Okay, sifting through the mess that that lottery yesterday created, I finally came upon a semi-plausible scenario that might be possible. Risky, but with a decided upside if things work out. Here are the components:
1) OKC has been looking for an OG
2) OKC has a bunch of big expirings
3) both teams are under the cap, allowing for flexibility in any trade
3) we have a proven OG
So:
1) Memphis picks at #2. Rumors are they are very high on Thabeet. So let's say they take him. That leaves Rubio there for OKC.
2) OKC just found their PG last season. What they need is either a SG or a C.
3) so, we trade:
Kevin Martin
for
#3 pick + expiring contracts + ?
4) we keep the #4 pick in this scenario
5) at #3 we take Rubio, at #4 we take Harden to replace Kevin
6) because we traded Kevin's $11mil contract for a pick who will earn about $4mil + a bunch of expirings, next summer when all of the expirings come off the books we can go be a major player in the big bounty free agent market.
so basically its OUT: Kevin, IN: Rubio, Harden + $6-7mil in caproom for 09-10 (or expirings to join with KT in a big midseason deal).
Why for OKC?: Fill their OG hole, and put a potent Westbrook, Martin, Durant, Green quartet out on the floor. Also, Scott Brooks has coached Kevin.
For us:
Cons: the normal proven player for unproven player stuff; and a marvelously unathletic backcourt
Pros: unathletic maybe, but a young saavy backcourt, to go with our young bigs -- 4 of our 5 starters in the 19-23yr range. And the expirings, joined with KTs, either allow us to grab a big $$ player mid year, or be a major player in FA next year.
Note: you could do the same thing if Memphis took Rubio and OKC was looking at Thabeet. In that case we get Thabeet and Hardin, but the PG position remains unfilled. Note however that one of the expirings OKC has is Earl Watson, so you could take him back and plug him into a platoon with Beno for the year while waiting for the John Wall draft and all that caproom.
