I think it makes sense from the standpoint that Garland is younger and signed long-term on a good contract. Mikal turns 28 before next season, Garland just turned 24. Bridges is on a great contract right now, but his next deal will be expensive. They can have a lot of space freeing up in the next year depending on what they choose to do in the trade market. Just depends on how confident they are in playing the free-agent market and putting pieces around Garland.
I can see why the Nets would do it if they could do a straight-up swap, but I think two things make it extremely difficult:
- The Nets don't control their picks for several years
- Garland makes $13M more than Bridges
While getting the younger Garland is good, they have no incentive to be bad or lack upside in the draft as they don't control their picks (though it seems like they're trying to do so anyway). The salary difference could make completing a trade very complicated, especially since the Cavs don't have picks they can trade to compensate the Nets. The trade that would work financially would be Garland for Mikal & DFS, but that's too weighted for the Cavs without being able to include picks.
This is the angle I'm currently thinking about to take care of my Mikal Bridges perpetual itch.
I think the Nets should realize pretty soon that they're simply not good enough, and after a failed FA period, it just might come this summer already.
Would they change course I'd they could get all their picks back from Houston?
The problem is Bridges is an ideal fit on the Rockets as well, so if it came to that, I don't see why the two teams wouldn't just deal with each other.
Only way is if the Nets would 1) want too much coming back, or 2) wouldn't want to take back the shit contracts from Houston and would want some better salary they can flip further.
Someone like say... their prodigal son, Prince LeVert, who represents a free 1st for any rebuilding team basically. Certainly better than Adams/Landale/Brooks for 3 more years.
Now I'm sure Mitchell could get you anything you wanted from Houston, which we could trade around for Mikal and keep some stuff for ourselves while doing so.
But I'm far gone from wanting to trade DM at all, and instead am now day dreaming about Garland trades as our most tradable and easiest to upgrade - fit wise - piece.
Do you guys think we could pull the same stuff off with DG?
It would require Houston banking on making a DG + FVV fit work (FVV is the guy to do this with imo coz of his d and off ball capability), but DG gives them a sick trio for the future with Sengun and Jabari, and its a really huge value upgrade.
Trade works in the summer after TOs got picked up and Adams is no longer freshly traded.
Brooklyn gets back all their picks, they can now commit to the tank. They also get Jalen Green, a legit young piece back. I've thrown in our first too after the draft for good measure. Don't know if this is representative of DG's value but I think it's close.
Houston gets DG for their external additional picks, and only a Jalen Green who imo is a goner sooner than later anyway. They keep their other young pieces. Sharpe is needed for cap balance but actually fills a need too at backup C.
And for us, we finally get Mikal thank the Lord, and swap out LeVert for Steven Adams (upgraded TT role and Mobley's mentor), Jae'Sean Tate (another wing defender) and more minutes for CPJ and Merrill. Landale, Niang, and Tate are contacts we can trade going forward. Strus assumes 6th man role which I think he would be dynamite in.
Allen/TT/Landale
Mobley/Wade/Niang
Bridges/Strus/Tate
Okoro/Merrill/Jerome
Mitchell/CPJ/vet PG
Look at that fucking defense. Our starting lineup straight becomes one of the best in the league and we retain lots and lots of depth with proper roles at all positions.
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A little too much and unrealistic, you say? Heh! My obsession with fantasy roster construction knows no limits.
