What about MoT to Cavs for parts (no McInnis scenario)?

I would do that deal. Getting rid of Taylor's contract would be nice. And even if you dont like Wagner you could always move him somewhere else, although I think he could be a great Bobby Jackson type player off the bench.

Basically the trade to me is Taylor for Williams, Wagner, Diop since Pike and Griffin arent going to get many minutes next season on our team. Williams, Wagner and Diop would all get decent minutes on this team.

Does this trade even work capwise though? Seems like Taylor's contract is pretty huge (Diop and Wagner are on rookie deals). To make up for it you would have to sign Williams to a pretty big S&T contract.

 

IMO, Mo Taylor is going to force a lot of posters to thank our lucky stars we have him on the team this coming year. I'd prefer to trade Juwan Howard -- but for a backup center and not just for spare parts. We will have need for both Taylor and Howard, however, because of differing matchups.

We don't need Wagner, despite the fact that I think he eventually will be a good player. The Cavs are not going to part with Diop, and, even if they did, we need a more savvy backup for Yao Ming. We don't need Eric Williams for a huge price tag when we can get the same player in Terrence Morris for a small fraction of Williams' cost.

At this point, I don't think Seattle is going to trade Antonio Daniels to the Rockets, although I wish they would. Boston may trade one of their big men (Mihm?), since they have six or seven. Since people are considering Diop, I'd just as soon consider Kendrick Perkins of Boston.

 

So what you're saying is you would deal Howard for a backup center and have Taylor start for us at PF? That's a scary situation. And I don't understand what you're getting at by implying Taylor/Howard will be used in "differing matchups." They're the same player only Howard is a better rebounder and a better defender. If we kept Taylor he would best be used by being an "instant offense" option from our bench---however he wouldn't be a force underneath the basket or provide the toughness we need coming from that role.

I don't want Diop. Paxson has said himself Diop isn't ready and seems to be done making excuses for the guy showing absolutely no progress ever since being drafted. In other words: Diop = not worth it.

As for Eric Williams, the general consensus seems to be he will sign with somebody for cheap---likely the 1.6 million exception. So your theory on getting a cheaper option like Terence Morris, of all people, makes little sense to me.

Daniels is still on the market and from what i've been hearing he can be had for relatively cheap. It makes sense since they want to commit to Ridnour and they still have Flip Murray, who had a breakout year, as well as the MLE at their exposal. All indications are Daniels is the odd man out.

Mihm is a restricted free agent so when you're implying they might trade him, i'm assuming you mean through a sign-and-trade? As for Perkins, he's their project player and its doubtful they deal him after one season. The more likely option may be Marcus Banks. After seeing how the Celts drafted and how well their players are performing in the summer leagues, Banks may be the odd man out in Boston.

 

From all reports and rumors, Mo Taylor is working out like crazy to improve his strength, endurance and game. It is my hunch he will happily surprise us all and make us glad he regained his starter's role. However, Howard gives us a dependable matchup for smaller, quicker PFs.

Agreed. That's why I would just as soon have Kendrick Perkins, although I would prefer Mihm.

Eric Williams will cost a lot more than the $1.6M exception, especially in this buyer's market. I still maintain T-Mo is just as good but without the hefty price tag. We will see.

Ridnour is hurt again so Daniels is the insurance policy. They may trade him mid-year, but I doubt before then. I hope we can acquire him before then. Also, our ability to take on one of their deadwood centers in a Daniels trade is not as potent now that they unloaded Booth to Dallas.

If we make an offer to Mihm and Boston matches, we can't acquire him for one year even in a sign and trade. Ergo, since he is about the last remaining quality backup center left, we would be better served to work out a trade scenario (yes, a SnT) with Boston.

Regarding Banks, I got frustrated with all the trade scenarios and suggested a trade for Banks and Mihm in exchange for Lue and the T-E. Nikestrad shot that down with vigor (can't trade Lue with parts until around October, and Banks was drafted just two slots above Gaines).

 

Well that would be nice but i'm not going to get my hopes up. I remember last year around this time people were saying how Mo would be such an improved rebounder and defender under JVG and working with Patrick Ewing but unfortunately nothing changed.

Maybe, maybe not. Hopefully we could get him cheap. He has to play somewhere and he's only generated mild interest, at best. Maybe he'll get desperate? But like you said, we will see.

Ridnour is hurt again? I wasn't aware of that. Is it serious or something mild? Well if that's the case, then you are right they probably don't want to deal Daniels then. However, if Ridnour is healthy and after seeing the Sonics press hard to sign Fisher, it makes you think if everybody is healthy Daniels is still the odd man out.

I like Mihm and you would think given his Texas ties, he would be interested in playing here. I would be interested in a SnT deal for Mihm, but my question is what do we have that they want?

Banks has the potential to be one of the better PG's in the league. He's better than Gaines. If he's on the block I would like to see us pull off a Banks for Gaines swap, even though Boston doesn't have much reason at all to do that. Maybe a more realistic idea is a Reece/Boki for Banks/Jumaine Jones swap?

 

I hate to even mention this, but, um, considering that Maurice Taylor is probably as tall as half the centers in the league, and, uh, he would be a matchup headache for many teams, but would also get beat up by other teams, um.....we're not going into the season with Maurice Taylor as our backup center, are we?

 

That's the same story from last year. It was true, Mo came into the season as fit as he's been for a long time and he did have a nice bounce back from his injury. But an offensive spark off the bench is all he can give you. He's always been a below average rebounder, and he always will be because he doesn't have the mentality for it.

He'll be the same old Mo as he's always been no matter what shape he's in.

 

MoT is OK. Great O. Good, good 6th man. Problem with Mo? He is a cap drain.

If he went for Kittles, would Rox be better?
If he went for LaFrentz, would Rox be better?
If he went for Terry, would Rox be better?

 

I think the answer is yes to all of those questions.

But here's one more:
How about a Taylor for P.J. Brown swap?

There's not much doubt in my mind if the Rockets would do this, its if New Orleans would do it. They have nearly identical contracts so there's no contractual or financial gain for either team. I do realize this is unlikely not only because N.O. probably wouldn't do it but also because of the conference re-alignments. However, with the possibility of Jamal Mashburn retiring let alone, playing in a game this season...it makes you wonder where the points are going to come from on that team besides from Davis.