Post#15 » by sule » Mon May 14, 2018 10:20 pm

It would be very reactionary to pull the trigger on major trades for Ibaka, Lowry, or Demar this offseason. As much as it's obvious to this point in time that neither of these three have proven themselves capable of pushing this team further than the ECF, let alone leading us to the promised land, it would be unwise to just trade them now - especially if the Raps are trying to extract as much value out of these guys via trade.



After this upcoming season would be the best time to pull the trigger, unless someone is throwing a Knicks or Nets-type trade at us.



After next season, both Ibaka and Lowry are expirings at older ages and will be valuable as cap relief to whomever they are traded to. Similarly, Demar, being the youngest of the 3, would still have 2 years left, and he's probably the guy a team would want for more than a year on their roster, especially if they already have an established star. Demar in his last year likely nets us nothing more than a middling 1st and salary fillers. 2 years left, and we can sell him as a guy another team can continue building around.





Only realistic deal I can see that would help us and the other team would be an Ibaka + Norm for Millsap (assuming we end up with Budenholzer). Denver gets out of $30 mill for one player and acquire two guys who can likely provide contracts that are both more easily moveable in a year or two. And Raps acquire Millsap, who would be back to playing for Budenholzer and can guide the team through the Bud-man's system.



I think Millsap also expires same time as Ibaka, so Raps would be out from under that contract at the same time as Lowry, and wouldn't really screw up the team's perceived timeline.