Road to a Championship start here, 2022 Draft.

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I'm trying to understand why people want BI gone before CJ. They say BI doesn't fit with Zion but he has a better 2 man pairing with ZIon than CJ who played a ton of bench mins with Zion for a net 0 rating.

Who is going to replace CJ spacing. Correct me if I'm wrong but I'm pretty sure Green rarely played Murphy with CJ to space the court. You replacing CJ with Murphy instead of BI. You get more defensive length with the deep spacing threat as good as CJ was at spacing. The defensive upgrade is more important.

I also think as last year proved Daniels with any offensive progression can start but the fail safe option is Murphy, they can platoon to replace CJ according to matchup & need. Wish Jose was a little bit bigger as he could spell the minutes NO's need a floor general.

C - (Mitch Robinson)
Zion
BI
Herb
Daniels/Murphy/Jose or vet PG - (Tyus Jones)

NO trade - (CJ, #21) to Detroit for (Ivey - 28m cap space) worked out on trade board
NO's can flip - (Ivey) for (M.Robinson #24) also from trade board
NO's essentially trade - (CJ, #21) for (M.Robinson, #24, cap space)

Use cap space to sign Tyus Jones 15-20m or a C ?. Robinson & Nance are not reliable minutes eaters like Jonas. We know in Ja's absence Jones can start & be effective. With NO's & Zion, you wouldn't need him to be a primary guard but he's very effective at taking care of the ball, which is a need. With Robinson & Nance still need some reliable depth at C.

If NO's do decide it necessary to trade BI, I'd like Sarr out of that exchange. The potential unicorn with cost control to raise ceiling, reduce cap & ultimately stop the revolving door at C. As salary & fit are the main points for trading BI. No tougher fit to address for NO's than the unicorn. Finding that fit in the draft reduces risk of salary & control. As every move has it's risk, the risk being taken with this move is based on Sarr's potential. Where he's going to be good defensively but his shot indicators also suggest he will eventually be able to space the floor. Question is when ..

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If NO's looking for a guard in this draft IMO Sheppard & Carter.

Need to be 3-5 range for Sheppard but could probably get Carter in the 7-10 range.

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Detroit trade - (Ivery, cap space) for (CJ, #21)

Hawks trade - (Capela) for (cap space)

NO's trade - (CJ, #21) for (Ivey, Capela)

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Detroit trade - (Ivey, cap space) for (CJ, #21)

Houston trade - (#3, Whitmore, Tate, Langdale) for (BI, Ivey)

Hawks trade - (Capela, #1) for (Langdale, cap space, #3, NO/Lakers FRP)

NO's trade - (BI, CJ, #21, NO/Lakers 25) for (Capela, Whitmore, cap space, #1)

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Where the draft is concerned. When you have a late pick, I want a discernible trait, something the player might be elite at. I'd take Ryan Dunn with the 21st pick. Think he will be another elite defender but offensive project.

If you willing to take Daniels at 8 in stronger draft, I hope Dunn has some interest at 21.

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News article says NO's reached out to Houston & I got excited until I hear you asked for Sengun & not the 3rd pick. Houston rightfully rejected ..

Houston - We making the 3rd pick available to get a proven addition to improve.

NO - give us Sengun

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Brook Lopez, I want it to happen. NO's fans going to find out just how good they had it with Jonas.

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News article rumors Detroit could sign Claxton to 25m per. Unless they trading or planning to bring Duren off the bench that starter money would make little sense -


Detroit trade - (Stewart, cap space) for (CJ, #21)

Nets S&T - (Claxton 25m per) for (cap space, NO's FRP)

NO's trade - (CJ, #21, FRP) for (Claxton, Stewart)

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Stats & context -

Poster makes this comment. "In 555 minutes played together last season Herb & Daniels had a 112.2 offensive rating".

Herb & Daniels played only 100 minutes together with Jonas - Zion - BI, 130 offensive rating.

The reason Herb & Daniels had a 112 offensive rating was the all bench lineups with Nance & teams zoning Zion, with no floor spacers. It amazes me that NO fans don't know this when every game thread they talk about it.

I suggest you take a look at the offensive rating when Daniels played with Herb & the starters.

This is how bad decisions get made. Stats have a lot of noise & need context.

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The lineup with Nance & Trey was +10.

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Poster says -

"You guys realize that yall argue circles around +/- groupings of a team that couldnt make the 2nd round in the last 6 years".

Knowing the obvious answer, It's hard for any team to make the 2nd round missing their supposed best player.

PO's are also about matchups - Pelicans best balanced lineup despite the smaller sample size was with Daniels starting over CJ. Come PO's Daniels was relegated to the bench for CJ starting, & no Zion. Zero adjustments were made in the series... Green let playing CJ allow OKC to run Jonas defensively, who was one of the few offensive options miss matches they had in the series. It's why OKC attacked him to run him, made easy by playing him with CJ as I was saying since you made the trade.

Can't have drop coverage with a guard like CJ who OKC picked apart in the series, it amplifes Jonas lack of ability playing in space. It's why despite Jonas reaching the ECF's as a starter they couldn't hurdle the Cavs with Love & Lebron. They were the only East team that could effectively chase Jonas defensively. Raptors only stumbling block before trading for Kawhi. The Raptors Championship year had a path with no Love & Lebron. Gasol got run the following year by Boston in round 2 & it's been down hill for the Raptors since.

NO's making a mistake letting Jonas walk, they'll find out how impactful he's been for NO's to make the PO's 2 of his 3yrs with the injuries they've sustained.

Matchups.. does Boston beat Denver in the finals ? I'd argue not.

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Suggested trade from BR on another Pels board -

Charlotte Hornets receive: No. 3 pick (via HOU), Cam Whitmore and Jock Landale

Houston Rockets receive: Brandon Ingram

New Orleans Pelicans receive: Miles Bridges (via sign-and-trade), Jae'Sean Tate, No. 6 pick (via CHO) and No. 44 pick (via GSW, from HOU)

BI for #3, Whitmore is my trade board suggestion. If NO's can trade BI to Houston for that, why would they trade back for Bridges #6, with Murphy getting an extension to start, lol. Whitmore is cheap potential backing him up that could potentially upgrade/replace if realized.

The point was to take Clingan at 3 to either keep or potentially trade up with Hawks for Sarr, NO's would be getting cheap potential at C & SF in Clingan/Sarr, Whitmore & some cap savings. Tate & Langdal as potential fillers.. They completely destroyed my trade, lol.

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It entertains me seeing NO's fans say Daniels would downgrade the starters over CJ, when all the stats say the opposite.

Take into consideration. When Daniels was starting Herb was not shooting anywhere as good as he was down the stretch & the bench was not producing short 4 rotation players, Nance, CJ, Murphy & Jose. Hopefully Daniels comes into the season improved from 3 but I'd absolutely start him for his elite defense & development reps. His rookie contract also allows NO's the option to extend BI & reduce risk, if they can get out from under CJ's max. Which they can..

Detroit is willing to trade (Stewart, cap space) for (CJ, FRP) Which could include a Claxton S&T around 25m per. Which would end up (Claxton 25m, Stewart 6m) for (CJ, FRP)

NO's go this route, They have the option to platoon Daniels defense & Murphy's spacing. Upgrade Alvarado at PG, they would also have a potential point man, someone like Tyus Jones who proved in Ja's absence, he can play starters minutes as one of the best guards in the league at taking care of the ball, which has been an issue for NO's

Claxton S&T - Stewart/Nance
Zion - Stewart/Nance
BI - Daniels
Herb - Hawkins
Daniels/Murphy - Jones MLE/Jose

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The issue with ZIon, BI, CJ was offensive overlap. The people that talk about Daniels hurting the offense have no clue what they're talking about. All they know is CJ shoots 3's & Daniels doesn't.

Daniels with Herb, increased stls, Blks & rim protection. Which led to better transition offense which is better than trying to space the half court with teams zoning ... the +7 steals in 10 games is probably not sustainable but the point is transition offense with defenses not set is better than an elite spacer. CJ shot 42% on 8 APG, Daniels 30% on low volume, CJ had a Net 0 rating paired with Zion playing heavy bench minutes together, Daniels +12 when he started. Herb & Daniels struggled off the bench with Nance in all defensive lineups.

Offensive overlap -

Daniels 12% usage, 5 APG. Zion was 18 APG at 60%, with BI & Daniels 22 APG at 45%
CJ's 25% usage, 16 APG, Zion was 10 APG at 60%. with BI & CJ averaging 30 APG at 45%

CJ is not a PG, I'd effectively platoon Murphy & Daniels in his place according to matchups.

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Murray was my deadline trade target to replace CJ. Keeping CJ in the lineup paired with Murray doesn't work, lol. You're just moving BI's offense to point & the same 30 APG at 45%. The guard rotation would have to be Murphy - Herb - Murray .. Not to mention Hawks showed that type backcourt pairing wasn't effective with a better player offensive player than CJ

Those 15-16 APG have to lower for a more Zion centric offense & the point of Murray was his defense & contract replacing CJ's offense & contract. The minute Daniels can shoot 35%, he's a better option all the way around without the trade cost.

Daniels is an elite man defender, low usage, moves the ball quickly, which shifts the defense on rookie scale value. If they had of kept starting him last year when they were playing well he wouldn't have been the question mark he is today. Regardless his defense is what raises this teams ceiling & CJ has blocked his development long enough.

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NO's fans, Jonas was let go because Green doesn't want to play drop coverage.

Bucks are putting out feelers for Lopez because they want to switch defend.

NO's fans, I want Lopez, lol

They going to find out how much impact Jonas had in making the PO's 2 of the 3 years he was here despite the heavy injuries sustained.

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There are rumblings about the Spurs potentially moving up to No. 1, per @TheSteinLine

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Houston looks set on Sheppard at 3. Spurs are likely taking Clingan at 4 to trade up 4 & 8.

The part that intrigues me is the mention trade up for Sarr & not Risarcher. Sarr's camp is at odds with Wemby & his potential situation in SA.

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Keep making it about Daniels offense/spacing. NO's best net lineup was Zion centric with ball pressure & defenders capable of punishing open shots, not 3pt threats.

Nance - Zion - Naji - Herb - Jose (+30)

Keep making it about another scorer & not how many touches Zion gets with & without CJ/BI taking 30 APG.

Daniels 12% usage 5 APG at 45% efficiency, Zion 18 APG at 60% efficiency +20
CJ 25% usage, 16 APG at 45% efficiency, Zion 10 APG at 60% efficiency +1.5

This with Daniels playing with Herb before his shooting down the stretch. This with Daniels having no offensive game to require attention where any positive offensive growth = improvement to an already positive outcome. Yet fans want to throw the 20yo into trades where his value is at a low, lol.

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Talk about taking my trade & **** it up.

Spurs: Garland, Nance, #1, #21

Cavs: Ingram, Murray

Pels: Trae, Allen, 4- 2nds from Spurs(getting these for 21)

Hawks: Keldon, Dyson, EJ, #4, #8, 25 Hawks 1st, 26 Pels 1st, 26 Hawks swap, 27 Pels 1st, 27 Hawks 1st

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The deal I worked out on the Spurs board for Garland was (Keldon, #4) or (Keldon, #8 & a FRP). Spurs are not giving Atlanta back their draft rights without draft compensation, ya dreaming. To get Spurs to give back Hawks 1yr NO's have to give NO/Lakers 25 for it. This trade has Spurs giving up Hawks 2yrs draft rights, on top of Keldon 4 & 8. Where Hawks are moving off Young. You would think Hawks wanting to move off Young, would be reason for Spurs to not trade consecutive Hawks draft rights lol. Those 2 unprotected 1sts are far more valuable to a team looking for a rebuild trade like this. Spurs are smart enough to not do that.

Pels trading BI because they don't want to give him max money now have 2 yrs of Allen where if they manage to resign him would start at 20m for a rim runner. Trae has a yr & PO starting at 40m. NO's are one ZIon injury away from being Hawks west with no #1 pick & most the draft capital traded while having to pay luxury tax to keep it. I need to find a smarter team to follow if they make this trade. I don't like frustration & CJ was enough.

First & foremost with defense being a priority at point with Zion, Young is a worse defender than CJ. Young has more offensive gravity but his 30% usage rate is his lowest since his rookie year & it was to a detriment. Young being higher usage means, Zion's usage will decrease & vice versa where these 2 players require their offense to be impactful players because they're not defensively. Both players will suffer in combined usage & defense.

I want to see Young get to the rim with teams zoning Zion & playing off of Allen this trade is the typical name value that will end in court disaster.