Swap Noah for Deng

[n8 the gr8]

If Noah comes back from being suspended and can string together a couple of ok games I think this could benefit both teams. Both are veterans with solid history but overpaid, same number of years remaining. Basically just swapping based on the depth chart.

[spree#8]

My guess is the Lakers will try to send Deng out the way they did with Mozgov. Attach an asset and trade him into cap room of a team under the cap next summer. If you like the Lakers you have to hope though that they aren't as dumb as they were attaching Russell to Mozgov.

So I don't think they would be interested in such a swap. I also don't think we need Deng, because right now we start Lee and have McDermott, Beasley and Kuzminskas at the same position, with Dotson also waiting for a call to step somewhere on the floor. IMO Noah is fine as the veteran mentor from the bench whom you can send in for defense once his suspension is up. I agree though that Deng could still be better than any of our current options. But in our situation I give rather McDermott some reps to see where he stands as a player.

A trade like this (finding another team's player on a bad contract who fits better with us) might be the only chance to trade Noah though, so not a bad idea.

[n8 the gr8]

I get where you're coming from in wanting McDermott/Kuz to get minutes but I think that's less of a problem than Willy/KOQ/Kanter being pressed for minutes. You're probably right about them looking to make a swap for an expiring though- the Mozgov trade is a clear example of them valuing a clean house over some assets.