure themselves that they relieve cap space and pick up a mid first round pick in the process. Could Afflalo net more? Maybe. There have been many talks about Afflalo and 12 for 8. I would most likely do 12 and 16 for 8 so that's where I see his value. If the Magic wanted more, I'm sure one or two 2nd round picks could be thrown their way.

 

[twslam07]

I don't think it is a matter of comprehension as much a matter of practicality and common sense.

When someone equates 5 teams to half the league, I believe it falls on the comprehension side.

 

[Big Cuz 15]

When someone equates 5 teams to half the league, I believe it falls on the comprehension side.

*sarcasm*

when was the last time a blockbuster 5 team trade happened? on nba2k14

 

[twslam07]

*sarcasm*

when was the last time a blockbuster 5 team trade happened? on nba2k14

Dismiss my trade because of the value, but don't dismiss it because of the size. I clearly stated why each team would logically do the deal, and as long as each team sees value in the trade, it is possible. But please go ahead and take the easy way out if you would like.

 

[Big Cuz 15]

if there was an inkling of it possibly happening i would take it seriously. that's like lebron coming to sac. aint happening

 

[twslam07]

if there was an inkling of it possibly happening i would take it seriously. that's like lebron coming to sac. aint happening

You keep saying that, but you haven't evaluated the trade. Do you think if NBA teams get offered an attractive package that they like they stop and say "wait a minute. There are 5 teams involved...Sorry guys I can't do this trade."? Of course not. If the value is there, the value is there.

 

[funkykingston]

I guess my question for you is this... Why do you think this is not a contending team? If we're rolling with Cousins and Gay as our top 2 guys, who else can we add? Gibson and Afflalo are both high end role players that happen to complement our big 2 very well. With Collison and Thomas manning the PG position you'll have more than enough solid PG play each and every night. I'm not sure what else you can do to make this team better other than get really, really lucky in the lottery and draft a superstar. The starting lineup and sixth man would be very solid this season, but next offseason, we would have cap space to strengthen the bench even further.

The bolded portion is a premise that I would take issue with. I don't think a team with Cousins and Gay as the two best players is a contender. A team with Cousins as the best or second best player and Gay as the third best player might be. I think the team you outlined could make the playoffs but I don't see it being a real contender and there's no real room for growth. No young developing players, no draft picks and no cap room. Yeah, Williams and Terry represent $11 million in expiring contracts and resigning Gay at $14 million per as you suggested shaves off another $5 million plus but because the team is right at the luxury tax threshold in your scenario all that cost savings only opens up around $5 million in cap room and the team would need to fill out the roster spots vacated by DWill and the Jet.

To be fair, I think part of my issue is that I'm not high on Collison as a starting PG. I think he's a good but not great defender and is a better shooter from 3 than IT but otherwise is not a major upgrade. Not great at attacking the basket/scoring, not a better distributor and not really even a different enough player in style to justify he and IT as a tandem.

I guess what I'm trying to say is what team do you think we can construct that would be better than the one that I put together?

The trade for Rondo would give the Kings a core of Rondo/Gay/Cousins which I think can contend. Probably not this upcoming season because the team would be lacking the ideal role players and bench to put around them (and left thin by the trade to get Rondo in all likelihood) but it's a core that can win. I'm still on record as being willing to gamble on Larry Sanders. Especially if the Bucks are willing to go firesale on him and take an offer of Landry plus Outlaw's expiring. Sign Anthony Morrow with the MLE and possibly bring back IT as the sixth man and the only thing remaining would be to stock the bench with shooters and defenders.

For Minnesota, the trade is more about them getting assets to aid in their rebuild. The fact that the pick they are getting is 1 spot earlier than the Celtics bodes well and they get many young players with potential that can be developed or packaged to bring back another big name player.

I still think Minnesota would rather have a much cleaner trade with just Boston or even Golden State if they revive talks. Butler, McLemore and Snell gum up the roster with wings and as much as I like Butler those three aren't high level trade chips especially when you have to swallow Landry's albatross contract to get them. It's a lot of odds and ends that don't really help a rebuilding effort as much as say two first rounders, Olynyk/Sullinger and Bradley would.

 

[Warhawk]

When someone equates 5 teams to half the league, I believe it falls on the comprehension side.

When someone involves 5 teams, too many different players for me to even be bothered counting, and the laughable result in Utah's favor (as just one imbalance comment), I respectfully disagree. You could make a similar trade proposal involving 20 teams and 100 players (theoretically) and try to make sense of it all, but at a certain point (like your proposed trade above) it is just too unwieldy to swing in reality. Follow the KISS rule - keep it simple, sucka.

Please show us another trade with the same number of teams and players/picks swapping teams like this.

You made a good effort at putting something together and defending it, but I think sometimes these things become a "because I can" video game trade scenario instead of a "because it is realistic and feasible" reality trade scenario.