getting rid of diop not a good idea

[Chef]

i know this is heresy on this fan board and it is a complete reversal of my previous posts, but i don't think we should be looking to dump diop at all costs. of course, if a great deal comes along take it, but and hear me out, if not don't. diop's play of late, although not justifying his contract, hasn't been terrible. the thing is, he makes chandler expendable and he is more of a problem salary-wise than anyone. chandler has value around the league where diop is seen as 0 value. i think we can be a pretty good team if we can parlay chandler into a good pf and service-able sg or vice versa and use diaw to secure the other position. i could totally see us competing with nazr and diop at center and also using a small ball lineup of pf, jax, wallace, felton, sg to mix it up. i think we should be looking to move chandler and diaw and not just giving away diop.

[Dcarnys]

I actually kinda like this idea. You can start nazr, who is working for his playing time, and it makes it alot easier to unload diaw who we could ether try to get picks for or a shooter (not talking about gilbert arenas.) But this isn't a bad idea.

[Slam]

"getting rid of diop not a good idea"

There's a thread title I never thought I would see!!

Someone at RGM posted on the trade board:

Chandler
for
Boozer

Utah get a defensive big to play next to the offensive Okur and a guy who is proven in the pick and roll (as he was with CP3) to run with D.Will and we get a starting PF/go to post guy.

Boozer would be a half season rental (no way he would sign here next summer) but who cares? He would help get us deep into the playoffs and would create an amount of cap space next summer as well.

I'd LOVE that deal.

Felts - Jax - Crash - Boozer - Diop
DJ - Flip - UPS - Boris - Nazzy

DROOL!!

[GoBobs]

I would actually be more open to trading Naz then Diop. Reason being is Diop is younger and still has quite a bit of room for improvement where Naz is playing in his prime.

I would love nothing more then the team as currently constructed to win the tittle. If that doesn't happen we need to consider moving the guys that are in decline for something a little bit younger. That means Jackson and Naz. If we could trade Jackson, Naz and TC for expiring contracts that would be a super win for us but we are going to need somebody left to play center. Although that type of trade will likely only be possible if the cavs feel shaq hasn't worked out at the deadline or the rockets would take that load for tmac which I doubt.

[SirBobcat]

Who knows if Boozer would end up being a rental. With that lineup, we'd be a very strong team and maybe he'll find it in him to stick around with this obviously talented lineup.

I agree with rather trading Nazr than Diop. He's got his best value here that will go down as the years go by.

[Slam]

Who knows if Boozer would end up being a rental. With that lineup, we'd be a very strong team and maybe he'll find it in him to stick around with this obviously talented lineup.

Then I think he would want too much money and I wouldn't be happy being the team paying for him.

[Toocool]

Boozer is awesome. However, we would have to pay through our asses and back to pay for Boozer to stay should we trade for him. And our lovely owner wouldn't do that for crap. Not unless he finally sells the team and we actually get a DECENT OWNER that puts money into the team.

[LiquidWayno]

Diop is a nice guy and has played well as of late, but his contract is hands down one of the league's worst - if we get the chance to move him we should take it. Portland and Houston are two teams that could use a center. Nazr worked his ass off in the offseason, is a good locker room guy and has been a winner in his career - our only NBA champ besides Captain Jack.

Plus, Nazr's contract ends right when his play at this level will likely end, age wise. Yeah, Diop is younger but he has been in the league for nearly a decade and averagessomething like 2 & 2 - not worth the 3 years we have left with him, especially at 6 million or more a year.

[LiquidWayno]

I would do the Chandler for Boozer trade in a heart beat - would prefer the one Simmons mentioned of the Boozer/Korver expirings for Chandler/Diaw, but Tyson for Carlos straight up would be great.

Boozer's always been about the Benjamins, but he will have to produce if traded to justify the kind of money he would like to see in the 2010 free agent frenzy.

[BRNC]

I don't think Diop will ever live up to the contract he got any more than Matt did...but he is a legit big...and has proven he can be a back-up...I certainly would not "give" him away but I would not turn down a reasonable deal if it brought back a reliable PF...

IMO TC ends up as an expiring next year (as well as Nazzy)...I think we keep (and resign) Nazzy for a reasonable price to continue as a back up...and I'd rather have Nazzy (even at his age) for 10-15 than Diop...but I would not give him away...