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Although I really don't think Toronto has need of Asik, it's the sort of move that I could see MU swooping in to make. Any deal for Asik is likely to expand to become a multi-team deal, or Asik could be flipped in a subsequent deal.
I got thinking about teams that might have use for Asik, while possessing assets to interest Toronto. Here's one such deal I came up with: http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=m9grpbm (Augustin can't be included until Dec.15, but doesn't have to be for this deal to work).
TO HOUSTON - Gay & Augustin
TO TORONTO - Lin & Gordon & 2 x 2014 1st round picks (from Charlotte)
TO CHARLOTTE - Asik & Fields
My thought was that Houston could have use for Gay, with Asik/Lin required to balance salary. Augustin would be a throw-in to balance # of players and reinforce Houston's PG depth. Toronto might even add a sweetener to the deal, by sending a future 2nd round pick to Houston.
I could really see Charlotte liking Asik, both to push for the playoffs this year and aid in their rebuilding process. A starting lineup of Asik, Jefferson, MKG, Henderson & Walker would be pretty solid, with Sessions, Fields, Biyombo & Zeller off the bench. Fields would give them a young veteran glue guy, who's also required to balance salary. In lieu of giving up a legit player, they'd give up 2 of their 3 2014 1st round picks (2 have protections).
Toronto would basically dump the salaries of Gay, Fields and Augustin for Lin and Gordon. Lin would immediately make Lowry expendable, while Gordon is a fat expiring contract (provides good cap relief in the offseason, or could be flipped before the deadline). Adding 2 additional 2014 1st round picks would be ideal, and I don't even necessarily see this as an outright 'tank' move. MU would still have Lowry, Novak and Gordon's $13M expiring contract available as prime trade bait, before even considering DeRozan, Johnson or Hansborough. With 3 and potentially more 1st round picks, the Raps would have a lot of options come the draft.
Thoughts???
I got thinking about teams that might have use for Asik, while possessing assets to interest Toronto. Here's one such deal I came up with: http://espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=m9grpbm (Augustin can't be included until Dec.15, but doesn't have to be for this deal to work).
TO HOUSTON - Gay & Augustin
TO TORONTO - Lin & Gordon & 2 x 2014 1st round picks (from Charlotte)
TO CHARLOTTE - Asik & Fields
My thought was that Houston could have use for Gay, with Asik/Lin required to balance salary. Augustin would be a throw-in to balance # of players and reinforce Houston's PG depth. Toronto might even add a sweetener to the deal, by sending a future 2nd round pick to Houston.
I could really see Charlotte liking Asik, both to push for the playoffs this year and aid in their rebuilding process. A starting lineup of Asik, Jefferson, MKG, Henderson & Walker would be pretty solid, with Sessions, Fields, Biyombo & Zeller off the bench. Fields would give them a young veteran glue guy, who's also required to balance salary. In lieu of giving up a legit player, they'd give up 2 of their 3 2014 1st round picks (2 have protections).
Toronto would basically dump the salaries of Gay, Fields and Augustin for Lin and Gordon. Lin would immediately make Lowry expendable, while Gordon is a fat expiring contract (provides good cap relief in the offseason, or could be flipped before the deadline). Adding 2 additional 2014 1st round picks would be ideal, and I don't even necessarily see this as an outright 'tank' move. MU would still have Lowry, Novak and Gordon's $13M expiring contract available as prime trade bait, before even considering DeRozan, Johnson or Hansborough. With 3 and potentially more 1st round picks, the Raps would have a lot of options come the draft.
Thoughts???
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