1st off I think Jones is the better player. Aside from that the A vs have Duchense, Stastny and O'Rielly. The have tweetle Dee and tweetle dumb on defense
- Bieksa#3

Jones = Erik Johnson

Must admit I've never seen either of them play (until today), but that MacKinnon kid is good!!! Now I know what all the hype is about.

OKC traded Harden because they can't afford the luxery tax, as any non huge market team can't. No chance they sign Howard. Or any other big name FA. Sadly teams like OKC and Memphis have to make outside the box moves to contend with Lakers/Heat/Clippers/Knicks etc on a yearly basis.
Honestly I think they should move Westbrook for a all star big. How about Westbrook for Kevin Love and minny uses Westbrook as more of a combo guard.
Or Westbrook for Al Horford
Jeremy Lamb and a 1st for Illguskis in Cleveland?

Howard to the Hawks
Josh Smith to Houston
Red!ck to Memphis
- Bieksa#3

As much as I want to get an all star big, I dont want to give up westbrook because KD showed in these playoffs that hes not a great ball handler
I really like Love but like I said above we need westbrook...
Not unless Sam Presti finds a diamond like he did with ibaka and draft a good pg
I love horford and would love to get him for the right price
Btw what will get magic get in that trade?

I've watched 3 hockey games today:

Sweden - Finland
Halifax - Portland
SJ - LA

This SJ-LA is bar far the least entertaining.

A couple things to keep in mind about Eriksson...

1. He's on a bargain contract for 3 more seasons, which means Dallas would ask for a King's ransom in return.

2. He's even softer (in the passive non-confrontational way) than the Sedins are, which translates just fine on the larger international ice surface, but IMO would mean big trouble in the NHL. Dude only threw 6 hits in 48 games this season.

I just don't think it'd work the way it looks on paper. In this league, on this ice surface, the Sedins need a forechecking workhorse on their line who is a monster along the boards (Burrows/Kassian/Downie type guy).

A couple things to keep in mind about Eriksson...

1. He's on a bargain contract for 3 more seasons, which means Dallas would ask for a King's ransom in return.

2. He's even softer (in the passive non-confrontational way) than the Sedins are, which translates just fine on the larger international ice surface, but IMO would mean big trouble in the NHL. Dude only threw 6 hits in 48 games this season.

I just don't think it'd work the way it looks on paper. In this league, on this ice surface, the Sedins need a forechecking workhorse on their line who is a monster along the boards (Burrows/Kassian/Downie type guy).
- DrChristianTroy

I think he'd do well with them in the regular season, agreed come playoff time. Anyway if we acquired him he wouldn't necessarily need to line up with the Sedins. If we can get a quality 2nd line center and throw Kesler onto the other wing that would be a 2nd line to be reckoned with.

As much as I want to get an all star big, I dont want to give up westbrook because KD showed in these playoffs that hes not a great ball handler
I really like Love but like I said above we need westbrook...
Not unless Sam Presti finds a diamond like he did with ibaka and draft a good pg
I love horford and would love to get him for the right price
Btw what will get magic get in that trade?
- RF_4eva

Yup, it would be absolutely idiotic to trade Westbook, especially after we saw what this team looks like without his ball handling skills. I'd rather package Perkins and Lamb, maybe a first if need be as well for a scoring big. Horford or Love would be great, but not for Westbrook.

As much as I want to get an all star big, I dont want to give up westbrook because KD showed in these playoffs that hes not a great ball handler
I really like Love but like I said above we need westbrook...
Not unless Sam Presti finds a diamond like he did with ibaka and draft a good pg
I love horford and would love to get him for the right price
Btw what will get magic get in that trade?
- RF_4eva

They trade Westbrook for Hhorford or Love it means the PG has more options them Durant. Also, keep in mind Durant was facing a dominate D.
Regardless I'm pretty confident OKC can't win with their current roster make up.

A couple things to keep in mind about Eriksson...

1. He's on a bargain contract for 3 more seasons, which means Dallas would ask for a King's ransom in return.

2. He's even softer (in the passive non-confrontational way) than the Sedins are, which translates just fine on the larger international ice surface, but IMO would mean big trouble in the NHL. Dude only threw 6 hits in 48 games this season.

I just don't think it'd work the way it looks on paper. In this league, on this ice surface, the Sedins need a forechecking workhorse on their line who is a monster along the boards (Burrows/Kassian/Downie type guy).
- DrChristianTroy

Exactly, people overreact to these international tournaments way too much. Different ice, different officiating, and small game sample size. Ditto with the world juniors.

I think he'd do well with them in the regular season, agreed come playoff time. Anyway if we acquired him he wouldn't necessarily need to line up with the Sedins. If we can get a quality 2nd line center and throw Kesler onto the other wing that would be a 2nd line to be reckoned with.
- AlexF

I agree... An Eriksson/______/Kesler 2nd line would be ideal... Then put Eriksson on the PP1 with the Sedins.

Yup, it would be absolutely idiotic to trade Westbook, especially after we saw what this team looks like without his ball handling skills. I'd rather package Perkins and Lamb, maybe a first if need be as well for a scoring big. Horford or Love would be great, but not for Westbrook.
- Nucker101

But you can't add a salary Ala Love without moving Westbrook. Can't afford the tax. That's why Harden was moved. Durant had no other options. A Love or Horford down low scoring would change the defense. Regardless of how good you think Westbrook is, they aren't good enough. Westbrook wouldn't have made them 3 games better.

They trade Westbrook for Hhorford or Love it means the PG has more options them Durant. Also, keep in mind Durant was facing a dominate D.
Regardless I'm pretty confident OKC can't win with their current roster make up.
- Bieksa#3

They won the West last year, and are still one of the youngest teams in the league. The Spurs will decline soon, Lakers are already a mess. IMO the Grizzlies, Clippers(as long as sign CP3) and Thunder look like the 3 contenders in the west for the next few years, maybe the Warriors but I'm still not 100% sold on them. Nuggets have one of the deepest teams in the league, but I don't see them as a true contender.

They won the West last year, and are still one of the youngest teams in the league. The Spurs will decline soon, Lakers are already a mess. IMO the Grizzlies, Clippers(as long as sign CP3) and Thunder look like the 3 contenders in the west for the next few years, maybe the Warriors but I'm still not 100% sold on them. Nuggets have one of the deepest teams in the league, but I don't see them as a true contender.
- Nucker101

And what happened. They got hammered by Miami. Again OKC isn't built to win
Also had Harden last yr. Non tax teams can't contend long before retooling

But you can't add a salary Ala Love without moving Westbrook. Can't afford the tax. That's why Harden was moved. Durant had no other options. A Love or Horford down low scoring would change the defense. Regardless of how good you think Westbrook is, they aren't good enough. Westbrook wouldn't have made them 3 games better.
- Bieksa#3

Perkins actually has a pretty big contract(I believe around 8 million) and there have been rumours that he could even be an amnesty buy out candidate since OKC hasn't used theirs yet, but Sam Presi shot that down. You could add in someone like Collison at 3 million and that's 11 million going the other way.

Perkins actually has a pretty big contract(I believe around 8 million) and there have been rumours that he could even be an amnesty buy out candidate since OKC hasn't used theirs yet, but Sam Presi shot that down. You could add in someone like Collison at 3 million and that's 11 million going the other way.
- Nucker101

For what
You have to give value for young all stars like Love or Horford. Aintt getting them type of players for basically junk. Again your trying to forget why they moved Harden.

And what happened. They got hammered by Miami. Again OKC isn't built to win
- Bieksa#3

So winning 3 rounds isn't "built to win" ??? No shame in getting beat down by Miami, that team is amazing. And again, all those team will age and the Thunder still have Toronto's first round pick this year, Jeremy Lamb, Reggie Jackson, Perry Jones, etc to develop as good role players. They're defence improved this year top top 10, they can score and IMO they could use an insider scorer but that can be achieved without trading Westbrook who is a franchise player. Doesn't have to be an expensive star.

For what
You have to give value for young all stars like Love or Horford. Aintt getting them type of players for basically junk. Again your trying to forget why they moved Harden.
- Bieksa#3

Sorry, I meant to say a package including those 2 as salary dumps plus a player like Jeremy Lamb and TO's first rounder.

So winning 3 rounds isn't "built to win" ??? No shame in getting beat down by Miami, that team is amazing. And again, all those team will age and the Thunder still have Toronto's first round pick this year, Jeremy Lamb, Reggie Jackson, Perry Jones, etc to develop as good role players. They're defence improved this year top top 10, they can score and IMO they could use an insider scorer but that can be achieved without trading Westbrook who is a franchise player. Doesn't have to be an expensive star.
- Nucker101

Until they spend some cash and build a system that employs a down low presence they can't win. Shoe me a team in the last 15 yrs that won without a star big man?

Sorry, I meant to say a package including those 2 as salary dumps plus a player like Jeremy Lamb and TO's first rounder.
- Nucker101

Look what it cost Memphis to lose contracts not as bad as Perkins. Plus you want talent in return?
Maybe give some body Lamb and a 1st to take Perkins and Collision and sign somebody? However if that didn't work they would be (frank)ed for 5 yrsyrs

I agree... An Eriksson/______/Kesler 2nd line would be ideal... Then put Eriksson on the PP1 with the Sedins.
- DrChristianTroy

Perfect. Now, what do we give up to get him? Edler?

Perfect. Now, what do we give up to get him? Edler?
- AlexF

Maybe add a 2nd

Until they spend some cash and build a system that employs a down low presence they can't win. Shoe me a team in the last 15 yrs that won without a star big man?
- Bieksa#3

They spend to the limit, but not to the luxury cap, too bad they're a small market team otherwise they could build a scary team and could have kept Harden. Again, I agree that they need a big man that can score but I disagree that they have to trade Westbrook to get one. Hell, they could even draft one with the Toronto pick depending on who's available, or trade/package that pick with Lamb or their other first for a young big on a cheap contract that can score.

Kevin Martin is a free agent, that's 10+ million off the books right there. They could make a strong push for Paul Millsap or David West with that money, Millsap would be perfect.

Also Perry Jones can't be written off too easily, he was a top 5 pick before teams got scared off because of potential future knee injuries.

Maybe add a 2nd
- Bieksa#3

I'd do that. Might have to add a mid grade prospect on top of that (Edler, 2nd, prospect).

Eriksson would be good with Kesler—he's got some decent playmaking ability.

Look what it cost Memphis to lose contracts not as bad as Perkins. Plus you want talent in return?
Maybe give some body Lamb and a 1st to take Perkins and Collision and sign somebody? However if that didn't work they would be (frank)ed for 5 yrsyrs
- Bieksa#3

Good point, but Martin's contract comes off of the books though and he very likely won't be back especially since he didn't step up after Westbrook went down and Lamb has the talent to be a solid future 6th man. I'd use that money to sign a big, and maybe sign a cheap veteran 3 point specialist SG to replace Martin in case Lamb isn't ready next year.

I'd do that. Might have to add a mid grade prospect on top of that (Edler, 2nd, prospect).

Eriksson would be good with Kesler—he's got some decent playmaking ability.
- Fosco

I'd be weary of trading yet another pick/prospect, a 2nd might not seem to exciting but picks are like lottery tickets so the Canucks would continue to have very low odds of drafting a solid NHL'er after the first round compared to most teams. Gillis himself said that he's going to change his approach on keeping and potentially adding picks instead of moving them.

I'd be weary of trading yet another pick/prospect, a 2nd might not seem to exciting but picks are like lottery tickets so the Canucks would continue to have very low odds of drafting a solid NHL'er after the first round compared to most teams.
- Nucker101

I'd do it for a young proven forward like Eriksson.

By mid level prospect I meant like one of the LHD who project to be 5-7 D, like Andersson or Polasek.