LAC/NOP -- Fixing Problems For Both Teams

[TrueLAfan]

Clippers trade:
Kobe Brown
Jordan Miller
2026 Second Round pick

Pelicans trade:
Saddiq Bey

Why for the Clippers: The Clippers need depth at the 3 and 4. I’ve always been big on Bey; he’s a combo forward, and he fills a need for the team. He’s coming off an injury, so it’s a risk. But it’s risk (IMO) worth taking—and it’s the same risk as the Pels have. And they have a bigger issue …

Why for the Pelicans: … If healthy, I can't see where Bey gets minutes. Again, he's a combo forward. At SF, the Pels have Trey Murphy and Herb Jones (and, really, Keion Brooks as a potential / developmental guy). Drafting Queen and signing Looney basically fills a huge amount of time at the 5, which means Missi will play (a lot) more at the 4 with Zion. Even Karlo Matkovic was decent in his limited court time at PF. There’s no real room for Bey. And, on the (big) financial side—New Orleans has 4 million more in team salaries than the Clippers. If they want, the Pels can cut Brown and Miller and save $4-5 million (total). Or they can keep them as low rotation minute eaters that they try to develop.

[lordjeff05]

Clippers trade:
Kobe Brown
Jordan Miller
2026 Second Round pick

Pelicans trade:
Saddiq Bey

Why for the Clippers: The Clippers need depth at the 3 and 4. I’ve always been big on Bey; he’s a combo forward, and he fills a need for the team. He’s coming off an injury, so it’s a risk. But it’s risk (IMO) worth taking—and it’s the same risk as the Pels have. And they have a bigger issue …

Why for the Pelicans: … If healthy, I can't see where Bey gets minutes. Again, he's a combo forward. At SF, the Pels have Trey Murphy and Herb Jones (and, really, Keion Brooks as a potential / developmental guy). Drafting Queen and signing Looney basically fills a huge amount of time at the 5, which means Missi will play (a lot) more at the 4 with Zion. Even Karlo Matkovic was decent in his limited court time at PF. There’s no real room for Bey. And, on the (big) financial side—New Orleans has 4 million more in team salaries than the Clippers. If they want, the Pels can cut Brown and Miller and save $4-5 million (total). Or they can keep them as low rotation minute eaters that they try to develop.

So I actually see Bey getting major minutes if he's healthy. Murphy and Herb are going to start. He gets at least 15 backing up the small forward spot and I think potentially more playing the 4. Also while Hawkins remains intriguing, Bey has more capacity as a wing defender, and I see Willie potentially going to him first when either Murphy or Herb are hurt. And though we have alot of interesting options at the 4, Bey is the one most capable of playing that spot if we want to run switch heavy options. I lke the way Karlo played and you definitely want to get all of our young bigs minutes but Bey is the most experienced, conventional option to play behind Zion. I could be wrong though. I know Dumars wants to paly two big lineups, but if they can't defend, then Willie will not want to play Queen or Karlo much.

[TrueLAfan]

Thanks for the response. I was wondering how Zion and Missi fit into thing?. If Zion is healthy, he's going to start. And Missi played well last year--and played 2000 minutes. Is there time for both of them? It's less of an issue, since the Clippers got Collins, but I still like Bey. Just wondering how those guys fit into the minutes and rotations.

[ADMVP]

Thanks for the response. I was wondering how Zion and Missi fit into thing?. If Zion is healthy, he's going to start. And Missi played well last year--and played 2000 minutes. Is there time for both of them? It's less of an issue, since the Clippers got Collins, but I still like Bey. Just wondering how those guys fit into the minutes and rotations.

Missi should be the starting 5.

[lordjeff05]

Thanks for the response. I was wondering how Zion and Missi fit into thing?. If Zion is healthy, he's going to start. And Missi played well last year--and played 2000 minutes. Is there time for both of them? It's less of an issue, since the Clippers got Collins, but I still like Bey. Just wondering how those guys fit into the minutes and rotations.

Missi should be the starting 5.

I think there is legit minutes for 5 guys to get burn at the 4 and 5 spot. Those guys will likely be Zion, Missi, Queen, Looney and Bey. If Karlo holds up defensively then they may play Bey exclusively at the 3. I don't see Queen playing over 24 a game even if he is outstanding, and I think Zion plays about 30. That leaves at least 42 minutes left (though likely more because I think Queen ends up playing closer to 20 a game). That's plenty for Missi and at least one of the guy.

Best vase scenario is that Missi plays so well he forces Willy to start him over Looney, and the rest just gets settled as the season goes on.