Probably. I still can't believe the "haul" the Magic got. Completely embarassing. I understand not wanting Lopez with a max contract completely and agree with it, but I have a hard time believing the Rockets didn't have a better package of youth and would even take back a bad contract or two.
Sixers and Nuggets are biggest winners in this trade. Atlantic Division is LOADED. Boston, Brooklyn, New York, and Philly are all gonna be duking it out with each other all season, I'm really looking forward to that. Nuggets even got Andrew Nicholson I hear, who is a really promising rookie in my opinion.
To be honest, it's the kind of haul I expected Orlando to get. Great players in the NBA don't yield great returns in terms of young established players (those players in their rookie deals rarely ever get moved). The best picks wind up being the pick they already own, so it comes down to what Orlando does with their #1 pick next year. Like I said somewhere else, the worst part for Magic fans is that they still have to play the games. There's nothing to watch until they strike lotto gold.
The Houston package was awesome just because it got rid of the problem. I woulda did it. The packages aren't all that much different (between Nicholson, O'Quinn, and Harkless, that's three rookies already-- if they make the deal with Houston, add 2 more rookies to that squad-- that's a lot for any team to deal with).
2008 had a high number of young guys in their rookie deals that got dealt.
Eric Gordon to LAC for CP3
Danilo Gallinari to DEN for Melo
JaVale McGee to DEN for Nene
all three were entering the last year of their deals.
Courtney Lee, Ryan Anderson, and Michael Beasley were the other three from that class.
07- Jeff Green, Wilson Chandler, Nick Young
04- Al Jefferson, J.R. Smith
That's the list. 2008 aside, no one of significance gets moved that early in their careers and if they do it's for a good reason.