what about
Thornton, Salmons and 5-6th pick for Iggy and Jodie Meeks (resign and trade) and the 18th-19th
Getting rid of Thornton gives Tyreke more control like he did his rookie year, and your getting the worst contract in the NBA (minus Rashard Lewis) off your hands.
Iggy and Tyreke might not beable to scare teams from beyond the arc, but Jodie Meeks will (39% 3pt) and can easily play 25mins a night. He randomly can explode for 4-6 3's a game like last tuesday 31 points against Cleveland.
Utah is bound to make a draft day move, trade that 18th pick and Jimmer for the 9th or 12th pick (Whatever one is necessary for Marshall) and a throw in like Raja Bell. Utah gets backcourt help and keeps 2 first rounders.
At 36 Jeff Withey out of Kansas as previously stated in the other post would be a great fit. Marshall and Withey aren't stars but can play in the NBA for a decade because their exceptional at one thing. Perfect fit with guys who have all the talent in the world like Tyreke and Cousins. Iggy's presence alone would increase your win total by 5-8.
C. Cousins/Withey/Whiteside
F. Thompson/Hayes
F. Iggy/Greene/Honeycutt
G. Tyreke/Meeks
G. Marshall/Thomas
Why would PHI do this? I like the idea, but seems to good to be true. For a different angle, what about something like this?
To ATL: Evans, JT (re-signed), 2nd Rd. Pick (post draft, for a piece like Fab Melo, Drew Gordon, etc.) for Josh Smith.
Why does ATL do this? Atlanta only has 6 players signed through this season, and is short on depth at virtually every position on the floor. They are most in need of young talent with upside to complement Horford, Johnson, Teague, and Williams, particularly in the front court. This provides the Hawks with two pieces they could covet in a backup big and an effective starter in JT, and also gives them a guard to pair alongside Teague to move Johnson to the SF position, making Williams more available in a trade. Their starting 5 would become Pachulia/Horford/Johnson/Teague/Evans, with JT, Melo, and any number of FA signees on the bench. It also frees up about 4m more for them in Free Agency (adding to their astronomical cap room) and gets them something in return for Smith, who could leave for nothing after 2013.
Why SAC does it? Despite public overtures stating otherwise, the glut of swingman guards is a major headache, and seriously impeding the team's ability to move forward. While Evans may possess more tools down the line than Thornton, the ability to acquire a big of Smith's nature is too much to ignore. Smith instantly gives the team three attributes they have been missing from their PF position since Webber- excellent passing ability, shot-blocking skills, and a natural scoring touch. Smith has the potential to even yet become a superstar (he'll be 27 next year), and could thrive in an up-tempo system like ours, with Smith possessing a great ability to cut to the basket. JT is an integral part of this deal, with ATL unlikely to move anyone without assurances of getting major insurance for their front court in return. JT, an affordable and quietly effective starter, could be the perfect fit here before they make what many feel could be a major play for local boy Howard next offseason.
I'd then sign AK, Batum, or Ilyasova and draft a developmental backup big like Moultrie or Perry Jones with our first round pick to counter the loss of Thompson. For laughs, let's say we sign AK. Re-sign Williams for depth and let Garcia (amnesty exercised), Greene, and the Hickson deal expire. New depth chart:
C: Cousins/Hayes/Whiteside
PF:
Smith/
Moultrie
SF:
Kirilenko/Williams/Outlaw/Honeycutt
PG: Thomas/Fredette
SG: Thornton/Salmons
I think that team could be very competitive, and provide our young players with excellent support as they continue to grow and improve. Yes, losing Tyreke and JT (just coming into his own, and signed to a nice deal) is a blow. But I love thinking of that front court. Jimmer gets to continue to get time with solid depth across the court. The second line has an excellent balance between defense and scoring, with Hayes/Moultrie/Williams/Fredette/Salmons being an interesting matchup.
I'd say this team could win anywhere from at least 37 to a ceiling of about 43 or 44. In any case, wildly improved IMO.
