NOP - TOR: Pelicans upgrade at Center, prepare for a future star trade

MessiahUjiri · Post #1 » by **MessiahUjiri** » Thu Feb 1, 2024 4:11 pm

The Pelicans were listening to offers for Valanciunas, who is about to be a UFA. He's 32 and already below average defensively. His positives are his very good size, rebounding, and offensive ability to play 26MPG at the C position.

If they want to get a mobile C with contractual predictability, here's a trade with the Raptors:

Valanciunas + Jordan Hawkins
for
Poeltl + 2024 Indy 1st (18-20th pick)

NOP gets a more mobile defensive C for a playoff run, while staying under the tax. With the 1st pick, they'd have 5 FRP in the next 2 drafts, which they can aggregate for a star player trade. A star player trade almost feels inevitable for NOP, rather than pursuing a new contract with JV and continuing their path of a 6-9 seed luxury tax payer team.

TOR gets Hawkins, who has flashed a good ability to shoot and score in bunches. Him, Gradey and IQ would be curling off screens all over the floor to catch Scottie's passes. Also, Toronto may choose to re-sign JV as a C since they know him well. On offense he provides more floor spacing than Poeltl.

Euphonetiks · Post #2 » by **Euphonetiks** » Thu Feb 1, 2024 4:37 pm

I don't think the Pels will part with Hawkins for a mild upgrade at C. Poetl is a fine defensive center. He would offer rim protection and rebounding, but he's typically been used in drop coverage and it's difficult to close with him due to his horrid FT%. The Pels are looking for a more athletic switchable 5 or a 5 that can space. We also cannot afford to pay a non-spacing, drop coverage big $20M/yr with our tax situation.

Instead of giving up Hawk for Poetl, I think we would just re-sign Jonas to something like a 2/$30M and use our 2024 pick on one of the C's like Clingan.

balsamic_ducks · Post #3 » by **balsamic_ducks** » Thu Feb 1, 2024 5:02 pm

The Pels already tried to pair Zion with Steven Adams and that didn't work. I don't see why it would be any different with Poeltl.

He's not the type of center the pels are looking for

Post #4 » by **Texas Chuck** » Thu Feb 1, 2024 6:05 pm

I'm curious why all your threads are phrased as if you are helping the not-Raptors team but then every deal is about getting good young talent to Toronto? Do you think we don't notice?

Pels might be okay with paying something to swap JV with Poeltl but they are going to want to give you a lotto protected 1st or something not a good rookie already outplaying his draft position. And sending them back the 1st helps equalize value, but again just no reason for them to give a piece as good as Hawkins here.

Dn4sty · Post #5 » by **Dn4sty** » Thu Feb 1, 2024 7:00 pm

Poeltl is not an upgrade to JV, especially with his contract.

Then you want NOP to add Hawkins who has flashed some real upside.

Plus the Pelicans have plenty of draft assets to go star hunting should they so choose.

NOP doesnt bail out the Raptors just because the original Poeltl trade has turned out pretty bad for the Raptors.

SkyHook · Post #6 » by **SkyHook** » Thu Feb 1, 2024 7:09 pm

balsamic_ducks wrote:The Pels already tried to pair Zion with Steven Adams and that didn't work. I don't see why it would be any different with Poeltl.

He's not the type of center the pels are looking for

I’m genuinely curious, what kind of center do you think is best paired with Zion? Archetype and examples?

Bruin · Post #7 » by **Bruin** » Thu Feb 1, 2024 7:27 pm

Dn4sty wrote:Poeltl is not an upgrade to JV, especially with his contract.

Then you want NOP to add Hawkins who has flashed some real upside.

Plus the Pelicans have plenty of draft assets to go star hunting should they so choose.

NOP doesnt bail out the Raptors just because the original Poeltl trade has turned out pretty bad for the Raptors.

I’d love to hear your explanation on why you think this

Mrakar · Post #8 » by **Mrakar** » Thu Feb 1, 2024 7:42 pm

Bruin wrote:
Dn4sty wrote:Poeltl is not an upgrade to JV, especially with his contract.

Then you want NOP to add Hawkins who has flashed some real upside.

Plus the Pelicans have plenty of draft assets to go star hunting should they so choose.

NOP doesnt bail out the Raptors just because the original Poeltl trade has turned out pretty bad for the Raptors.

I’d love to hear your explanation on why you think this

Poeltl is better defender, but not a game changer. He is worse on ofense and on the boards which is really important because Pels suck on the boards.

Pels are not giving up one of the most promising young players from last draft for a minor upgrade(probably not an upgrade at all).

MessiahUjiri · Post #9 » by **MessiahUjiri** » Thu Feb 1, 2024 9:45 pm

Texas Chuck wrote:I'm curious why all your threads are phrased as if you are helping the not-Raptors team but then every deal is about getting good young talent to Toronto? Do you think we don't notice?

Pels might be okay with paying something to swap JV with Poeltl but they are going to want to give you a lotto protected 1st or something not a good rookie already outplaying his draft position. And sending them back the 1st helps equalize value, but again just no reason for them to give a piece as good as Hawkins here.

LMAO Chuck 8-)

I admit, I try to see the trade from the POV of the trading partner. Torontos perspective is kinda boring to me, because it’s always a version of “sell vets for youth”.

lordjeff05 · Post #10 » by **lordjeff05** » Fri Feb 2, 2024 4:56 pm

SkyHook wrote:
balsamic_ducks wrote:The Pels already tried to pair Zion with Steven Adams and that didn't work. I don't see why it would be any different with Poeltl.

He's not the type of center the pels are looking for

I’m genuinely curious, what kind of center do you think is best paired with Zion? Archetype and examples?

Porzignis, a guy who you actually have to guard on the perimeter but who can protect the rim. If Bamba ever figured it out he would be perfect.

Zion and Lauri would have some issues on the defensive end but would be unguardable on offense.

lordjeff05 · Post #11 » by **lordjeff05** » Fri Feb 2, 2024 4:57 pm

Mrakar wrote:
Bruin wrote:
Dn4sty wrote:Poeltl is not an upgrade to JV, especially with his contract.

Then you want NOP to add Hawkins who has flashed some real upside.

Plus the Pelicans have plenty of draft assets to go star hunting should they so choose.

NOP doesnt bail out the Raptors just because the original Poeltl trade has turned out pretty bad for the Raptors.

I’d love to hear your explanation on why you think this

Poeltl is better defender, but not a game changer. He is worse on ofense and on the boards which is really important because Pels suck on the boards.

Pels are not giving up one of the most promising young players from last draft for a minor upgrade(probably not an upgrade at all).

Poetl's issues with free throws also make him virtually unplayable in crunch time.

SkyHook · Post #12 » by **SkyHook** » Fri Feb 2, 2024 5:05 pm

lordjeff05 wrote:
SkyHook wrote:
balsamic_ducks wrote:The Pels already tried to pair Zion with Steven Adams and that didn't work. I don't see why it would be any different with Poeltl.

He's not the type of center the pels are looking for

I’m genuinely curious, what kind of center do you think is best paired with Zion? Archetype and examples?

Porzignis, a guy who you actually have to guard on the perimeter but who can protect the rim. If Bamba ever figured it out he would be perfect.

Zion and Lauri would have some issues on the defensive end but would be unguardable on offense.

I don’t disagree. Short of Zion becoming a legitimate threat from deep and even a passable defender, an NBA player so rare that he deserves the name “The Unicorn” is perhaps the only type of center who could truly make a successful pairing with him. (And I has a lot of hope for Bamba once upon a time, but no longer.)