Trade Deadline Rumors

Even if I agreed with those players filling those roles, how exactly would we eliminate the current players while bringing in those guys? While also improving our backcourt?

And to be clear you would be losing a ton defensively when cuz goes out but trob is in. Robinsons defensive stats are largely driven by his energy but it creates rotation issues and foul problems. He isn't a great defender, he just has the speed and athleticism to get some defensive stats.

Those guys aren't going to compliment each other offensively at all. Our bench would be an offensive black hole with those big men together. I'd take Noel in a second but pair him along side Landry. Two mediocre rebounders but everything else would be complimentary.

Robinson doesn't compliment anyone other than very very good players who can mask his many many weaknesses.

I already talked about this in the post I made last night and in other topics over the past two months. O'Quinn is a free agent (restricted). Robinson is a free agent (unrestricted). Noel might be available because Philly will trade anyone for a lottery pick and he's got some clear limitations which will probably keep him from being a franchise player. With Joel Embiid expected to play next year plus Dario Saric coming over from the Turkish league and a top 5 pick this year, they may not be able to develop all of those frontcourt players at once. I think our pick this year plus Stauskas gets their attention. Especially if that top 5 protected Lakers pick rolls over to next year. Finding a starting PF is a bigger priority than backup SG. If we can't get Noel there are also some interesting options in the draft. Cauley-Stein is a similar player -- extremely mobile for a big man and a capable shotblocker. Or there's Myles Turner, who just blocked 11 shots in his last 2 games (both against top 15 teams) and is averaging 2.8 per game along with some ability to hit the three.

As for losing the current guys, Williams, Evans, and Hollins are free agents. How do we get rid of Landry and Thompson? Include one of them in a Kyle O'Quinn sign-and-trade perhaps. Try to trade the other one for a guard. If you're not too picky about what's coming back, I think you can find a taker for one of them. 6.5 million a year for 2 years isn't an overpay for a mediocre veteran PF. At the guard spots we currently have Collison and McCallum signed for next year at PG and Ben at SG. Andre Miller has indicated he's willing to return for another year so we'd be more than set at PG. All you're really looking for at that point is a shooter off the bench, maybe a swing SG/SF who can back up both Ben and Rudy. I wouldn't have a problem signing a cheap guy for next year and look for upgrades mid-season or summer 2016 when the salary cap goes up.



I'm talking about team defense. If you have Cousins and Noel as your frontcourt, obviously that's one of the best defensive frontlines in the league so you're going to be losing something when either of them goes to the bench. But if you have Noel and Robinson on the floor or O'Quinn and Robinson, you still have a shotblocker and a rebounder playing together which is ideal and none of them is a defensive liability. Robinson and Noel can chase the quicker PFs around the perimeter and O'Quinn can body up post players. I think that's as good as any team could hope for from their bench rotation. Robinson may not be a defensive stopper of any kind, but that's why you play him alongside a plus defender and have him concentrate on boxing out and controlling the boards. He's very good at defensive rebounding at that's the foundation of any defense. Both Noel and O'Quinn have some playmaking abilities and Robinson can run the floor and finish above the rim so they should compliment each other offensively as well.

your overvaluing noel if your gonna give up 2 lotto picks for him.

I agree with Nerlens Noel. The kid seems like a very good defensive big in-the-making. But will he be ready or ripe enough when we reach the playoffs in the near future?

I feel like we're getting another Derrick Williams in Thomas Robinson. A BIG who is not really BIG. The only thing with Robinson is he may come cheaper.

Kyle O'Quinn is good. But is he really good enough to play center against the premier centers?

1 lotto pick and a bench guard. It's not a move I make lightly. I know what the value of a lotto pick is and I do think Stauskas has a lot of potential. But I also think Ben McLemore is our starter at SG for a long time to come and that means Stauskas is replaceable. Bench shooters who can also play some PG are few and far between but a pure shooter isn't that hard to find. We can afford to give up some long-term potential at one position in exchange for potential at another one. And you always have to give up something to get something.

Noel is such a perfect fit, we're unlikely to find a better one in free agency or the draft. Only 3 players have ever averaged at least 2 blocks and 2 steals per game over the course of a season (David Robinson, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Gerald Wallace). Noel's per36 averages this season are 1.9 steals and 2.2 blocks. And that's in 30.5 minutes as a 20 year old rookie returning from a major injury. He averaged 2.1 steals and 4.4 blocks in his one season at Kentucky. He's as good a bet as anyone to win several DPOY awards in the future. He can guard 4 positions, and maybe even 5 if he works on his lower body strength. Short of Anthony Davis, I don't think there's a better roving goalkeeper in the league right now. Guys like Ibaka, Jordan, and Drummond rack up blocks but they're not going to be everywhere at once disrupting the passing lanes as well. With an immovable object like Cousins in the post, Noel would have a field day on the defensive end.

There does happen to be a wealth of defensive role-player talent in the top 10 of the draft this year. I would certainly consider taking Myles Turner or Willie Cauley-Stein with that pick if they're available. But we need a defensive PF badly and Noel is ready to step in and contribute right away. That's the one position I'm prepared to overpay for if the fit is right.

>those are some real bigs who i'd take over noel all day long. i value their rebounding and shotblocking abilities to limit the opponents to one shot but also their ability to play man defense. ask noel to check a zach randolph all game long and we'll see our defense collapse sending another defender to help him. was just watching the highlight video with a guard putting their shoulder into him dislodging him wasn't very encouraging. anyhow, don't we have a thin shot blocker on our team already (moreland)?

Meanwhile the Wizards are 1-6 since acquiring Sessions.

Well over the past two seasons, the Wizards are 57-36 when Andre Miler is on the team and 26-32 without him.

Noel is getting traded under 1 condition and that is them getting back russell/mudiya after they grab Towns.

i'd rather have nurkic than noel. he's a bruiser that has an all around game. the guy can get opposing bigs in foul trouble thus opening up the driving lanes/3 pt shots. if you grab noel better be ready to pay him right away bc he's going to be expensive. rudy/cuz/noel thats going to be the majority of the capspace right there.

five blocks? he can block shots too?

3 blocks? look at what he's doing to cuz and other defensive bigs.

couple blocks

i think the FO values the spindly shot blocker type also so we'll probably see that type of player on this team in the near future.

I only watched scouting vids of Embiid. So can someone please explain, why Noel and Embiid are not the dominant front court combo I expect them to be if healthy and reaching their potential?

Embiid seems to be a center with a good low post game but seems also be able to hit mid range jump shots. When an athletic, defensive minded Pf, who can finish at the basket and works on his jumper is the perfect fit for Cousins - why isn't he for Embiid?

Just how do you suppose the Kings acquire Nurkic? If I'm Denver, I'm only trading the Bosnian Boogie for the real deal.