The Around The NBA Thread

[MrFortune3]

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wow

Days after a report comes out about a certain individual having too much say in aspects of the coaching and personnel affairs of the Mavs, Cuban says it's BS but Nelson and now Carlisle are both stepping away...

[Andi Obst]

On the Zion situation: LeBron made people think David Griffin is a good GM, but he’s never been that. The Pels‘ last offseason was horrible and the mistakes were just super obvious.

1. Taking back Bledsoe in the Jrue deal was terrible. Probably would’ve cost them a future asset in that deal to get the Thunder to take him (and get Hill to NOLA instead), but who cares? Bledsoe was always going to be a terrible fit and a salary cap killer.

2. Trading for Adams was weird, extending him was unnecessary and straight up bad. He’s a bad fit and overpaid. Better than Bledsoe, but still.

3. The moves last offseason put them in such a tough spot this year. Lonzo and Josh Hart are RFAs, both won’t be cheap and you can’t really afford to lose either guy. But then your flexibility is completely gone and you have an expensive team with a very questionable outlook for the future.

So yeah, I understand why people from Zion‘s camp would be annoyed already.

[MrFortune3]

On the Zion situation: LeBron made people think David Griffin is a good GM, but he’s never been that. The Pels‘ last offseason was horrible and the mistakes were just super obvious.

1. Taking back Bledsoe in the Jrue deal was terrible. Probably would’ve cost them a future asset in that deal to get the Thunder to take him (and get Hill to NOLA instead), but who cares? Bledsoe was always going to be a terrible fit and a salary cap killer.

2. Trading for Adams was weird, extending him was unnecessary and straight up bad. He’s a bad fit and overpaid. Better than Bledsoe, but still.

3. The moves last offseason put them in such a tough spot this year. Lonzo and Josh Hart are RFAs, both won’t be cheap and you can’t really afford to lose either guy. But then your flexibility is completely gone and you have an expensive team with a very questionable outlook for the future.

So yeah, I understand why people from Zion‘s camp would be annoyed already.

Griffin is a good GM and the moves were meant to create an identity for the Pelicans. The main thing a young team struggles with is figuring out what their identity is.
He brought in vets to help establish a winning culture and help improve the defense of the team.

The problem is that all the pieces didn't fit together ideally and the coaching pick was outdated.

[Leslie Forman]

Mark Cuban is finally being exposed as the meddling Jerry Jones wannabe he is.

"Radio on internet" GTFO you charlatan

[drosestruts]

I think Simmons works here just fine. He has what we la k in play making and defense. Vuc and Zach are eating up all the offensive possessions. What do you trade for him? I mean is Philly willing to do a sign and trade with Lauri, aminu, TBJ, Thad, white or Sato? Do you give up PWill and what else for him? I’m in on it but there is no realistic trade imho althou Elton Brand doesn’t seem that good at the job.

Totally. Would be great to be a player in this. There is one minor issue though: we have no first round draft picks to trade for the next 4 years unless we jump into the top 4 picks this year.

So that pretty much eliminates us from all major value trades this summer because, as much as I’m a fan, Patrick Williams doesn’t get you anywhere near these types of players.

Yeah higher level guys like Simmons require us to land in the top 4 I'd imagine.

But I'd be very happy to take Tobias Harris off Philly's hands. Sign & Trade Lauri and include Coby? He's having a bad series vs Atlanta but was really good all year and in the first round. Think he'd be a stud here.

I have no idea what's happening in Dallas - If we take on Powell would they include Klieber? It's not a big move but it gives us a defensive, floor spacing 4, and a backup center.

There's just teams out there that I anticipate will be making moves just to shake things up - Philly, Dallas, Portland, New Orleans, Boston, and others.

Doesn't have to be for a star - but even capitalizing on incremental gains could be good.

[Michael Jackson]

Mark Cuban is finally being exposed as the meddling Jerry Jones wannabe he is.

"Radio on internet" GTFO you charlatan

Reinsdorf is a bad bad man but having a Cuban as owner never seemed to be a big wow were are suddenly a contender move. The problem is really all owners are not really great. Ballmer is silly annoying. I'm not defending good ole Jerry but I don't think who comes in next is going to be some great upgrade either, they might be but odds are they won't be.

Cuban wants to go all Dolan and Jerry Jones. I bet Ballmer isn't far behind honestly.

[Michael Jackson]

I think Simmons works here just fine. He has what we la k in play making and defense. Vuc and Zach are eating up all the offensive possessions. What do you trade for him? I mean is Philly willing to do a sign and trade with Lauri, aminu, TBJ, Thad, white or Sato? Do you give up PWill and what else for him? I’m in on it but there is no realistic trade imho althou Elton Brand doesn’t seem that good at the job.

Totally. Would be great to be a player in this. There is one minor issue though: we have no first round draft picks to trade for the next 4 years unless we jump into the top 4 picks this year.

So that pretty much eliminates us from all major value trades this summer because, as much as I’m a fan, Patrick Williams doesn’t get you anywhere near these types of players.

Yeah higher level guys like Simmons require us to land in the top 4 I'd imagine.

But I'd be very happy to take Tobias Harris off Philly's hands. Sign & Trade Lauri and include Coby? He's having a bad series vs Atlanta but was really good all year and in the first round. Think he'd be a stud here.

I have no idea what's happening in Dallas - If we take on Powell would they include Klieber? It's not a big move but it gives us a defensive, floor spacing 4, and a backup center.

There's just teams out there that I anticipate will be making moves just to shake things up - Philly, Dallas, Portland, New Orleans, Boston, and others.

Doesn't have to be for a star - but even capitalizing on incremental gains could be good.

the thing with this league is everyone who doesn't win the title is obviously terrible and should be fired or traded etc... from Owner down to 15th man. There will be a lot of movement in the post season, it is a reactionary league, so hopefully AKME can make a move with the collateral damage and fallouts that happen. We just need upgrades all over the place so whatever we can pickup will be a plus. Be it in a 3 team trade or whatever.

If we land in the top 4 though... I'm not trading for Ben, I am keeping that guy and depending on who it is (say Cade comes in and can play from day one) stand pat or blow it up again and trade for assets to rebuild, be it Zach, Vuc or both. It can be argues though that as the team stands if you get Cade you could run that team out and be competitive in a year still and have enough talent for a low playoff birth this year. We will know more on Tuesday about that though.

[kodo]

I'm just surprised Griffin went with a "win now" direction after trading away AD, getting young assets in return, and landing the most coveted rookie in recent history. This is clearly a situation where you let Zion put up absurd #s and just tank for lotto balls. This is what KD did for 3, 4 years in Seattle/OKC.

Hiring Stan Van, Steven Adams, JJ Redick...these are weird moves. I can only assume ownership told him to win as many games as possible for now, as most owners who don't really care a lick about basketball operate this way (cough Reinsdorf).

[Axl Rose]

Damnit i wish we could have got Carlisle.

[MrFortune3]

Really Harden....you were falling before Giannis was within 6 ft of you...

[dice]

On the Zion situation: LeBron made people think David Griffin is a good GM, but he’s never been that. The Pels‘ last offseason was horrible and the mistakes were just super obvious.

1. Taking back Bledsoe in the Jrue deal was terrible. Probably would’ve cost them a future asset in that deal to get the Thunder to take him (and get Hill to NOLA instead), but who cares? Bledsoe was always going to be a terrible fit and a salary cap killer.

2. Trading for Adams was weird, extending him was unnecessary and straight up bad. He’s a bad fit and overpaid. Better than Bledsoe, but still.

i'm sorry, but the pelicans CRUSHED that trade. totally took advantage of milwaukee's desperation to keep giannis happy in the short-term (he signed his 5 year mega extension 3 weeks after the trade)

1) holiday isn't that much better than bledsoe
2) adams and bledsoe are due a COMBINED 70-75 mil over then next 2 seasons. holiday is due 134 mil over the next 4 seasons. so much for a cap killer. it was actually huge cap relief for the pelicans
3) the pelicans additionally got four first rounders in the deal!

absolute theft. that bledsoe had a bad year doesn't change that. lonzo and bledsoe is a horrible fit for a backcourt combo. perhaps they should have then turned around and traded lonzo w/ a year left on his rookie deal

[MrFortune3]

On the Zion situation: LeBron made people think David Griffin is a good GM, but he’s never been that. The Pels‘ last offseason was horrible and the mistakes were just super obvious.

1. Taking back Bledsoe in the Jrue deal was terrible. Probably would’ve cost them a future asset in that deal to get the Thunder to take him (and get Hill to NOLA instead), but who cares? Bledsoe was always going to be a terrible fit and a salary cap killer.

2. Trading for Adams was weird, extending him was unnecessary and straight up bad. He’s a bad fit and overpaid. Better than Bledsoe, but still.

i'm sorry, but the pelicans CRUSHED that trade. totally took advantage of milwaukee's desperation to keep giannis happy in the short-term (he signed his 5 year mega extension 3 weeks after the trade)

1) holiday isn't that much better than bledsoe
2) adams and bledsoe are due a COMBINED 70-75 mil over then next 2 seasons. holiday is due 134 mil over the next 4 seasons. so much for a cap killer. it was actually huge cap relief for the pelicans
3) the pelicans additionally got four first rounders in the deal!

absolute theft. that bledsoe had a bad year doesn't change that. lonzo and bledsoe is a horrible fit for a backcourt combo

That is absolutely direspectful. Jrue is a damn good player. Bledsoe is solid but not near Jrue.

[dice]

On the Zion situation: LeBron made people think David Griffin is a good GM, but he’s never been that. The Pels‘ last offseason was horrible and the mistakes were just super obvious.

1. Taking back Bledsoe in the Jrue deal was terrible. Probably would’ve cost them a future asset in that deal to get the Thunder to take him (and get Hill to NOLA instead), but who cares? Bledsoe was always going to be a terrible fit and a salary cap killer.

2. Trading for Adams was weird, extending him was unnecessary and straight up bad. He’s a bad fit and overpaid. Better than Bledsoe, but still.

i'm sorry, but the pelicans CRUSHED that trade. totally took advantage of milwaukee's desperation to keep giannis happy in the short-term (he signed his 5 year mega extension 3 weeks after the trade)

1) holiday isn't that much better than bledsoe
2) adams and bledsoe are due a COMBINED 70-75 mil over then next 2 seasons. holiday is due 134 mil over the next 4 seasons. so much for a cap killer. it was actually huge cap relief for the pelicans
3) the pelicans additionally got four first rounders in the deal!

absolute theft. that bledsoe had a bad year doesn't change that. lonzo and bledsoe is a horrible fit for a backcourt combo

That is absolutely direspectful. Jrue is a damn good player. Bledsoe is solid but not near Jrue.

and yet the bucks were significantly worse this season while the pelicans are about the same

17/4/7/3to 53%ts
18/5/6/3to 55%ts

those are the career per 36 numbers. does it really matter which is which? if anything, it is bledsoe's defense that gets disrespected. at half the price

[Chicago-Bull-E]

If the Pelicans win the lottery and both Zion/Doncic are a bit unhappy.

Cade Cunningham and Zion for Doncic, who says no?

[Axl Rose]

If the Pelicans win the lottery and both Zion/Doncic are a bit unhappy.

Cade Cunningham and Zion for Doncic, who says no?

Mavs. They didn't fire their longtime GM and let their longtime coach walk for nothing.

[Michael Jackson]

If the Pelicans win the lottery and both Zion/Doncic are a bit unhappy.

Cade Cunningham and Zion for Doncic, who says no?

Mavs. They didn't fire their longtime GM and let their longtime coach walk for nothing.

Exactly they are catering to Luka and there is zero chance he agrees to go to the pels. He would take the QO and leave. I’m not sure Luka is worth much more than Zion and not worth Cade and Zion. Cade,Zion and Ingram well that looks like a core.

[Michael Jackson]

The real story in Dallas will come out and can’t lie I am interested in that. They went from model organization to dumpster fire overnight. It’s a lot more than a first round exit something awful was brewing there.

[Chi town]

No. Simmons. Ever.

[Andi Obst]

2) adams and bledsoe are due a COMBINED 70-75 mil over then next 2 seasons. holiday is due 134 mil over the next 4 seasons. so much for a cap killer. it was actually huge cap relief for the pelicans

What a weird comparison. Holiday wasn’t extended when the trade happened, so the numbers aren’t really accurate. Plus I never even argued for keeping him. But they should’ve paid one or two of all those future assets for the Thunder taking back Bledsoe instead. They should’ve gotten Hill, who is expiring and a better fit. Don’t extend Adams. You act like paying Adams and Bledsoe that kind of money isn’t a big issue, especially when both are such horrible fits with Zion. Griffin is wasting time and money.

[Wingy]

I think all the Simmons talk is way premature, and if they are trading him, it’s for another established star.

What in the world are folks thinking talking about firsts, and what not? They’re going to waste years of Embiid’s fragile prime?

No way. If they trade Simmons, it’s for an established star. For us, that means Zach Lavine, or they’re hanging up the phone. I don’t see the point there.

I’d sooner expect something built around Dame for Simmons.

With his injury history, it might be smarter to actually trade Embiid at his peak right now. Haven’t given it much thought, but would love to hear ideas on crazy hauls they could get from around the league.