The Cavs are in a unique situation that can be exploited, namely they have the threat of LeBron leaving looming over their franchise if they do NOT return to the Finals.
This is the kind of opportunity you want to take advantage of as an opposing GM. Vlade is likely oblivious to this. He rarely recognizes opportunity he squanders it (see Boogie Trade).
George Hill is a negative asset due 30M between now and end of next year. He's a negative asset to us and probably every other team in the NBA except the Cavs!
This when it would be nice to be a shrewd negotiator. But our GM does not like to talk on the phone. Perhaps an IT specialist can install Skype into Vlade's laptop so a deal can be considered and consummated.
Barring that we will have to hope Vlade runs into the Cavs GM at the concession stand during the All Star game. Between his order of soda nachos and sausage dogs, the direction of the franchise can be altered.
The futility of George Hill for the next 18 months cannot be understated.
While Fox has not developed as nicely or quickly as we would like, though he is still a franchise level player, Boggy and Frank have been better than anticipated.
In particular Boggy has shown uncanny PG skills with an acceptable number of misreads and blunders on the decline.
Boggy takes the pressure of Fox and Frank by being able to make plays in the half court and allow them to play more off the ball.
Independent of Boggy, Frank is a capable back-up in this league maybe more. This was NOT definitively known at the time of the Hill signing.
These factors makes Hill expendable even before we analyze his comatose unaggressive play for most of the year.
Fox is also likely to make significant strides play 30+ MPG the second half of the year.
I see Fox as a 16 PPG 8 APG player over 35 MPG with improving defense. This is commensurate with John Walls rookie performance.
(De'Aaron is 13 PPG and 6 APG in January. This numbers will go up when Z-Bud gets out his way.)
The Cavs allowed 148 points to the Thunder yesterday on their home floor. They need a shake-up and redefining trade in the worst way.
JR Smith is an unconscious gunner who plays matador defense. Remember Marco and his play with the Kings? Or Marcus Thornton towards the end of his tenure? Thats JR Smith!
JR Smith has a Stauskas-like 7.5 PER. He shoots a Ben-like 34% from deep though he manages to shoot 5 long balls per game! His defense sucks too!
The appeal of Hill to the Cavs is obvious. He replaces JR Smith minutes. He defends both guard spots and he nails open threes.
With Love and LeBron out of the block and Isaiah driving and dishing George Hill will get open threes.
I hope this trade goes down because I don't want to see the Celtics in the Finals independent of getting out from under Hill's contract. I DO want to see Isaiah get to the Finals. That would be glorious!
As far as a deal that can work with both parties, I would certainly look to include Koufos. I think it would also be a nice gesture to send Koufos to a winner.
Maybe this karma would come back to the Kings on 2018 Lottery Day when we get awarded with the #1 pick.
The problem with ANY trade involving Hill and Koufos is that it likely requires inclusion of JR Smith (13.7M * 50% / 14.7M / 15.7 M) AND / OR Tristan Thompson (16.4M * 50% / 17.4 M / 18.5 M) whose contracts run in 2019/20.
Taking on 16M or 18M in 2019/2020 is a NON-starter unless we get the 2018 Nets pick.
I would add Malachi or Justin Jackson to get the Nets pick, NOT Boggy or Frank or Giles or Skal, to get that pick.
The 2019 #1 Cavs pick is garbage. Even if the Cavs lose LeBron they are still going to be a .500 team with the competitiveness of the owner and willingness to spend.
Assuming Vlade still has a job by then there is only a 20-30% chance he picks a guy with any future in the league with a mid first rounder.
So the BEST course of action is to HOLD OUT FIRMLY for the Nets pick under these confines and knowing the Cavs are desperate to make a run this year to keep LeBron.
This is what a good (great) negotiator does. Then maybe on the day of the deadline you offer to include Frank Mason to close the deal and get the Nets pick.
You have to be the predator not the preyed upon. This is how you succeed in a dog eat dog world.
Then you buy out and waive Smith and Thompson and go into the 2018 draft and get Doncic and Ayton.....profit!
Obviously the Cavs are going to be highly reluctant to part with the Nets pick because that is their REBUILDING CHIP if LeBron walks.
But that pick is not looking like a Top 5 it is looking more like Top 10.
Ultimately I do NOT think the Cavs will trade that pick for the serviceable flotsam and jetsam that is Hill and Koufos and Frank Mason as a sweetener.
But if I am the Cavs GM I am pretty much bending over backwards to keep LeBron for the rest of his career when he is playing incredible basketball at age 32 with at least 3-4 more dominant years ahead of him.
LeBron's indestructibleness is a variable that has to play into the panic-like intention to keep him around. The Cavs NEED to make to move. It is a desperate code red situation for them.
It is not a code red situation for the Kings. We can let Hill and Koufos wallow out the remainder of their deals. We are bottom feeders every year. Whats another 18 months with them in tow?
Anyway Vlade holds the cards in potential deal with Cavs. Not the other way around. Proceed accordingly.