Jeff Green to Denver for Nene? Could a Carmelo deal to the Lakers open the door?
Denver Nuggets center Nene Hilario (31) gets the score and the foul from Utah Jazz center Al Jefferson (25) during the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game Friday, Feb. 4, 2011 in Denver. The Jazz won 113-106. (AP Photo/Barry Gutierrez)
When he’s not coordinating our coverage of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State sports — and dealing with photo assignments, credential requests and a million other details — The Oklahoman’s assistant sports editor Ryan Sharp is developing quite an obsession with the NBA.
I know this because I sit right across from him, which is where I was today when ESPN reported the Los Angeles Lakers are exploring a trade with Denver for Carmelo Anthony. Which prompted Ryan to ask, “Could this clear the way for the Nuggets to trade Nene to the Thunder for Jeff Green?”
Great question. Important question.
Check the logic: The Nuggets would likely ask for Lakers 24-year-old center Andrew Bynum. The Nuggets would then have an incentive to deal Nene and his $11 million-a-year contract. Deal him for Green and they’d get a small forward replacement for Carmelo and a glue player who might help their rebuilding efforts dodge lottery land.
In Nene, the Thunder would gain a 29-year-old center who is better offensively (15.3 points, 64.4 field-goal percentage) than defensively. His 7.3 rebounds are a tad light for a 7-footer. But he’s an athletic post presence with 39 playoff games under his belt.
It also gives Oklahoma City the South American Berry Tramel has long coveted. If OKC would have done the Anderson Varejao deal ESPN’s Marc Stein wrote about last month, I’m pretty sure Berry would have asked to be reassigned to the Thunder beat.
On a slightly more serious note: The deal also works under the salary cap if the Thunder includes Mo Peterson’s expiring deal. Nene has an $11 million player option for next season that he most likely would exercise.
On a much more serious note: Would the Thunder seriously consider trading Jeff Green? OKC risks losing him as a restricted free agent this summer if another team offers him a deal it won’t match. I know there are fans in Oklahoma City who say let him go, who would do the Nene deal every day and twice on Sunday. I’m not one of them because I watch these games and see the value Green brings.
Plus I still can’t believe Sam Presti is going to be in any hurry to part with Green. His trade for Green on 2007 NBA Draft night — minutes after he took Kevin Durant with the No. 2 overall pick — signaled the extreme team makeover that made the Thunder what it is. (Here’s how much these guys love Green: One night two seasons ago, when Blake Griffin was doing to Iowa State what he now does to the Miami Heat, I was laughed out of the arena formerly named the Ford Center for suggesting the Thunder trade Green and its lottery pick for the chance to take Blake with the No. 1 overall pick.)
The Thunder enters Tuesday night’s home game against Memphis on a pace for 54 victories and home-court advantage in a first-round series. This deal would be a departure from Presti’s stay-the-course plan, but the possibility of Green leaving this summer would alter that course anyway.
Who knows what kind of legs the Carmelo-to-the-Lakers talk has. The Lakers have already issued a denial, which means nothing. But here’s the compelling question: Could that trade set off a chain of events that brings the Thunder to the fork in the road four months early?
REVISION: I previously wondered in this space whether the Thunder could use this as an opportunity to ask Jeff Green whether he wants to stay in Oklahoma City long-term, and then act accordingly. Silly me. Astute readers point out that Green is a restricted free agent, meaning he can’t re-sign with the Thunder until the offseason. There won’t be any take-it-or-leave offers. Against the rules. (Thanks folks. You’re right. I should have known better). END REVISION.
Meanwhile, back in the real world, our Thunder/NBA writers Darnell Mayberry and John Rohde are working on a package for Sunday tentatively titled “Deal or No Deal: How will the Thunder approach the Feb. 24 trade deadline.”
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Comments
“If Carmelo gets traded to the Lakers, the Thunder should offer Jeff Green the chance to sign a long-term deal right now. If he says “yes,” The Process continues. If Green says “no,” do the Nene deal.”
Jeff Green cannot sign a long term deal right now, the deadline passed in the offseason.
Ah, I am pretty darn sure by CBA rules, the Thunder can’t have any further contract negotiations with Green til July 1 after not extending him by the extension deadline last October.
Ok, Justin was a little quicker to submit.
This reference
http://members.cox.net/lmcoon/salarycap.htm
a good source to consult when thinking about or writing about contract issues. In this case the answer is provided on question 52.
Who cares…, MarshMelo ain’t ever won nothing in the NBA. Lakers are just looking desperate as they can’t beat the Heat, Spurs nor Celtics. They also see that BLAKE GRIFFIN and the CLIPPERS are the better show in LA!
No problem, there are thousands of details and outside of Larry Coon and a few team CBA experts, most folks will occasionally drift from the rules in one way or another. Heck even GMs and their staffs do it, temporarily or until they get caught by the league. I drift away from the rules sometimes too. Thought I’d share the resource I turn to when I feel the need and take the time. Just in case any hadn’t seen it.
Who wants to trade away Jeff Green. That is ridiculous. I criticize his play at the 4, but that is simply because he is not big enough to be playing the majority of the minutes at the 4 position. Thunder needs to correct that situation and not get rid of Jeff, who is part of the team and a big part even though he is being played at the wrong position.
We don’t need no Nene. We got good big men and I am hopeful for the development of Cole and somebody just needs to put their foot in the rear of Byron and keep doing so till he gets mad and realizes that he is is 7 foot and 280 lbs.
Jeff Green has to be considered in any deal which might bring the Thunder a true PF or a back to the basket, rebounding, and shot blocking true Center. Nene meets neither of these qualifications. A guy like Marcus Camby would be ideal but his age and injuries this season would not warrant including Jeff Green for him. Tyson Chandler is another who would fit nicely with the Thunder now that he seems past the injury he had when the Thunder ultimately sent him back to the Hornets 2 years ago. Those who say the Thunder should not have reneged on that deal forget or don’t know Chandler battled injuries all of last season and was not worth the $12m he earned last year. The Thunder don’t need offense, they have plenty in Westbrook and Durant. They need more Collison/Ibaka types but with more upside. Ben Wallace in his prime would fit well on this team. Marc Gasol would be a nice fit as would Gortat at Phoenix.
The problem with Jeff Green is that on any other team, he is their Durant. He may never score as much as Durant or be an All-Star starter but they are built very similar and have very similar game. Look at the box score whenever Durant sits and you’ll see Green’s line looks much like the line Durant normally puts up. They should look closely at any deal for Green as his ultimate market value will be overmarket to the Thunder since they already have Durant. Green was the #5 pick in that draft and has shown when Durant sits he can be the go-to guy. If a deal comes along that makes sense for OKC, give Green the chance to get to a place where he can reach his full potential.
Funny, when I first saw the Melo-to-the-Lakers story the other day, I wondered what the impact would be on Nene, and if he might somehow end up in OKC as a result. Guess it’s true what they say about great minds. 
I don’t know how getting Nene would work out long-term, but if it means giving up Jeff Green, I’d be very reluctant to pull the trigger. I agree with Matthew and Chris. He’s a lot more valuable to the Thunder than his detractors seem to realize.
Yes he’s out of position at the 4, but that’s not his fault. It’s just the way things have worked to this point. I don’t know who else is ready to step in and be the starting power forward right now. Ibaka is probably close, but my non-expert opinion is that he’s not there yet.
On another team, playing the 3, Green would shine. I don’t know if he’ll be willing to come off the bench behind Durant if/when someone else steps into the starting 4-spot. If another team offers him big bucks to be their starting small forward, we might have to wish him a fond farewell. But on this team, his best role might be as OKC’s Lamar Odom, so to speak.
I’m a member of the “In Presti We Trust” club, and I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt on any deal he does, unless very convincingly shown otherwise. He’s earned that, detractor claims to the contrary. But I do hope a way is found to get OKC to the next level while keeping Jeff Green on board. In fact, I think keeping him on board would make that next level easier to reach. But I guess we’ll see what happens.
Thunder should trade Green/Kristic for Dalembert/Jason Thompson! The Kings might do this. Dalembert is better defender and better inside scorer than Kristic and Jason Thompson is better inside scorer than Green! Presti take the gamble!
Or just trade Green for Jason Thompson!
2nd thought to get the 3-point shooting you lose with Jeff Green, than trade J. Green for Donte Green and Jason Thompson.
Something like this. Take on Dalembert contract to get Donte Green and Jason Thompson! Then you set for a big playoff run!
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