Simmons loves his Trade Machine and has come up with another big idea.
There is plenty to ask when it comes to the 2011-12 NBA season - Grantland
Same for overpaying for Anderson Varejao - an elite rebounder/banger/defender who's playing out of his mind right now - if Cleveland ever decided that they were better off converting him into draft picks and tanking 2012 over drifting into no-man's land (the fringe of the lottery, where it becomes impossible to improve your team). The Celtics, Clippers, Mavericks, Rockets, Nuggets and Grizzlies could offer 2012 no. 1's plus expiring contracts plus $3 million plus a young player with potential for Varejao. Hell, if I were Danny Ainge, I'd offer O'Neal's expiring, my 2012 no. 1 AND the Clippers' no. 1 for him.2 Wouldn't you take your chances with a Rondo-Allen-Pierce-Garnett-Varejao quintet this spring? Or am I just a complete homer?
So would you sacrifice two first rounders and a nice chunk of cap space for a legit center with a high motor and a chance at making this team more of a legit contender this year? It is an interesting question.