ESPN Insider Trade Idea: Lopez to Boston

Here is the Insider piece:

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/story...contenders-nba

The Trade Idea from ESPN Insider Joe Keiser is:

Boston Celtics acquire: Robin Lopez
New Orleans Hornets acquire: Courtney Lee, Boston's 2013 1st round pick
(Note: Lopez and Lee cannot be traded until Dec. 15)

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Interesting idea. I would do it in a heartbeat if offered. What do you all think?

No, I think I would pass. The 1st rounder would be lottery protected likely, and Lee is nothing special. Lopez has played well and is on a very good contract for the Hornets. Would't trade big for small.

No thank you.

No thanks! I'm good!

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Originally Posted by HORNETSFAN

No, I think I would pass. The 1st rounder would be lottery protected likely, and Lee is nothing special. Lopez has played well and is on a very good contract for the Hornets. Would't trade big for small.

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This is more or less my feeling, too. I don't think the pick would be worth much and it is not worth taking on Lee's guaranteed contract for no upgrade in talent.

Like we need another guard to develop

Eh. Gonna say no to this.

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Originally Posted by Eman5805

Eh. Gonna say no to this.

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This.

Who's our center if we make this trade?

People always dismiss 1st rounders that will be in the 20's in December, but would kill for them in June. Almost everybody on this board was in love with a Perry Jones or a Quincy Miller, Sullinger, Fournier, etc. and wanted so desperately to acquire another pick in that range. So, keep that in mind when dismissing any 1st rounder.

As for Lee vs. Lopez- Lee is the better player, Lopez is the better contract since it is not guaranteed. Courtney Lee has turned himself into an elite on-ball defender, like top 5-10 in the league elite, and since I think Rivers is a point guard and Gordon will always be one play away from missing 4-6 weeks, I want a legit backup SG behind that.

Couple that with the fact that this draft is big man heavy, and so is this free agent class, and I take Lee hands down, then draft a 4th big while I increase Smith, Davis, and Anderson's minutes in the meantime. Win-win-win.

Tempting, but I'd say no.

You hear "first rounder" and teams start salivating. But, Boston's first would be 20+ and Robin Lopez would be exactly the kind of player you would be glad to get with that late first. I wouldn't mind getting Lee though. It'd be fun to have an actual shooting guard deserving of minutes to play while Gordons out.

But no. Maybe if they added a little bit more.

Why, Lance Thomas of course!

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Originally Posted by MichaelMcNamara

People always dismiss 1st rounders that will be in the 20's in December, but would kill for them in June. Almost everybody on this board was in love with a Perry Jones or a Quincy Miller, Sullinger, Fournier, etc. and wanted so desperately to acquire another pick in that range. So, keep that in mind when dismissing any 1st rounder.

As for Lee vs. Lopez- Lee is the better player, Lopez is the better contract since it is not guaranteed. Courtney Lee has turned himself into an elite on-ball defender, like top 5-10 in the league elite, and since I think Rivers is a point guard and Gordon will always be one play away from missing 4-6 weeks, I want a legit backup SG behind that.

Couple that with the fact that this draft is big man heavy, and so is this free agent class, and I take Lee hands down, then draft a 4th big while I increase Smith, Davis, and Anderson's minutes in the meantime. Win-win-win.

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Last year draft was the exception not the rule. That was basically two drafts in one.

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Originally Posted by da ThRONe

Last year draft was the exception not the rule. That was basically two drafts in one.

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I studied that draft all year for my pieces, and I am doing the same this year and I would make this bet with anybody

#'s 10-30 will be better in 2013 than it was in 2012. The 2012 draft was more top heavy and had a true franchise changer (which 2013 does not have) but 2013 has better players in Tiers 3-5.

Which, if true, by definition means it's a deeper draft.

That is so dumb. I mean wth is this 2K?... Monty has complained since he got here about the lack of height on the team and now he's going to trade his 7footer for Courtney Lee of all people? Some of these major writers should learn more about the team before trying to trade off the players

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Originally Posted by MichaelMcNamara

I studied that draft all year for my pieces, and I am doing the same this year and I would make this bet with anybody

#'s 10-30 will be better in 2013 than it was in 2012. The 2012 draft was more top heavy and had a true franchise changer (which 2013 does not have) but 2013 has better players in Tiers 3-5.

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Still a crap shoot at best. I wouldn't be willing to gamble regardless of how much studying goes into it. The fact is we're talking about individuals, with so many variables that could lead a player in different directions. It's hard to take that chance in general, but especially with lower picks when its not absolutely necessary.

You know what you have right now with Lopez, nothing special, but a descent player with no true center debt behind him. If you're going to trade him it has to be apart of a package that's going to land you a really good player or players that are worthy of taking the hit that would come with making Jason Smith your starting C for the season.

To me that deal would be making a trade just to make a trade. Right now i know some say leave things alone and develop what you have, but we still don't have much, we need more and we need to make deals count with the roster we have, we don't have bad contracts and we have some disposal guys and a couple empty roster spots, plus the belief by other teams that we will be a high lottery team again this year.

I'm all for collecting picks, but that's after we get a stronger roster. Lopez like Vasquez cold be a super sub for us once we get the guy that's going to really play next to Davis. I rather keep him on the roster and have him at that time, than find the guy and have no true center behind him, because i believe through trade, free agency or the draft it's going to happen in the next couple of seasons.

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Originally Posted by Hornetnojersey

That is so dumb. I mean wth is this 2K?... Monty has complained since he got here about the lack of height on the team and now he's going to trade his 7footer for Courtney Lee of all people? Some of these major writers should learn more about the team before trying to trade off the players

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AGREED! Doesn't make a lick of sense. :eek:

Crap shoot dude, I see some Hilton Armstrong's myself!

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Originally Posted by Atmosphere

Like we need another guard to develop

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Lee is already developed.

It's tempting. Kinda indifferent on this. I like what Lopez is doing for us, plus we wouldn't have anyone legitimate to start at Center for us. I don't know, seems kinda risky.

This is one of those trades that I would be ok with if we made it, as its reasonable. But personally, I wouldn't make the move.

Not that I would pass, but the Celtics surely will. Lee has been O.K for them and I just doubt they will accept this. Varejoa, he will take alot to get and I've heard OKC in play for receiving(I'm only 16 so my "sources" aren't reliable at all. Cousins? I pass. The guy has the talent to be one of the best post players ever, but I doubt anyone can make him believe so and let em know he isn't a guard.

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Originally Posted by kinglio21093

Lee is already developed.

It's tempting. Kinda indifferent on this. I like what Lopez is doing for us, plus we wouldn't have anyone legitimate to start at Center for us. I don't know, seems kinda risky.

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He would hinder the development of the guards we already have, and we definitely don't need another shooting guard who can't contribute right away.

I will rather keep him than trade him. Robin's offensive game is elevating.

You don't trade a quality big for scraps... especially one on a very good contract.

lee has a PER of 7 so far this yr...he is playing horrible

I like having a good center.

Lopez, Rivers (love him, but I'd trade him for Rondo), and our 2013 1st round pick (Lottery Protected) for Rondo. Then, trade Vasquez to the Rockets for Motiejunas.

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Originally Posted by nolaslim213

Lopez, Rivers (love him, but I'd trade him for Rondo), and our 2013 1st round pick (Lottery Protected) for Rondo. Then, trade Vasquez to the Rockets for Motiejunas.

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We don't need to make any big trades. Remember we have our two best players out with a chance to get a max deal player and a potential lottery pick next year. I still say no to trading away Lopez. Solid 7 fters are hard to come by and we can get a guard next year if we really need too.

yeah but if you can trade for rondo, you do it, and you don't think twice about it.

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Originally Posted by Topdawg26

We don't need to make any big trades. Remember we have our two best players out with a chance to get a max deal player and a potential lottery pick next year. I still say no to trading away Lopez. Solid 7 fters are hard to come by and we can get a guard next year if we really need too.

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Rondo is an elite defender and would do wonders for Anderson and Davis. I'd give up Lopez in a hot second for Rondo.

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Originally Posted by Mr. Mojo

yeah but if you can trade for rondo, you do it, and you don't think twice about it.

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Agreed. Boston reportedly tried to trade up to #10 for Rivers, but we couldn't make a deal. I think they are interested in him, and I think that is a fair offer.

Yeah I guess your right.

Rondo deal is kinda un-realistic, 1st they see them-selves as contenders with Rondo and with Rivers they won't be. And then the pick is protected which changes the whole deal.

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Originally Posted by MichaelMcNamara

People always dismiss 1st rounders that will be in the 20's in December, but would kill for them in June. Almost everybody on this board was in love with a Perry Jones or a Quincy Miller, Sullinger, Fournier, etc. and wanted so desperately to acquire another pick in that range. So, keep that in mind when dismissing any 1st rounder.

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Acquiring a pick when the outcome is known, and for cash, is much different than acquiring an unknown late pick by giving up a serviceable player (starter at that) on a great contract. Not comparable at all.

only way we get rondo is if anthony davis is included

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Originally Posted by Trell

Rondo deal is kinda un-realistic, 1st they see them-selves as contenders with Rondo and with Rivers they won't be. And then the pick is protected which changes the whole deal.

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Agreed.

Aren't there rumors every year that Ainge is trying to move Rondo? That he doesn't mesh well with the franchise? I don't follow them closely, but I feel like I hear that same song and dance every off season.

I'm seeing alot of stupid stuff being said on this thread.

Thanks. I'm laughing. I might wake up the dog.

for years we had not enough big guys, so it wouldn't be a good idea to trade our starting C for a guard.

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Originally Posted by nolaslim213

Aren't there rumors every year that Ainge is trying to move Rondo? That he doesn't mesh well with the franchise? I don't follow them closely, but I feel like I hear that same song and dance every off season.

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And from a major deal never happening involving Rondo, it shows it was just rumors. But if it wasn't they wouldn't take the deal you proposed, maybe if it was Vasquez, River and a pick or something.

Boston wouldn't take that.

Im content on Lopez

if it weren't for Lopez' unique contract, I'd do this trade in a heartbeat, sadly I value the idea of flexibility this summer than Courtney Lee's production from the guard spot. That pick would have been gravy (since Lee and Lopez are basically a wash, production and team effect wise)