Road to a Championship start here, 2022 Draft.

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Nothing is certain but death & no move, decision is without it's own risk.

Can you tell me which proven target will ensure NO's will be a contender ?

See how that works.

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(BI, Herb, the best of NO's/Lakers 25) for (Murray, Bogi)

I'm hoping this is nothing more than a bad trade suggestion but see NO's fans liking it.

The only thing Murray has on BI is a defensive edge & better contract. BI is the better overall player & more versatile but I get the wanting to get out from his financial risk, so the swap can make sense depending on the connecting pieces.

20yo Daniels has a proven elite defensive skillset & can only get better offensively for a 31yo on the down swing, who will decline & depreciate.

You trade BI & the fit is not ideal with the potential Zion doesn't play a full season, you're looking at 2 picks that have some lotto projection & you're giving the best of the 2, LMAO.

This trade will end up BI, Daniels, potential lotto pick in a good draft for Murray & NO's fans like it

Even if the idea was for Bogi to replace CJ in trading him out This is horrible asset management.

On the trade board Detroit was willing to trade Ivey & 28m in cap space for CJ & a 25 pick in the teens with lotto protection. NO's could effectively get a tradable asset in Ivey & clear enough space to sign a C concentrating BI's value on either Gerland or Murray. No need to amplify Hawks value by including another target on the wrong side of 30.

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I've been in the food business for 30yrs. When it comes to sales. I sell quality, when you sell quality, you don't have to lie or try to sell it, it sells itself.

The best thing this team can do to build around Zion is to get the right fitting C because ZIon requires compensation on both ends. He needs his C able to defend & to draw his man out the paint.

If NO's scouts believe in Sarr as I do. Any temporary disappointment, will turn to understanding once he hits the court.

What happens to teams when they force win now moves that usually fail. Looks good at first but ends in disappointment.

Do what you think is right & the rest will fall into place. There's no other avenue to net the type C Zion needs than by potential, that's your sell.

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It was my interest to trade CJ + for Murray at the deadline to improve the defensive fit with Zion, upgrade Daniels offensively.

Daniels as a 20yo is currently a better & more versatile defender than Murray, I'm not trading him for 2yrs of Allen or Murray. The goal was Murray being a stop gap to Daniels offensive development. If the asking price is too high, I'd move CJ to Detroit for Stewart, cap space, shed salary, extend BI & start Daniels. With that cap space sign a C in free agency. If you like Allen, it would take no assets to sign Claxton & you'd have Stewart from the CJ trade as a backup.

All NO's really need to do is move off CJ & find a way to cut his salary & Detroit is looking to take players into their cap space, have interest.

NO's trade - (CJ) for (Stewart, cap space).

I'd still try to trade for #1 but if NO's can't make that a viable option, like I said if you want to trade for Allen with the money saved by trading CJ to Detroit for Stewart/cap space. Sign Claxton. Start Murphy or Daniels in place of CJ. Most likely Murphy as he's more ready to start.

FA - Claxton - Stewart
Zion - Nance
BI - Daniels
Murphy - Hawkins
Herb - Jose

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Hawks worked out Clingan & Quinn apparently likes the fit where it makes sense for Hawks to trade down to 3 or 4 for him, net additional assets to maximize the #1 picks value & lower their overall risk not owning their future drafts for the next 3yrs. Spurs told me they're willing to trade KJ, #4, FRP for Garland. Want to keep 1 of the 2 firsts if they don't get to starters. If NO's can trade BI for Garland, I see an avenue for #1, to get a PG & to free cap space to sign a C to bridge a contention, development gap.

Cavs trade - (Garland) for (BI, #21, Spurs FRP)

Spurs trade - (KJ, #4, FRP) for (Garland)

Hawks trade down - (Murray, #1) for (KJ, #4, NO/Lakers 25)

NO's trade - (BI, #21, NO/Lakers 25) for (Murray, #1)

Trade 2 - got this on the trade board with a Detroit mod.

NO's trade - (CJ, pick in teens/lottery protected) for (Ivey, 28m cap space)

With the #1 -- take Sarr
With the cap space -- Sign a C to bridge the contending, development gap of Sarr.

You like Allen, you can get that with Claxton in free agency without losing Daniels but IMO he's redundant. I would bring back JV's post game but Green doesn't like him. These 2 trades turns CJ's 30m into Claxton/JV 15-20m & Ivey 7m. The FA C & the #1 totaling 30m at the C with complimenting skillsets if you go with the known post big man JV.

FA Claxton/JV, #1 Sarr
Zion, Nance
Murphy, Daniels
Herb, Hawkins/Ivey
Murray, Jose/Ivey

Maybe 1 of Hawkins or Ivey go to Cavs or Hawks as alternative value to FRP's. Maybe with potentially Ivey, Daniels, Murphy, with CJ gone, there's no need to include Murray & pay more .. Keldon at backup SF with one of Ivey or Daniels starting with an eye to the 25 draft giving a year to assess the team without BI & develop. Where if Zion goes down everyone that matters is under 24 with a potential lotto pick or 2 coming in.

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Slight variation -

Trade 1 -

NO's trade - (CJ, NO's/Lakers 25 top 10 protected) for (Ivey, 28m cap space)

Trade 2 -

Cavs trade - (Garland) for (BI, Spurs FRP, NO's FRP)

Spurs trade - (KJ, #4, FRP) for (Garland)

Hawks trade down - (Filler, #1) for (Ivey, #4, #21)

NO's trade - (BI, Ivey, #21, FRP) for (KJ, #1)

FA Claxton/JV - #1 Sarr
Zion - Nance
Murphy - KJ
Herb - Hawkins/Daniels
Daniels - Jose

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Utah wanting to trade up for Clingan makes sense.

Hawks want to trade down for Clingan. Utah can viably trade for #1 by trading up for Clingan.

Hopefully the Spurs opt to work with NO's as BI can potentially be packaged for Garland based on rumored interest, who the Spurs like as a target.

How do NO's get to #4 ? - Spurs like Garland

Spurs trade - (KJ, #4 Clingan, FRP) for (Garland)

How does NO's get Garland with help of Spurs FRP

(BI, Spurs FRP, NO's FRP ?) for (Garland) IDK if NO's have to add the future pick or not

NO's effectively turn (BI, #21, NO's Lakers FRP, Bucks FRP) into (Murray, #1)

- Consolidate pick value for a #1 albeit a week draft & get a potential unicorn C for Zion.
- Turn bad contractual value into value & control.
- Turn questionable fit into Murphy's spacing & Murray's defense at point.

I'd follow that up by trading CJ to Detroit with a pick in the teen suggested by Detroit fans on the trade board for Ivey & 28m cap space. Where NO's can opt to sign a C to bridge Sarr's development. Instead of trading value for 2yrs of Allen, NO's can sign Claxton & get the same fit without the value cost & specified control

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When I proposed Derozan for Kawhi. The responses I got.

Why would the Spurs do that.
You can't get Kawhi for Derozan.
Lakers & Boston have better pick packages.

Me -all things are not equal. What matters is what the Spurs valued.

-Pop didn't want to tank with a PO roster
-Kawhi was really injured, which required risk management on the Raptors part, rest days etc.
-Kawhi was going to walk so no team wanted to trade all their youth for a rental.
-Derozan was a healthy fan favorite with an extra yr of control but he proved he could not lift the Raptors past Cavs after several attempts. It was time to move on & their was fan backlash at first for trading a player they loved. That went away quick. It could have also ended like the Clippers now, lol. Like I say, no move is without it's own risk. It's what you want to take your risk on. Things go wrong next yr & Zion proves he can't stay healthy, I rather pay for the 20yo potential unicorn that can switch defend from day 1, than Allen who will be an impending FA in a year where his pay raise will be from 20m. Makes that #1 12m salary/control look a little better, not so ? lol. Zion would be 24, Murphy 24, Hawkins 23, Daniels 21 & Sarr 20 with a potential lotto pick or 2 in 25 depending on the outcome of the deal made for #1.

My trade however wouldn't have worked without Green, who I had no thought of being included but I don't get paid the big bucks.

Last yr I had BI for Miller. How many would do that now ?, Any mention I made of Scoot in trade was due to NO's rumored interest in him. First page, I state my preference to Miller in trading up.

That said because people have been right in the past, doesn't mean they will be now but I think Sarr is the future at C for NO's & the only viable avenue to get that right fit. Whether I'm right or not will have to play out. Everything is not without it's own risk. I think it's worth it, do you?.

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I know I have your ear. The Jose chant, Zion taking 3''s & Murray as a trade target, though it was to replace CJ's defense not BI's contract.

People may disagree but I think the risk factor is much higher trading for Allen than Sarr.

Control alone, you're looking at a pay raise from 20m for a one dimensional big man sitting near or in the tax & the risk of him walking if Zion gets injured & everything falls apart.

That happens with Sarr you have a 20yo potential 2 way C on good cost control to build out from. With all of Zion, Murphy, Hawkins & Daniels being under 24 to make a small pivot for quick gain or even a directional change pending on Zion post BI.

I mean out the box Sarr is going to be able to switch defend at a high level, it's his defining trait & defense is a skill that translates, like shooting. Green played Nance over Jonas sometimes to a detriment because that's how he wanted to defend. Allen is nowhere the switch defender Sarr will be & at better cost control.

Fortunately Sarr doesn't fit Atlanta for several reasons. Their interest in Clingan & netting more asset shows they know Sarr's development is to risky for their situation with Young & the potential risk comes with some redundancy with Okongwu's skill set, who's proven, young with potential himself while ready to start with Young ready to contend. With Okongwu, Hawks have the stability of knowing what they're getting. So maximizing the #1 & lowering risk is the best move to make for them not owning their draft for the next 3yrs IMO.

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Kessler is a backup big. An elite defender like Gobert can get run. NO's want a C that plays like a wing but can also be big at the rim. That's not Allen or Kessler.

If you're judging him because of how he looked against this team. Factor a lengthy shot blocker playing in an effective zone defense. The lane is crowded & he has good timing & length. The games NO's lost vs Utah were all close but all of Murphy, CJ, Ryan & Jose were out. Herb wasn't shooting at 40% at that point either so the Zone killed the post & driving lanes with BI the most effective 3pt threat on the floor where he's shy to shoot, making Kessler's life easy.. Everyone else outside of Zion can't bust that type of effective zone where teams are daring players who can't shoot to shoot by packing the paint.

Lauri is a next one who's current value is tied to coach & system. Most of his buckets made are assisted. NO's don't have a floor general outside of Zion kicking out. Candidate to lose value the moment he's traded. I don't know about you but I wouldn't overpay for a shooter who can't defend or rebound to pair with Zion in the front court. You just alternating the holes that need to be addressed.

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Givony saying Clingan in the mix for Atlanta after workout & that they are exploring trade down scenario's.

NO's situation is a unique & tough one. If they're trading out BI to go all in on Zion by fitting pieces around him to compliment his skillset, one injury can make any course of direction go wrong. Be it soft reset, or move towards contention. So the moves have to consider the injury risk factor. As I've pointed out with the 2yrs control of Allen. One down season for Zion Allen is an expiring that can walk from a situation that's not good & he will have suitors.

How many C's have NO's tried next to Zion ? quite a few & in all cases they're unable to effectively compensate. It's a tough find to get a C that plays like a wing, spaces the floor, rim runs, pushes pace where he can lead a break from a rebound, with decent handles & block shots.

The negative is always potential can bust but there's a potential ideal fit for both Green & Zion in this draft with Sarr. He's still a project but IMO the best avenue to pair Zion with what he needs.

There's an exception here to the other pieces you're trying to fit with Zion. Sarr is a potential 2 way C that will allow NO's to build any direction they opt to take. Doesn't matter what direction NO's choose if Zion gets hurt. A target like Sarr in a worse case scenario allows NO's to pivot direction. Which if history is an indicator, Zion most likely doesn't play a full season. In this worse case scenario as pointed out. You'll have Zion at 24, Murphy 24, Hawkins 23, Daniels 21 & Sarr 20 with a potential lotto pick or 2 depending on the necessary value to trade up. NO's might not choose to move on from Zion but get a player in the 25 draft that can help him carry a team.

Zion grows unhappy about the situation the following would be you're starting point of a rebuild, if you opt to move on.

Sarr 20
?
Murphy 24
Hawkins 23
Daniels 21

25 lotto pick as NO's had to pivot based on injury, I'm assuming the Lakers pick was required for trade, plus the value you'd get from shopping Zion. At this point you will know he will never be healthy enough to help you compete for anything meaningful.

This is the "risk" portion of trading for Sarr .. who's floor is a rim running switch defender..

I think the people that want to move on from Daniels are crazy, A proven elite defender with 1-4 versatility at 20 showing offensive potential, lol, Lets throw him in trade because we want to win with a player that hasn't stayed healthy in 5yrs, while trading out the player that carried the team in his absence for better fitting pieces. Makes no sense.

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Sam Amico is saying Spurs are very interested in Garland.

Givony is saying Hawks like Clingan especially Quinn & are exploring potential to trade down to maximize the value of the #1 pick.

I'm starting to wonder if Grey & Rusty on the Spurs board have some connections. Now I just need to hear Cavs want BI & NO's want to trade up to #1.

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I had a discussion with a Detroit mod on the trade board. He said Ivey's value is around a pick in the teens in the 25 draft lottery protected, they are willing to trade cap space for a player of interest. We worked out the following trade for CJ.

Detroit trade - (Ivey, 28m cap space) for (CJ, Lakers 25 projected teens, lottery protected)

My goals this offseason are to get off CJ's contract, fit & to land Sarr to pair Zion with. Here's the follow up trade that Spurs fans are on board with. Amico tweeted Spurs are very interested in Garland, Givony tweeted Hawks like Clingan & are exploring trades down

Cavs trade - (Garland) for (BI, Ivey)

Spurs trade - (Keldon, Collins, #4, FRP) for (Garland) - they said a little high but doable

Hawks trade - (Murray, #1) for (Keldon, #4, #21, Spurs FRP, NO's FRP) - Hawks 25 or 27

NO's trade - (BI, Ivey, #21, FRP) for (Murray, Collins, #1)

#1 Sarr - Collins
Zion - Nance
Murphy - Daniels
Herb - Hawkins/Daniels
Murray - Jose/Daniels

+ 28m saved in the first CJ trade - Affords NO's a center target in free agency. I'd sign Jonas back as his game would offset & compliment Sarr's skillset. He's also familiar value, you know what you're getting. With Sarr, a target like Claxton would be redundant.

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Just watched a video called state of the Pelicans. I know you read here so I'm going to touch on your talking points because I'm pretty sure one of my trades were referenced.

Top talking point - Star power & availability

When I suggested CJ for Kyrie with his value at an all time low, everyone said he was a headcase, this would have made BI a 3rd option & give the Pels a real PG, help them take care of the ball be a real floor general. Opportunity missed based on self righteousness, I got banned by an OKC mod for defending his vaccine stance as a result & called a liar with no opportunity to respond. While not great, he's a better defender than CJ. It was a hard pass for Pels nation & Mavs are reaping the benefit. Where I agree, is NO's have talent but it's unavailable talent. In deciding to build with Zion & trading BI, they risk injury that history says is almost certain but they have picked a direction & committing to it, which is better than repeating the same mistakes. Doesn't help that BI is a injury risk himself about to receive 50m, if he's to be retained, paired with a bad trade & max extension for CJ. I don't see what people see in CJ. He couldn't have shot the ball better than he did, where I can see regression from it but the combined defense with teams attacking him at point made him a net 0 with Zion. What happens when the shooting dips ? The team was better with Daniel's elite man defense, 12% usage & 30% low volume spacing. I move CJ loooong before BI but trades don't work that way, you need opportunity, interest & recognition of it.

Injury is a big factor in building with this team & Zion as he's had only one relatively healthy season he eventually got hurt in when it matters, the team can't make short sided moves & must consider the effect of decisions well down the road not just for tomorrow as a result of the potential availability of the building block. A house can't stand without it's foundation, it will come crumbling down no matter how well the house on the foundation was built. It's for this reason plus fit that Sarr would looong be my target over Allen if Green wants his switch able 5. The other, is that I have him projected able to draw his man out as his indicators show it's not a matter of if but when.

Herb is the last player I want to trade & would work hard to avoid that option but here's a hard fact, in taking your star power & injury risks into consideration & the fact NO's will be a tax team in the near future if they don't manage to clear cap. Herb is a valuable commodity with only 3yrs left before UFA & will require a big raise from his current 12m, that's a 3yr window with NO's not close. Having said that, for the right price, none is untouchable. If NO's had no option but to trade Herb for Sarr's potential, I would. You turn a valuable 12m/3y 3D wing into a potential 12m unicorn which is even tougher to find than an elite wing & on rookie scale control > 3yrs. If I told you, that you could trade Herb for a 7' version of Bam who's ahead of the curve from 3 & projected to be a viable spacing threat, would you? Bam wouldn't have gone #1 either, nor is he a franchise player with the ability to carry a team.

Speaking of centers. NO's have to cater to the fact they lost a lot of value losing Jonas 15m value production for nothing. I would say based in Zion, BI & CJ's combined injuries with Jonas being a top 2 producer in them, that he's accounted for somewhere between 10-20 wins based in injury down time. Trading BI for a lateral or marginal upgrade & fit won't adjust for that lost. Though I know chemistry is a snowball effect & hard to account for.

To summarize this long post. Building with injury risk & a unstable foundation, potential & control of asset acquisition should have a high priority. Trading considerable value for a player that's set to expire or receive a considerable pay day is asking for trouble.

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For the poster that mentioned Kessler & Isaac as targets. Isaac is considerably better but an injury risk both play bench minutes, in Isaac's case, it's most likely to keep him healthy. In Kesslers case, he's a limited player.

Having said that. I'd trade CJ for Isaac & cap space. Would add pick value if they would trade Isaac & Suggs.

Detroit seemed willing to trade Ivey, 28m cap space for CJ & a 25 pick in the teens. Maybe Magic who need spacing would be open to something similar concerning Suggs.

Atlanta should have interest in Suggs defensively.

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Nowhere #21 the players I like in this draft for NO's

Sarr-
Sheppard -
Carter -
Ware -

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Things don't always come to fruition but I'm encouraged by the rumors.

NO's fans discussing BI to Houston & suggest potentially flipping players/assets for Murray.

Houston comes up as a possibility same time, NBA news is saying Houston looking at Clingan with the 3rd pick, when they have Sengun & Smith.

I don't buy the talk of Hawks potentially rebuilding. The only way they can do that is if the Spurs trade their draft rights back & Spurs are too conservative to pay that price when they can afford to be patient.

#3 Clingan some young Houston player or 2, NO's FRP, can bridge NO's to Hawks Murray, #1 Sarr. As Hawks/Quinn are rumored to be high on Clingan.

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The above post in trade format, not exact value but frame work.

Detroit trade - (Ivey, 28m cap space) for (CJ, NO's 25 pick projected teens, lotto protected). I worked this value out with a Detroit mod on the trade board.

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

Hawks trade - (Murray, #1 Sarr) for (#3 Clingan, Green, Whitmore, NO's FRP)

BI trade - (BI, CJ, pick/s) for (Murray, #1 Sarr, 28m TE)

Sarr - Vet C 28m TE
Zion - Nance
Murphy - Daniels
Herb - Hawkins/Daniels
Murray - Jose/Daniels

Defensively - 19yo Sarr 1-5, 20yo Daniels 1-4, Herb 1-4 (switch ability)
Offensively - 19yo Sarr 30% low volume, 20yo Daniels 30% low volume, Herb 40%

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Cavs using terms like depth & injury risk concerning trading Garland & Allen.

Looks like Cavs are trying to leverage BI's risk/value.

Do not give them Daniels for Allen. One injury from ZIon with BI traded for fit & you have to deal with an expiring Allen from a position of no leverage.

Hey Allen, we want you to resign despite Zion never being available ...

It's by far less risky to bank on Sarr & Daniels potential as cheap replacement options. You will at the very least have cost control of assets, to the risk taken. Giving the option to pivot direction.

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According to a report from NBA reporter Kevin O'Connor, Cleveland is looking to trade up in the NBA Draft. The report was shared on X, formerly known as Twitter, by Evan Sidery.

https://www.si.com/nba/cavaliers/news/cleveland-cavaliers-attempting-major-trade-before-nba-draft

BI for Garland for Keldon #4

#4 Clingan + FRP/s for #1 Sarr (Maybe Keldon goes to Atlanta for Murray).

The rumor out of NO's is 3 picks. With BI extended who's got more trade value ? Does Cavs add #20 to Garland or NO's #21 to BI ?

NO's trade - (BI) for (Garland #20)

Spurs trade - (Keldon, Collins, #4, Hawks 25) for (Garland, Laker 25 protected for luck)

Hawks trade - (Murray, #1) for (Keldon, #4, #20, Hawks 25, Bucks 27)

NO's trade - (BI, Lakers 25 protected, Bucks 27 protected) for (Murray, #1)