Honey, we need to talk about David.

This topic contains 16 replies, has 7 voices, and was last updated by TheArtistPaysthePrice 11 years, 6 months ago.

Author
Posts
Posted on: Tue, 12/09/2014 - 3:23pm #58587

DolanCare
Participant
I’ve been posting on this forum for a few years now, so I know what makes you people tick: trade ideas… especially when legit contenders are involved. And I totally get it- why mess with a good thing? And the Golden State Warriors have a GREAT thing going on right now… But that’s the exact reason why we need to talk about David.
In David Lee’s absence several players have stepped up and excelled in Kerr’s system. Draymond Green, Mareisse Speights and Harrison Barnes. They have been shuffled into a variety of lineups, but have ultimately proven that they can handle the 4- which is where Lee needs to play. He can’t guard wings, can’t defend the rim. He’s a PF through and through. So I made this long-az thread so we can talk about the viability of moving David Lee. The last thing I want to do is open up this forum to a slew of dumb trade proposals by the proletariat of the .net (And there are many). Rather spark a thoughtful discussion on if it makes sense to trade Lee, and if so, for whom…
**Pros and Cons:
The Warriors have a hard time keeping their offense up when Curry sits. Once the playoffs come around, it will be critical for the Warriors to find some baskets while Curry rest for his 6-10 minutes. Lee is a good offense player who has the ability to score by just being on the court- his knack for put backs and p&r will give GS easy baskets when Livingston or another is running the show. Plus, the Warriors do have a dearth of post scoring. So playing Lee would help diversify the offense.
BUT WHO’S MINUTES DOES LEE TAKE? Draymond is the established starter. Speights and Barnes provide defense which is something that the Warriors can ill-afford to lose. If Lee is on the court instead of Speights or Barnes, isn’t it almost a foregone conclusion that the opposing team will likely score more. Is that truly worth nibbling away from Barnes/Speights PT?
Lee is beloved by management mainly because of his leadership. He was a vocal leader during the dog days and has remained a flagship for the organization now that they are a contender. But at the end of the day, it’s difficult to argue that the Warriors need that right now. Steph is the leader, there’s solid locker room culture, and the 4 spot has been claimed. I just don’t see how trading Lee would mess with the team’s chemistry. Afterall, Kerr is under no obligation to play the players that he would get in return for a hypothetical Lee trade.
**The Boring but Critical…the luxury tax:
If the Warriors want to keep the squad that they have right now (including Lee), they would go DEEP into the tax next season. I won’t pretend to know all of the complexities of this CBA, nor the new one that will come to pass in 2 seasons, but what I do know is that the current tax hurts. They would be easily paying $100 million in tax to keep everyone which is a high price for any team, even if it may be for just one season. Warrior fans should take this asterisk into account.. afterall, is it worth potentially losing Draymond Green to free agency next season to keep Lee for the rest of this one?
** In My Humble, Insightful Opinion (IMHIO):
It should be ok to talk Lee trades without being automatically negged. Many championship teams have made in-season moves and there’s no reason why GSW can’t move a piece that they haven’t used. Here’s an idea:
http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=ohezmv8 .

Warriors get a 3rd big man who brings defense and scoring. Bogut is someone that should be resting in the regular season and Koufos is more than able to fill the minutes. Importantly, they get breathing room for next year. (Prince is just a throw in). Milwaukee gets a leader and a good foil to the hammer that is Larry Sanders. Grizzlies were barely playing Koufos and Prince. Now they get much needed shooters who can come off the bench and take up Pondexter minutes.I think Illyasova gives the Grizz another angle, helping free up the paint if need be. I’m sorry for making this such a long post, but I wanted to be sure to lay out why it could be a great long-term deal to move Lee. Keeping Green should be a priority, and they don’t really need another PF. Thanks for reading, keep the replies substantive.



0
Posted on: Tue, 12/09/2014 - 5:07pm #958505

TheArtistPaysthePrice
Participant
Nobody wants that contract in including GS. That doesn’t take away from how good Lee is as a savvy, skilled offensive player. He is Rudy Gay but in a different way. A guy that has a particular skill set and every one would acknowledge is talented but somehow the team he plays for plays better without him. Without a doubt GS, Memphis and Toronto lived with this reality over the last couple years.
Its not a bad trade but any minutes that Ersan would get would be better off giving then to Leuer. Besides who plays center the 10 minutes a game Gasol is not in, Jarnell Stokes? The Griz and GS are two of the top 5 teams in the League and they are not going to shake things up for no reason.
The Griz a fiscally conservative and won’t give up one year contracts for a multi year guys on bad contract in Ersan and Dudley. Everysingle player in this trade would have had to take a pay cut if they were free agents except for Koufus.

0
Posted on: Tue, 12/09/2014 - 5:07pm #958366

TheArtistPaysthePrice
Participant
Nobody wants that contract in including GS. That doesn’t take away from how good Lee is as a savvy, skilled offensive player. He is Rudy Gay but in a different way. A guy that has a particular skill set and every one would acknowledge is talented but somehow the team he plays for plays better without him. Without a doubt GS, Memphis and Toronto lived with this reality over the last couple years.
Its not a bad trade but any minutes that Ersan would get would be better off giving then to Leuer. Besides who plays center the 10 minutes a game Gasol is not in, Jarnell Stokes? The Griz and GS are two of the top 5 teams in the League and they are not going to shake things up for no reason.
The Griz a fiscally conservative and won’t give up one year contracts for a multi year guys on bad contract in Ersan and Dudley. Everysingle player in this trade would have had to take a pay cut if they were free agents except for Koufus.

0
- Posted on: Tue, 12/09/2014 - 7:12pm #958525
  
  DolanCare
  Participant
  You’re completely right about the the Grizz losing out. Moreover, it would also hurt the Grizz chances of resigning Gasol. I do think that Ersan and Dudley would give value to the Grizz, espeically Ersan who has a quicker release than Leuer. My main point is that there are teams that would take on Lee’s contract, like Milwaukee. If the Warriors have a chance to move him, it might prove to be a decision that saves them in the long term.
  0
- Posted on: Tue, 12/09/2014 - 7:12pm #958386
  
  DolanCare
  Participant
  You’re completely right about the the Grizz losing out. Moreover, it would also hurt the Grizz chances of resigning Gasol. I do think that Ersan and Dudley would give value to the Grizz, espeically Ersan who has a quicker release than Leuer. My main point is that there are teams that would take on Lee’s contract, like Milwaukee. If the Warriors have a chance to move him, it might prove to be a decision that saves them in the long term.
  0
  - Posted on: Wed, 12/10/2014 - 8:05am #958583
    
    TheArtistPaysthePrice
    Participant
    I do agree with you that the Bucks are the perfect team for Lee and if GS would take Esan and Dudley then a deal could get done easily.
    0
  - Posted on: Wed, 12/10/2014 - 8:05am #958444
    
    TheArtistPaysthePrice
    Participant
    I do agree with you that the Bucks are the perfect team for Lee and if GS would take Esan and Dudley then a deal could get done easily.
    0
Posted on: Tue, 12/09/2014 - 6:39pm #958519

arowsky205
Participant
I don’t really like the trade idea at all but props to you for bringing this up. I never considered the idea that they should trade him prior to reading this, and now I’m open to it. They wouldn’t be breaking up any on-court performance and it would help big time financially. I think a potential trade partner would be one that is desperate for immediate help and has a hole at the 4; Charlotte is the first team that comes to mind.
0
Posted on: Tue, 12/09/2014 - 6:39pm #958380

arowsky205
Participant
I don’t really like the trade idea at all but props to you for bringing this up. I never considered the idea that they should trade him prior to reading this, and now I’m open to it. They wouldn’t be breaking up any on-court performance and it would help big time financially. I think a potential trade partner would be one that is desperate for immediate help and has a hole at the 4; Charlotte is the first team that comes to mind.
0
- Posted on: Tue, 12/09/2014 - 11:15pm #958559
  
  Mopgrass
  Participant
  In most ways Charlotte is the best fit, especially since they want to win now. But when you have Jefferson, a purely offensive player, putting him next to Lee, another purely offensive player, you don’t help the team much unless he’s the 6th man. McRoberts helped because he moved the ball. Lee would do the opposite.
  The Nets are reportedly looking to make trades, but are looking at dealing Joe, Deron, or Brook. I don’t think GS wants to take on those type of players (except Lopez, whom they couldn’t afford asset-wise).
  There are a few bottom dwelling teams that could use him, but they’re all rebuilding or should be. If they want trade Lee, they might need to throw in another asset. Not because he’s a bad player. He’s not. Because his salary’s too high.
  
  0
- Posted on: Tue, 12/09/2014 - 11:15pm #958420
  
  Mopgrass
  Participant
  In most ways Charlotte is the best fit, especially since they want to win now. But when you have Jefferson, a purely offensive player, putting him next to Lee, another purely offensive player, you don’t help the team much unless he’s the 6th man. McRoberts helped because he moved the ball. Lee would do the opposite.
  The Nets are reportedly looking to make trades, but are looking at dealing Joe, Deron, or Brook. I don’t think GS wants to take on those type of players (except Lopez, whom they couldn’t afford asset-wise).
  There are a few bottom dwelling teams that could use him, but they’re all rebuilding or should be. If they want trade Lee, they might need to throw in another asset. Not because he’s a bad player. He’s not. Because his salary’s too high.
  
  0
Posted on: Tue, 12/09/2014 - 7:33pm #958529

B-ball fan
Participant
Unless they really want to spend a lot of money next year. Keeping Draymond is super important, as he showed last season can defend Blake Griffin as well as anyone and his offense is really coming along. If he keeps hitting threes with above-average efficiency, GS’s already deadly spacing gets even better.
I don’t like that particular trade because there is no way Milwaukee does that. Ersan is arguably the Bucks best player (at the moment – Giannis will pass him shortly) and his shooting is really important for spacing, since the Bucks are not a great shooting team. They aren’t in a hurry to contend, so cap space is valuable still to the Bucks and Ersan actually has nice value for the rest of his contract.
0
Posted on: Tue, 12/09/2014 - 7:33pm #958390

B-ball fan
Participant
Unless they really want to spend a lot of money next year. Keeping Draymond is super important, as he showed last season can defend Blake Griffin as well as anyone and his offense is really coming along. If he keeps hitting threes with above-average efficiency, GS’s already deadly spacing gets even better.
I don’t like that particular trade because there is no way Milwaukee does that. Ersan is arguably the Bucks best player (at the moment – Giannis will pass him shortly) and his shooting is really important for spacing, since the Bucks are not a great shooting team. They aren’t in a hurry to contend, so cap space is valuable still to the Bucks and Ersan actually has nice value for the rest of his contract.
0
Posted on: Wed, 12/10/2014 - 6:22am #958573

tuck243
Participant
what they should do… Could you play Speights at the 5 if Bogut goes down again? Having Lee starting or coming off the bench will do wonders for them if that happened… Trading him before the deadline is possible if he gets extended minutes when he come back… The Hornets need him badly, but do they have cap room? Knicks can use him and maybe the only team that can match his contract. The Warriors can pick up Amare or Andrea expiring contract.
IMO, I think they should stay put and see how Kerr handle his minutes… Maybe look to trade him in the off season when his contract isn’t quite harmful to other teams. But if you intend to trade him do it at the trade deadline this year.

0
Posted on: Wed, 12/10/2014 - 6:22am #958434

tuck243
Participant
what they should do… Could you play Speights at the 5 if Bogut goes down again? Having Lee starting or coming off the bench will do wonders for them if that happened… Trading him before the deadline is possible if he gets extended minutes when he come back… The Hornets need him badly, but do they have cap room? Knicks can use him and maybe the only team that can match his contract. The Warriors can pick up Amare or Andrea expiring contract.
IMO, I think they should stay put and see how Kerr handle his minutes… Maybe look to trade him in the off season when his contract isn’t quite harmful to other teams. But if you intend to trade him do it at the trade deadline this year.

0
Posted on: Wed, 12/10/2014 - 6:26am #958575

mixtape2003
Participant
I would like to see them trade Lee to the Nets for KG. Garnett gets to play for a contender and the warriors get a solid defensive player who can guard the 4 or 5 with an expiring contract. This would def depend on Brooklyn willingness to take on Lee’s contract, but it would be more likely if they move Williams, Johnson, or Lopez in a separate deal.
0
Posted on: Wed, 12/10/2014 - 6:26am #958436

mixtape2003
Participant
I would like to see them trade Lee to the Nets for KG. Garnett gets to play for a contender and the warriors get a solid defensive player who can guard the 4 or 5 with an expiring contract. This would def depend on Brooklyn willingness to take on Lee’s contract, but it would be more likely if they move Williams, Johnson, or Lopez in a separate deal.
0
Author
Posts

You must be logged in to reply to this topic.