Thunder trade Jeremy Lamb to Hornets for Matt Barnes – Barnes to be released by Thunder

 I’d think going up and getting Stanley or trying to flip 14 for a decent "3 n D" guy would be in the team’s best interest. I think a guy like PJ Tucker would be a really nice piece for OKC, or a guy like Afflalo (though he’s a free agent). Both have ties to the team’s superstars so that would be an added bonus. 

I’d try to dangle 14 and Waiters myself to either move up somewhere between 7 and 10, or for a vet SG. Typically I’m against the whole sell the future thing but OKC may basically have this year to win and everboyd knows they are good enough to do so. 

 I’d think going up and getting Stanley or trying to flip 14 for a decent "3 n D" guy would be in the team’s best interest. I think a guy like PJ Tucker would be a really nice piece for OKC, or a guy like Afflalo (though he’s a free agent). Both have ties to the team’s superstars so that would be an added bonus. 

I’d try to dangle 14 and Waiters myself to either move up somewhere between 7 and 10, or for a vet SG. Typically I’m against the whole sell the future thing but OKC may basically have this year to win and everboyd knows they are good enough to do so. 

If everbody is healthy they would have the following rotation:
PG Westbrook – Augustin
SG Waiters – Robertson – Morrow
SF Durant – Novak – Jones
PF Ibaka – Collison
C Adams – McGary

I believe they should look to re-sign Kanter, a veteran in the frontcourt (R. Evans?) and maybe add some veteran wing player who has experience in the postseason (Carter? Prince?). Also, is there any chance the Spurs would let go of Danny Green in exchange for the 14th pick?

If everbody is healthy they would have the following rotation:
PG Westbrook – Augustin
SG Waiters – Robertson – Morrow
SF Durant – Novak – Jones
PF Ibaka – Collison
C Adams – McGary

I believe they should look to re-sign Kanter, a veteran in the frontcourt (R. Evans?) and maybe add some veteran wing player who has experience in the postseason (Carter? Prince?). Also, is there any chance the Spurs would let go of Danny Green in exchange for the 14th pick?

 It has been a good day for Charlotte.  

Batum is a huge addition, Lamb is the underrated addition.  Lamb has a lot of scoring potential, his free throw %s are good and if he lifts his other numbers he will be a useful player and maybe a starter.  

 It has been a good day for Charlotte.  

Batum is a huge addition, Lamb is the underrated addition.  Lamb has a lot of scoring potential, his free throw %s are good and if he lifts his other numbers he will be a useful player and maybe a starter.  

 I saw this coming from a mile away after the reports came out during the Reggie Jackson drama. For those of you who don’t know, the Thunder locker room was reportedly devided, with KD, Westbrook, and Ibaka on one side, and Jackson, Jones, and Lamb on the other. The young guns were just not feeling it I guess, and all of them thought they were deserving of a bigger role (which upset the aformentioned big three). 

I’m glad the Thunder finally let go of Lamb, as I thought his body language was some of the worst I’ve ever seen in my entirerty of watching NBA basketball, and he just looked like he didn’t care at times, most noticably on defense. At least now he will have a fresh start and an opportunity to play with his old running mate in Kemba, which right now, all the people in Uconn are loving this! Our hearts were broken last year when the Hornets drafted Shabazz only to trade him to the heat. That team meant so much to my town, so it’s going to be fun watching those two play together. 

I also think this is an interesting move by OKC, as it’s just a salary dump. People like to always bring up the Harden trade, but they also have to understand how much money the Thunder are dishing out. This year alone they are already in the tax with over $78 mil in the hole, and they still need to resign Kanter and maybe Singler. I think it’s imperative to bring Kanter back, but they should use their pick this year to draft KD’s backup. Justin Anderson would be fantastic for them, even if he would be a reach that high. 

Also, for the above poster who has Robertson ahead of Morrow on their depth chart, wake up! Go look up the statistics, Morrow was above and beyond their best shooting guard last year, and his ability to shoot the ball made OKC a deadly team last year with his 124(!!!) ORtg and 45% shooting from three. With him on the floor the Thunder’s ORtg went up from 106 to 109 and was a +5.3 compared to their opponents, FG% from .485% to .500%, and the Thunder’s most effective combo last year? Yep, you guessed it, it was Westbrook and Morrow. He is exactly what that team needs right now with Donovan’s system, and he makes life so much easier for KD and Russ!

 I saw this coming from a mile away after the reports came out during the Reggie Jackson drama. For those of you who don’t know, the Thunder locker room was reportedly devided, with KD, Westbrook, and Ibaka on one side, and Jackson, Jones, and Lamb on the other. The young guns were just not feeling it I guess, and all of them thought they were deserving of a bigger role (which upset the aformentioned big three). 

I’m glad the Thunder finally let go of Lamb, as I thought his body language was some of the worst I’ve ever seen in my entirerty of watching NBA basketball, and he just looked like he didn’t care at times, most noticably on defense. At least now he will have a fresh start and an opportunity to play with his old running mate in Kemba, which right now, all the people in Uconn are loving this! Our hearts were broken last year when the Hornets drafted Shabazz only to trade him to the heat. That team meant so much to my town, so it’s going to be fun watching those two play together. 

I also think this is an interesting move by OKC, as it’s just a salary dump. People like to always bring up the Harden trade, but they also have to understand how much money the Thunder are dishing out. This year alone they are already in the tax with over $78 mil in the hole, and they still need to resign Kanter and maybe Singler. I think it’s imperative to bring Kanter back, but they should use their pick this year to draft KD’s backup. Justin Anderson would be fantastic for them, even if he would be a reach that high. 

Also, for the above poster who has Robertson ahead of Morrow on their depth chart, wake up! Go look up the statistics, Morrow was above and beyond their best shooting guard last year, and his ability to shoot the ball made OKC a deadly team last year with his 124(!!!) ORtg and 45% shooting from three. With him on the floor the Thunder’s ORtg went up from 106 to 109 and was a +5.3 compared to their opponents, FG% from .485% to .500%, and the Thunder’s most effective combo last year? Yep, you guessed it, it was Westbrook and Morrow. He is exactly what that team needs right now with Donovan’s system, and he makes life so much easier for KD and Russ!

 I’m not sure I like Charlotte’s moves.  Aquiring Lamb is nice – Barnes wasn’t doing anything for them, so they can give Lamb a chance to resurrect his career.

But Batum is expiring.  For a team that is questionable to make the playoffs regardless of how this trade works and doesn’t have the best flexibility to make more moves to get in playoff contention, giving up on a 19 year old lottery pick for a player one year away from becoming an UFA seems like a mistake.  Vonleh may have had a disappointing season, but he was injured and showed some promise at the end of the season – they could have given him a shot next season.  As it stands, they better hope Batum likes it in Charlotte or this deal could look really bad in the future.  

Batum will be a major talent upgrade for them, but it still seems like they paid too much for him when he was not far from UFA.

 I’m not sure I like Charlotte’s moves.  Aquiring Lamb is nice – Barnes wasn’t doing anything for them, so they can give Lamb a chance to resurrect his career.

But Batum is expiring.  For a team that is questionable to make the playoffs regardless of how this trade works and doesn’t have the best flexibility to make more moves to get in playoff contention, giving up on a 19 year old lottery pick for a player one year away from becoming an UFA seems like a mistake.  Vonleh may have had a disappointing season, but he was injured and showed some promise at the end of the season – they could have given him a shot next season.  As it stands, they better hope Batum likes it in Charlotte or this deal could look really bad in the future.  

Batum will be a major talent upgrade for them, but it still seems like they paid too much for him when he was not far from UFA.

 I hope Lamb becomes at least a solid contributor because it never made sense that Thabo Sefolosha and Andre Robeson were getting all the minutes and Lamb has barely seen the court since coming to OKC.

 I hope Lamb becomes at least a solid contributor because it never made sense that Thabo Sefolosha and Andre Robeson were getting all the minutes and Lamb has barely seen the court since coming to OKC.

This may come off as crazy but I think the Hornets should start him at Sg next to Kemba and MKG, and bring Batum off the bench like the Warriors do with Andre Iguadola, if Lamb and MKG can just DEFEND and hit an occasional outside jumper the Hornets could be a good defensive team, they could draft a defensive C like Turner or WCS at 9 and move on from Jefferson and throw there money at versatile SF/PF Tobias Harris or even Max money at Draymond?

Frank the Tank at 9 seems like a reach but he could be their Bogut, Lyles at 9 makes sense if they can turn him into Dray Green lite, maybe even Stanley Johnson at SF/PF for stretches???…If Draymond can start at PF for a Championship team why can’t 6’7 240 lb Stan the Man do it for Charlotte?

Overall liking the direction the Hornets are headed…

They still have Cody Zeller and The 8th Wonder of the world Bismack Biyombo to shop around

This may come off as crazy but I think the Hornets should start him at Sg next to Kemba and MKG, and bring Batum off the bench like the Warriors do with Andre Iguadola, if Lamb and MKG can just DEFEND and hit an occasional outside jumper the Hornets could be a good defensive team, they could draft a defensive C like Turner or WCS at 9 and move on from Jefferson and throw there money at versatile SF/PF Tobias Harris or even Max money at Draymond?

Frank the Tank at 9 seems like a reach but he could be their Bogut, Lyles at 9 makes sense if they can turn him into Dray Green lite, maybe even Stanley Johnson at SF/PF for stretches???…If Draymond can start at PF for a Championship team why can’t 6’7 240 lb Stan the Man do it for Charlotte?

Overall liking the direction the Hornets are headed…

They still have Cody Zeller and The 8th Wonder of the world Bismack Biyombo to shop around

 I think it was a calculated risk on the part of the Hornets to acquire him on an expiring deal. First he is a proven player when healthy and fills a need for them. Secondly while 1 year is quick to give up Vonleh after, it is also enough time for the Hornets to get a pretty decent feeling on what type of potential he might have moving forward. Lastly if the move doesn’t pay off for the Hornets in terms of making the playoffs, they can always trade Batum to a playoff team for a pick or two and still recoup some value that way as well.

 I think it was a calculated risk on the part of the Hornets to acquire him on an expiring deal. First he is a proven player when healthy and fills a need for them. Secondly while 1 year is quick to give up Vonleh after, it is also enough time for the Hornets to get a pretty decent feeling on what type of potential he might have moving forward. Lastly if the move doesn’t pay off for the Hornets in terms of making the playoffs, they can always trade Batum to a playoff team for a pick or two and still recoup some value that way as well.

So the Grizzlies and Hornets agree to swap Ridnour and Barnes. Grizzlies will be really tough next season even with Barnes getting 15mpg. No shooting, though.

So the Grizzlies and Hornets agree to swap Ridnour and Barnes. Grizzlies will be really tough next season even with Barnes getting 15mpg. No shooting, though.

 This is confusing because didn’t Barnes just get traded for Lamb?

 This is confusing because didn’t Barnes just get traded for Lamb?