RealGM

Let’s say Scoot falls to 3 and Portland drafts him. Would you S&T Grant for Ingram and then trade Scoot-Salary Filler for Zion?

Dame
Sharpe
Ingram
Zion

CJ-Scoot
Jones
Murphy
Grant
JV

No and no, respectively.

Pelicans aren't doing Grant for Ingram.

I'm still in on Scoot and filler for Zion.

The Zion portion has been discussed in other threads. Zion's massive injury history has many wary of giving up an asset like #3.

As for a S&T of Grant for Ingram...there are a couple issues with that, but the main one is that there is zero chance New Orleans would do that deal, even if it were possible.

The guy I'm kinda interested in from NO is Val to replace Nurk.

zzaj wrote:The guy I'm kinda interested in from NO is Val to replace Nurk.

I think you'd be pretty disappointed in that "upgrade". Pelicans largely went away from Val in close games down the stretch because his defense was so bad, usually opting to use "Mr Forever First Round Pick" Larry Nance Jr instead.

Just don't see that replacement really doing much of anything for Portland.

DusterBuster wrote:

zzaj wrote:The guy I'm kinda interested in from NO is Val to replace Nurk.

I think you'd be pretty disappointed in that "upgrade". Pelicans largely went away from Val in close games down the stretch because his defense was so bad, usually opting to use "Mr Forever First Round Pick" Larry Nance Jr instead.

Just don't see that replacement really doing much of anything for Portland.

Well, he's cheaper. Other than passing, he's better both offensively and defensively (which I guess says something about Nurkic). He shoots better at the rim and at the FT line.

But the big one is that he's missed 30 games in the past 3 years...which is the same amount that Nurkic missed last year, alone.

Cheaper, better, and not injury-prone is certainly worth something in the short-term.

But it's also not a hill worth dying on...that's why I said, "kinda".

Seems like Pels want Scoot, Blazers take on too much of a risk. If Pels want Scoot they would need to add some type of insurance or incentive for Portland to take the risk. They could add one of their role players like Jones or Murphy which I don’t think they do. My opinion is Portland doesn’t or shouldn’t make the trade for Zion unless they add Ingram for Grant (S&T) or Blazers just keep Scoot for themselves or look for other trades that really helps Portland and Dame win.