@Westbrookinit3 We also have future first round picks we could throw in (including one from Dallas), and the first pick of the second round (which is just as good as a late first rounder).
@see-mittens I think we'd have to give up a lot more than that for Hickson.
@shorthorns4 Here's how I understand it. Normally, if you make a trade the salaries have to match (i.e. you can't take on more salary than you ship off in a trade). But if you have a trade exception, you can take on more salary in a trade.
@Sigmund @OSU EE After that trade, our frontcourt rotation would be Collison, Sanders, and Thabeet. We'd also lose our best bench scorer and gain no one that can replace his production. No way.
@PowerSerge @Lost Ones @[censored] I know Perk isn't everyone's favorite player around here. But I don't think I'd mess with this starting lineup (as long as it's winning) just to get a player like Valanciunas.
@PowerSerge @Fuzzy Logic They're already well-under the luxury tax. They don't need to dump more salary. And there's no way they'd trade their young star (Gasol) for two aging role players (Perkins and Martin).
@Fezzy @okcjim We have so many draft picks we could probably do it. We have Dallas 1st rounder, our own first rounder, and Charlotte's 2nd rounder (just as good as a late first rounder). We don't need to draft that many players. Let's package them and grab one of these 7-footers.
We've played 11 of the last 13 on the road. We went 7-4 in those road games. That's solid. Before the road trip started, most people said that if we could emerge from this month and still be in the top 3 in the West, that we would be just fine. Well, we're still tied for first in the league (in the loss column). That's pretty good if you ask me. Still have some things to work on though.
@Legendary_Dork Lakers are just 4 games out of 8th. They have more talent than the teams immediately above them. It's possible (although unlikely) that they pass them. Just throwing some food for thought out there.
@ThunderWins @Legendary_Dork Never said we would lose. Obviously we would be favored. But not the easy opponent you would expect at 7 or 8.
Scary scenario: Lakers finish the season on a great run, grab the 7th or 8th seed. We have to face a motivated (and hot) Lakers team in the first round.
Spurs now have the best record in the league.
Westbrook is 2 rebounds and 4 points away from the triple double.
@see-mittens @Legendary_Dork I wouldn't go that far. The starting frontcourt was Jeff Green and Nenad Krstic before that trade. I think our record since that trade speaks volumes. That said, I think Jeff Green would be a useful player for the current Thunder. I'm hoping Perry Jones can do some of those things (and hopefully more).
@Jooseppi I dunno. I liked Jeff. He could be a pretty good player if he's just a role/bench player. His consistency struggles were magnified with us because he was relied on to be a top 3 scorer on a nightly basis. If he can just play his game and isn't needed to force his offense, he can be a player that helps you win.
I'm hoping Perry Jones can develop into Jeff Green 2.0 for us.