Thoughts in General, Random Rumors and Musings, Blah Blah 14.0 Eddie Najera Edicion

[K_chile22]

I actually think Amen-Green-Cam-Eason-Jabari is a well fitting group.

I do think Sengun is an awkward fit with this group because of how much inside space he uses to operate his game.

FVV, Tari, Sengun is a great combo though too.

Maybe they just need more time to meld together but I could see Sengun being moved for a talented fit coming back.

I tend to agree that Sengun may be our best player, but also our best trade asset. His fit has always been problematic. If a legit #1 guard is available like Mitchell or Trae becomes available, I think they may explore it.

Jabari, Eason, Cam are all plug and play.

Amen is is so versatile you can use him in a number of spots.

Green is somewhat tricky as well, as he needs vertical (and horizontal) spacing, and should be in a system where he can push the pace. His outside shooting is not good enough yet. I could see scenarios where he is gone.

Should be an interesting offseason for us.

I think 2025 will be the big off-season for Houston. I think they basically run it back this year plus whatever Landale, Jeff Green + Tate gets them.

Wouldn't be surprised if they run it back with those guys still on the roster even. Try and find some shooting with the mle or if by some miracle reed Sheppard is available to them in the draft just choose him and run it back

[HadAnEffectHere]

Ainge did another interview where he said his goal is to trade for stars in their prime ("years 6 or 7") this offseason who are not overpaid.

... This is just clearly not going to work?

It's weird because we tried this last offseason and it didn't work at all either? Ainge tried to trade for Jrue and Porzingis and both guys told him that they didn't want to play for the Jazz.

It's hard to think of any fairly paid or underpaid star who is available for trade who would want to go to Utah. I don't think there's any.

Stars that could be available for trade this offseason if everything goes wrong.

Durant
Butler
Randle
Mitchell
Trae
KAT
Paul George (via S&T)
James Harden (via S&T)
Brandon Ingram
Jarrett Allen

Which of these guys could come to Utah? None of them unless the Jazz are willing to overpay Ingram? Maybe Jarrett Allen?

[Scoot McGroot]

I like this deal...

Jalen Smith (signed and traded to a deal starting at $13 Million) and a Pacers 2nd to OKC
John Collins to Miami
Tyler Herro to Indiana
T.J. McConnell to Utah

What role does Herro have in Indiana with Haliburton, Mathurin, Nembhard, and even Shepard (McConnell, too, if he's not traded)? He's awful expensive for a situation that's already pretty solid and fills a hole that doesn't really exist?

I think he would be a good fit given you would be letting McDermott go, traded Hield and would be giving up McConnell in this deal. He would provide a solid scoring punch and fit nicely with the other guards and compliment them IMO.

Clearly Haliburton plays a full batch of minutes. Nembhard is the defensive specialist and backup PG, so he probably gets a lot, too. so Mathurin and Herro are sharing....40 minutes total at the SG spot?

I'm just not sure that Herro fills the role Indy needs filled. He's really good, but he's way too valuable for the role available, and with the other players there.

McDermott simply wouldn't be an impact in a decision like this either way. Mostly, I just think that Indy would be much better off to sign Jalen to that deal (if possible)? If not, then it's somewhat cheap for Herro, sure, but I just don't know that Indy would want to mess with Nembhard/Mathurin and their development to squeeze Herro in for a limited amount of minutes?

[mademan]

Feeling like the Pel's are gonna have some decisions to make. Ingram/Zion/Herb/Trey are their 4 best players and theyre all forwards. While Herb is insanely cheap for a while, Trey and Ingram are both in a contract year next year

Pel's have such an interesting situation. Good team with unreliable stars, great depth and plenty of picks. They might just do nothing and kick the can to next summer, but it feels like Ingram/CJ gotta go for a real upgrade at guard, but i just dont know if that star offensive guard is available right now. Maybe Young?

[HadAnEffectHere]

Feeling like the Pel's are gonna have some decisions to make. Ingram/Zion/Herb/Trey are their 4 best players and theyre all forwards. While Herb is insanely cheap for a while, Trey and Ingram are both in a contract year next year

Pel's have such an interesting situation. Good team with unreliable stars, great depth and plenty of picks. They might just do nothing and kick the can to next summer, but it feels like Ingram/CJ gotta go for a real upgrade at guard, but i just dont know if that star offensive guard is available right now. Maybe Young?

They really really really need Kristaps Porzingis or someone like him.

... And there's no real way to get someone like that.

Their centers are just so bad.

I love Murphy-Herb-Zion (if healthy...) as the SG/SF/PF, but it's really hard to see what they can do at center.

[MoneyTalks41890]

Read on Twitter

[mademan]

Feeling like the Pel's are gonna have some decisions to make. Ingram/Zion/Herb/Trey are their 4 best players and theyre all forwards. While Herb is insanely cheap for a while, Trey and Ingram are both in a contract year next year

Pel's have such an interesting situation. Good team with unreliable stars, great depth and plenty of picks. They might just do nothing and kick the can to next summer, but it feels like Ingram/CJ gotta go for a real upgrade at guard, but i just dont know if that star offensive guard is available right now. Maybe Young?

They really really really need Kristaps Porzingis or someone like him.

... And there's no real way to get someone like that.

Their centers are just so bad.

I love Murphy-Herb-Zion (if healthy...) as the SG/SF/PF, but it's really hard to see what they can do at center.

I think that would be great too, but if they lose ingram, theyre gonna need a star PG to pair with Zion.

[oldncreaky]

Feeling like the Pel's are gonna have some decisions to make. Ingram/Zion/Herb/Trey are their 4 best players and theyre all forwards. While Herb is insanely cheap for a while, Trey and Ingram are both in a contract year next year

Pel's have such an interesting situation. Good team with unreliable stars, great depth and plenty of picks. They might just do nothing and kick the can to next summer, but it feels like Ingram/CJ gotta go for a real upgrade at guard, but i just dont know if that star offensive guard is available right now. Maybe Young?

They really really really need Kristaps Porzingis or someone like him.

... And there's no real way to get someone like that.

Their centers are just so bad.

I love Murphy-Herb-Zion (if healthy...) as the SG/SF/PF, but it's really hard to see what they can do at center.

Yeah, what NOP does for the C position will be one of the more interesting off-season questions.

Spotrac has the Pelicans at $152.3M for 11 players next season, and the 11 under contract only has Nance at PF/C (JV, Willy and Zeller are all FA holds). They'll also have a cap hold for a mid-first, so if NOP wants to avoid the luxury tax, that will only leave about $15M available for 3 roster positions -- including a starting C.

Does NOP go over the luxury tax line to keep JV?

[TheNetsFan]

To me the question is less about any overt tanking, the top 10 protected swap is sunk and also probably won't matter a ton in the scheme of things, and more about who Houston can displace in the top 10 in the West. GS likely to drop off some more, but also Grizz should be back next year in theory.

This. Barring major injuries or a teardown out west, it's hard to figure out what 2+ teams Houston can pass to make the play-in, especially with Memphis likely way better next year. That likely puts them in the 9-12 range pick-wise. If they start to fall behind the play-in pack, they could look to mini-tank (like Dallas did) to be behind the East play-in teams and clinch protecting their pick.

[Godaddycurse]

Masai doesn't sound like he expects the raptors to be good next year in his year end press. im expecting another year of tank from raptors

[zimpy27]

Pels chance to get KP is long gone. They would have easily been able to make it happen but they opted out.

They need a more versatile scoring C option. I think WCJ is the ideal target for them this offseason and Magic probably happy to move on.

What would Magic want from Pels for WCJ?

[Godaddycurse]

Pels chance to get KP is long gone. They would have easily been able to make it happen but they opted out.

They need a more versatile scoring C option. I think WCJ is the ideal target for them this offseason and Magic probably happy to move on.

What would Magic want from Pels for WCJ?

CJ and 2025 LAL 1st

[mademan]

Pels chance to get KP is long gone. They would have easily been able to make it happen but they opted out.

They need a more versatile scoring C option. I think WCJ is the ideal target for them this offseason and Magic probably happy to move on.

What would Magic want from Pels for WCJ?

CJ and 2025 LAL 1st

An unprotected 1st for WCJ seems pretty wild. I get the Lakers are a good team, but they still heavily rely on a 40 year old to be and a walking injury in AD (who, to his credit, has been healthy this year)

[Godaddycurse]

Pels chance to get KP is long gone. They would have easily been able to make it happen but they opted out.

They need a more versatile scoring C option. I think WCJ is the ideal target for them this offseason and Magic probably happy to move on.

What would Magic want from Pels for WCJ?

CJ and 2025 LAL 1st

An unprotected 1st for WCJ seems pretty wild. I get the Lakers are a good team, but they still heavily rely on a 40 year old to be and a walking injury in AD (who, to his credit, has been healthy this year)

For WCJ and eating CJ's contract

[Texas Chuck]

CJ and 2025 LAL 1st

An unprotected 1st for WCJ seems pretty wild. I get the Lakers are a good team, but they still heavily rely on a 40 year old to be and a walking injury in AD (who, to his credit, has been healthy this year)

For WCJ and eating CJ's contract

Still dumb when if they really wanted a player like WCJ they could get him without having to give up a pick with that kind of potential upside. They have plenty of other assets to use.

Its teams like Dallas who are asset poor who keep giving up high-upside assets for these kinds of small upgrades. A team like the Pels has other options and should choose them instead.

I also think its silly to be like they needed KP and KP only. Please. WCJ isn't really a panacea either. Not to pay that kind of price for.

[zimpy27]

Pels chance to get KP is long gone. They would have easily been able to make it happen but they opted out.

They need a more versatile scoring C option. I think WCJ is the ideal target for them this offseason and Magic probably happy to move on.

What would Magic want from Pels for WCJ?

CJ and 2025 LAL 1st

An unprotected 1st for WCJ seems pretty wild. I get the Lakers are a good team, but they still heavily rely on a 40 year old to be and a walking injury in AD (who, to his credit, has been healthy this year)

Maybe Pelicans get JI and WCJ for that CJ+FRP.

[mademan]

CJ and 2025 LAL 1st

An unprotected 1st for WCJ seems pretty wild. I get the Lakers are a good team, but they still heavily rely on a 40 year old to be and a walking injury in AD (who, to his credit, has been healthy this year)

Maybe Pelicans get JI and WCJ for that CJ+FRP.

Depends on the 1st, but i dont think they'll have much interest in JI. One of the few teams with enough versatile defensive forwards to turn away a versatile defensive forward

[NYG]

Say what you want about the play-in... these games are awesome

[Domejandro]

CJ and 2025 LAL 1st

An unprotected 1st for WCJ seems pretty wild. I get the Lakers are a good team, but they still heavily rely on a 40 year old to be and a walking injury in AD (who, to his credit, has been healthy this year)

For WCJ and eating CJ's contract

Maybe the worse of 2025 Los Angeles Lakers' and New Orleans Pelicans' First Round Pick would be fair.

[daoneandonly]

Say what you want about the play-in... these games are awesome

Don't think this game will be, neither Chi or Atl should be anywhere near playoff contention