One Trade That Every Team Should Do
Minnesota gets: PF Terrence Jones, SG Jason Terry, New Orleans’ 2015 first-rounder (via Houston)
Houston gets: PG/SG Goran Dragic, C Miles Plumlee
Phoenix gets: C Nikola Pekovic, Denver’s 2015 second-rounder (via Minnesota)
Finances: Before delving into this one, I highly suggest that you read Houston, which gives pretty much the same trade except C Brook Lopez gets shipped to Phoenix instead of Pekovic, which obviously means that Brooklyn is involved instead of Minnesota. To summarize it: Terry is a contract filler on an expiring deal worth $5.5 million, Plumlee and Jones are still on their cheap rookie deals, and Dragic is on an expiring contract, due for a new deal for about $13 million annually this offseason. Pekovic is the only new player to explain, and he’s due for $12.1 million next year, as he’s fresh off a 5 year/$60 million extension. There you go.
The Fit: As a young, rebuilding team, Pekovic was only hindering the growth of C Gorgui Dieng, and dealing him for all these assets makes plenty of sense. For the 29 year old, Minnesota swap a second-rounder with a very valuable first-rounder, and also nets young defensive stud PF Terrence Jones. The 23 year old is averaging 9.5 points on 49%, 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks, noticeable drop-offs from last season: 12 points on 54% shooting, 7 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 1 steal. However, this slip is mainly due to persistent injuries rather than a slump. Terry is of little value and is just to make the finances work
Why the other teams do it: Again, I really suggest you read Houston for this one, but I’ll summarize. The Rockets are a contending team with a hole at point guard, so acquiring a star like Dragic makes sense. Future assets like Jones and the first-rounder are of little value to a team that could win the title with Dragic, and Plumlee is a solid big man who can help Houston get rhough superstar C Dwight Howard’s injury. For Phoenix, they will likely not re-sign Dragic anyways, so trading him for whatever they can get makes sense, and Plumlee has been unhappy with his smaller role in Phoenix as well. Dealing both for a back to the basket scorer makes a lot of sense, as the Suns have needed one for quite some time, and the second-rounder helps too. Pekovic is another guy who has been rather disappointing, as after averaging 17.5 points on 54% shooting as well as 9 rebounds per game, he is only putting up 13.5 points on 45% shooting to go with just 7 rebounds. Still, he is a highly productive low-post scorer that the Suns would certainly use to the fullest of his capabilities. This is a good trade for all parties involved, which is why you see pretty much the exact same trade three times (under Houston and under Phoenix).
Minnesota gets: PF Terrence Jones, SG Jason Terry, New Orleans’ 2015 first-rounder (via Houston)
Houston gets: PG/SG Goran Dragic, C Miles Plumlee
Phoenix gets: C Nikola Pekovic, Denver’s 2015 second-rounder (via Minnesota)
Finances: Before delving into this one, I highly suggest that you read Houston, which gives pretty much the same trade except C Brook Lopez gets shipped to Phoenix instead of Pekovic, which obviously means that Brooklyn is involved instead of Minnesota. To summarize it: Terry is a contract filler on an expiring deal worth $5.5 million, Plumlee and Jones are still on their cheap rookie deals, and Dragic is on an expiring contract, due for a new deal for about $13 million annually this offseason. Pekovic is the only new player to explain, and he’s due for $12.1 million next year, as he’s fresh off a 5 year/$60 million extension. There you go.
The Fit: As a young, rebuilding team, Pekovic was only hindering the growth of C Gorgui Dieng, and dealing him for all these assets makes plenty of sense. For the 29 year old, Minnesota swap a second-rounder with a very valuable first-rounder, and also nets young defensive stud PF Terrence Jones. The 23 year old is averaging 9.5 points on 49%, 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks, noticeable drop-offs from last season: 12 points on 54% shooting, 7 rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 1 steal. However, this slip is mainly due to persistent injuries rather than a slump. Terry is of little value and is just to make the finances work
Why the other teams do it: Again, I really suggest you read Houston for this one, but I’ll summarize. The Rockets are a contending team with a hole at point guard, so acquiring a star like Dragic makes sense. Future assets like Jones and the first-rounder are of little value to a team that could win the title with Dragic, and Plumlee is a solid big man who can help Houston get rhough superstar C Dwight Howard’s injury. For Phoenix, they will likely not re-sign Dragic anyways, so trading him for whatever they can get makes sense, and Plumlee has been unhappy with his smaller role in Phoenix as well. Dealing both for a back to the basket scorer makes a lot of sense, as the Suns have needed one for quite some time, and the second-rounder helps too. Pekovic is another guy who has been rather disappointing, as after averaging 17.5 points on 54% shooting as well as 9 rebounds per game, he is only putting up 13.5 points on 45% shooting to go with just 7 rebounds. Still, he is a highly productive low-post scorer that the Suns would certainly use to the fullest of his capabilities. This is a good trade for all parties involved, which is why you see pretty much the exact same trade three times (under Houston and under Phoenix).