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Griffin made this exact "wants for AD" list before even becoming EVP or whatever he is. I could also see this as a media leak to get teams to throw in more draft picks and potential guys. The sliding scale comment points to it. That line sticks out to me.
For example, let's say NY and Boston sent low offers that left off ancillary players or draft picks (like the Knicks offered just the #3 and DSJ but nothing else or Boston offered Tatum, Smart, and a 1st but nothing else)...this is Griff's way of letting teams know "you don't have everything I want, like an all-star player, so you need to really be forthcoming with those other assets to make up for it". Maybe they make magic happen and we get everything Griffin wants from a 3rd team....if not, they need to load up on the rest.
Blake's younger than Durant. He's a multi time All Star, including last year. Played 75 games last season. Had one of the best years of his career.
And was 3rd team All NBA. You'd also be getting the #4 pick in the draft. And Brandon Ingram and Josh Hart.
No one in the Celtics package has ever made an All Star team, not to mention even sniffed All NBA, yet people keep throwing them out as a possibility.
Blake is also owed over 40m a year because he signed the supermax before being traded. He's good and one of the few bigs in the league that can pair well with Zion but let's not pretend it's all roses with him. He has some value but he's due A LOT of money.
Blake is on the exact same career path as Amar'e Stoudemire. Check out his stats in the first year or two with the Knicks. The decline comes fast. He hasn't been dunking the ball (his dunk numbers went WAY down after 25 years old). His athleticism is diminishing quickly. Is he skilled. Yes. He probably has a maximum of 3 more really good seasons. Still, expect his efficiency to slowly decline from here on out until he becomes unplayable (he's not good on D).
“Hi, I’m looking to acquire a player that will give me little to no return on investment and will ensure mediocrity for the next 5-6 years. Preferably one that will tank my draft pick and begin to fall of a cliff in a year or two. Blake Griffin?! Take my money!” David Griffin, fired Pelicans NBA GM, 2019
Also Durant signed for the Warriors who were actually competing for titles before he arrived. Poor comparison
Last edited by JJackisangry; 06-10-2019 at 12:45 PM.
Why would Boston do it? And "they really want AD" isn't an answer. Everyone really wants AD, but it has to make sense. In this deal, Boston is giving up everything for AD and two bad contracts. The Celtics as an organization are run too well to make a deal like this.
If it's Lakers or Knicks, there will have to be a third team involved. For being a "preferred destination" for AD, they don't have enough to give back on their own. The Boston deal is looking more and more unlikely, mainly because without a commitment from Kyrie, trading for AD doesn't help Boston move the needle enough to give up their young talent. You can take "dark horse" rumors with a grain of salt, but that's because there are so many possibilities, not because they won't happen.
Personally, I appreciate all the scenarios and possibilities. However, I simply see Griffin looking towards the future rather than the now. I most likely see the trade going towards the Lakers and a third team Suns/Bulls going similar to the lines of:
Pels: Ingram, Hart or Kuzma, #4 pick, Bulls or Suns 1st rounder
Bulls or Suns: Lonzo, Pels 2nd rounder (maybe both)
Lakers: AD, (Some filler players)
I think getting 3 pick in this years draft (the first 7 pick I think are great potential) would set us up pretty well. Just as long as we pick correctly which we havent done well at in recent years.
Based on his desires, Portland may not be in a terrible spot. Although McCollum is not an all-star, he may be the closest thing we have seen in rumored deals to date. I guess it would depend on what Griffin thinks of Collins and Simmons. Portland does not have the picks, but could get them by taking on a bad deal.
There is smoke suggesting this deal will be between Pels, Lakers, and team(s) X. My call for what the Pels get in that case is
Lakers 2019 pick
Ingram
Decent Player X
Bad Salary Player X
2-3 1sts with at least an unprotected one on a middling team
Jrue dat
At this time, reading between the lines, it seems like Boston is probably tapped out on what they are willing to offer. If Griffin truly wants an all-star it will likely be Beal.
Here is the trade that makes the most sense
Lakers: AD
Wizards: Kuzma, Ball, Solomon Hill, #4 pick
Pelicans: Beal, Ingram, Hart, #9 pick and Lakers 2021 1st .
Draft top 10.
1. Zion
2. Morant
3. Barrett
4. Culver
5. Hunter
6. Garland
7. White
8. Hayes
9. Reddish
10. Langford or Little
Last edited by Darkhorse985; 06-10-2019 at 01:56 PM.
Yea. Ultimately the Laker deal looks something like this. And the Boston deal I think would look something like:
Tatum
Filler
Memphis pick + one other draft pick
I think from LA's end this works cause they get their guy. And from Boston's end this works because they have enough around AD to compete in the East and lure him to stay.
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