Damn LeBron looked fast against our old Mavs… Though props for keeping it close for such a long time. Even if no gas was left and Monta got shut down quite well, they really tried hard.
Is caspi an expiring contract? That trade scenerio would be awesome for Houston on multiple levels, and could almost work for Boston, but they’d need something else to sweeten the pot. Maybe get another team involved to get another pick mixed in there.
It’d be hard to make that work with another team, as the good players are already going to destinations that the organizations want (Rondo and Bass for Lin and Asik, but the cash and Caspi’s expiring contract should be enough to sweeten the deal).
The cash would soften the blow of Lin and Asik’s poison pill contracts and Caspi’s expiring contract would free up more space on the books for all those first round draft picks Boston’s looking to score.
Giving Lin, Asik, AND a pick is asking too much for Rondo, though apparently Lin for Rondo straight up is now an option and a pick and Asik (and maybe Caspi) for Hawes is being discussed as well. I like both of those deals better, but I’m not opposed to any of those scenarios, so long as we get a good 4/5 who can reliably hit the mid-range or 3 to space the floor and a point guard who can create for others.
Rondo is hardly Lin and Bass is hardly Asik. Boston doesn’t really have a good defensive big and Asik takes care of that. They get another outside scorer in Lin and both guys are in the last years of their contracts. Both guys can bounce, but they can also be trade pieces. Asik, if he’s the starter, is a quality center in a league that’s seeing fewer of them every year. In a conference where Indy and Miami rule, you need at least 1 good big to play defense. Both guys are young and can grow with whatever draft prospects Boston picks up if Boston decides to keep them on.
Rondo helps the Rockets run an offense and can play perimeter D on the CP3’s, Westbrooks, and Parkers we’re sure to face in the post season. Bass can spread the floor for Dwight and can play off the bench or as a starter.
I don’t see it being a trade in names only, there’s plenty that helps both teams.