Does the Paul trade even work?

I think they were going to add the 22nd pick (Williams) as well?

Yes i’m pretty sure it works. I believe if you’re over the cap you can take on contracts up to 125% +100k of the amount of contracts you’re sending to the other team. So using $18,163,924 the blazers can take back up to $22,804,905 if my understanding is correct.

we have you use 2010/11 salaries, and yes that trade would not work. I’m not sure if Okafur was included in the deal that was rumored. Still being about 2 million away from making the deal, I’m sure someone could be included to make it happen.

http://www.realgm.com/src_tradechecker/3/

the blazers has a little exception from the Martel trade. not sure how much it is.

Your right on with Joel, Miller, Batum, and Bayless adding up to $18,163,924. I found a different cap number for Okafur, (I used Storyteller’s site) so using that I have CP3+Okafur adding up to $26,435,153, which is pretty close to your number.
Add Rudy, Williams, and Koponen, will get you up to $21,307,004, which would work under the 125% +100,000 rule.

Or add Williams, Claver, and Kopenen and you get $21,105,924, which would also work under the 125% +100,000 rule, although just barely, ($47,252 to spare).

A combo of Rudy, Freeland, and Koponen also would work, again just barely, ($55,102 to spare).

Or the Blazers could resign Howard or Mills, and include them into a package to make it work. The point being, is that the Blazers can still make a deal based around Joel, Miller, Batum and Bayless.

I heard two separate rumors. One was Prysbilla, Miller, Bayless and Batum for Paul which works under the CBA. The other was Paul to Orlando for their back-up center and Nelson. The rumor was that the Orlando trade failed because New Orleans wanted Okafor to be part of the deal and did not want Carter. Orlando needed to find a team under the cap to take Okafor off New Orleans hands so New Orleans could start over with a group of young players. I suspect the same problem exists with the Portland trade but that was not part of the rumor I read. So your basic premise is probably correct: New Orleans will not move Paul unless they can also move Okafor and neither Portland nor Orlando has enough players/salaries that New Orleans wants and that either team is willing to give up to trade for both Paul and Okafor.

It makes little sense for New Orleans to trade Paul and keep Okafor. If a team that strikes out on the free agent market likes Okafor enough take his salary and give up young players and/or draft picks, New Orleans will likely trade Paul also because he will not want to part of rebuilding. I’m not sure Batum and Bayless (Prysbilla and Miller are filler) is enough. Someone (like a team that actually has cap space) will likely make a better offer.

…..I think he’s available as a sweetener. lol