Finishing the Pelicans offseason (Towns, w/Utah, Ingram to SAC)

[babyjax13]

Trade 1:
NOP trades: CJ McCollum, Jordan Hawkins, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, 2025 LAL 1st, 2026 MIL/NOP 1st (higher), 2027 MIL 1st, 2028 NOP 1st
in: Karl Anthony-Towns
Pelicans get a stretch 5 to maximize Zion.

MIN trades: Karl Anthony-Towns
in: Lauri Markkanen, Jordan Hawkins
Minnesota reduces their payroll but takes on some risk with Lauri being a FA at the end of the season. They also add a young sniper off the bench to give them more scoring options. This deal also pulls them under the first apron, so committing a max contract to Lauri in the offseason seems pretty reasonable.

UTA trades: Lauri Markkanen
in: CJ McCollum, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, 2025 LAL 1st, 2026 MIL/NOP 1st (higher), 2027 MIL 1st, 2028 NOP 1st
Utah gets 4 1sts for Lauri, and CJ who they can probably flip later in the season for another 1st (depending on what they take back).

Trade 2:
NOP trades: Brandon Ingram
SAC trades: Harrison Barnes, Kevin Huerter, 2028 SAC 1st, 2029 pick swap (NOP receives higher of NOP/SAC 1st, SAC receives lower)
New Orleans moves Murphy and Jones into the starting lineup and replenishes their picks a bit. They walk away with a very balanced roster and the only year in which they won't have a 1st is 2026. Sacramento gets a third star to get back into the playoff picture and hopefully give them an outside chance at a championship.


Pelicans depth-chart:

Karl Anthony-Towns/Yvis Missi
Zion Williamson/Harrison Barnes
Herb Jones/Trey Murphy
Trey Murphy/Kevin Huerter
DeJounte Murray/Jose Alverado

I think this is a pretty balanced and fun team that still has assets to move if they need to.

[SNPA]

Trade 1:
NOP trades: CJ McCollum, Jordan Hawkins, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, 2025 LAL 1st, 2026 MIL/NOP 1st (higher), 2027 MIL 1st, 2028 NOP 1st
in: Karl Anthony-Towns
Pelicans get a stretch 5 to maximize Zion.

MIN trades: Karl Anthony-Towns
in: Lauri Markkanen, Jordan Hawkins
Minnesota reduces their payroll but takes on some risk with Lauri being a FA at the end of the season. They also add a young sniper off the bench to give them more scoring options. This deal also pulls them under the first apron, so committing a max contract to Lauri in the offseason seems pretty reasonable.

UTA trades: Lauri Markkanen
in: CJ McCollum, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, 2025 LAL 1st, 2026 MIL/NOP 1st (higher), 2027 MIL 1st, 2028 NOP 1st
Utah gets 4 1sts for Lauri, and CJ who they can probably flip later in the season for another 1st (depending on what they take back).

Trade 2:
NOP trades: Brandon Ingram
SAC trades: Harrison Barnes, Kevin Huerter, 2028 SAC 1st, 2029 pick swap (NOP receives higher of NOP/SAC 1st, SAC receives lower)
New Orleans moves Murphy and Jones into the starting lineup and replenishes their picks a bit. They walk away with a very balanced roster and the only year in which they won't have a 1st is 2026. Sacramento gets a third star to get back into the playoff picture and hopefully give them an outside chance at a championship.


Pelicans depth-chart:

Karl Anthony-Towns/Yvis Missi
Zion Williamson/Harrison Barnes
Herb Jones/Trey Murphy
Trey Murphy/Kevin Huerter
DeJounte Murray/Jose Alverado

I think this is a pretty balanced and fun team that still has assets to move if they need to.

Make it a 26 swap and 27 first* from Sac and we’re good to go. That’s the max though, they should not give two firsts.

*both subject to low odds of bumping back one year

[babyjax13]

Trade 1:
NOP trades: CJ McCollum, Jordan Hawkins, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, 2025 LAL 1st, 2026 MIL/NOP 1st (higher), 2027 MIL 1st, 2028 NOP 1st
in: Karl Anthony-Towns
Pelicans get a stretch 5 to maximize Zion.

MIN trades: Karl Anthony-Towns
in: Lauri Markkanen, Jordan Hawkins
Minnesota reduces their payroll but takes on some risk with Lauri being a FA at the end of the season. They also add a young sniper off the bench to give them more scoring options. This deal also pulls them under the first apron, so committing a max contract to Lauri in the offseason seems pretty reasonable.

UTA trades: Lauri Markkanen
in: CJ McCollum, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, 2025 LAL 1st, 2026 MIL/NOP 1st (higher), 2027 MIL 1st, 2028 NOP 1st
Utah gets 4 1sts for Lauri, and CJ who they can probably flip later in the season for another 1st (depending on what they take back).

Trade 2:
NOP trades: Brandon Ingram
SAC trades: Harrison Barnes, Kevin Huerter, 2028 SAC 1st, 2029 pick swap (NOP receives higher of NOP/SAC 1st, SAC receives lower)
New Orleans moves Murphy and Jones into the starting lineup and replenishes their picks a bit. They walk away with a very balanced roster and the only year in which they won't have a 1st is 2026. Sacramento gets a third star to get back into the playoff picture and hopefully give them an outside chance at a championship.


Pelicans depth-chart:

Karl Anthony-Towns/Yvis Missi
Zion Williamson/Harrison Barnes
Herb Jones/Trey Murphy
Trey Murphy/Kevin Huerter
DeJounte Murray/Jose Alverado

I think this is a pretty balanced and fun team that still has assets to move if they need to.

Make it a 26 swap and 27 first* from Sac and we’re good to go. That’s the max though, they should not give two firsts.

*both subject to low odds of bumping back one year

The Pelicans could not do a 26 swap. I think they'll want a pick somewhat in the future and a swap as far in the future as possible, too, and I don't see a way for Sacramento to get a player as good as Ingram for filler (though still rotation guys), a first, and a swap.

[Godaddycurse]

NOP traded 2025 LAL 1st to atlanta already. They also traded one 1st away in 2027 in that trade so they cant trade the 2027 1st in OP if they are trading 26 + 28

[babyjax13]

NOP traded 2025 LAL 1st to atlanta already. They also traded one 1st away in 2027 in that trade so they cant trade the 2027 1st in OP if they are trading 26 + 28

God all the websites are so out of date lol (I don't blame them, a lot happening). I'll just avoid making trade ideas for a while lol

[BuddyBuckets]

That '27 Bucks pick should be pretty enticing to some teams . I'd love to get Towns on board here but it feels like a pipe dream.

[Threezus]

NOP traded 2025 LAL 1st to atlanta already. They also traded one 1st away in 2027 in that trade so they cant trade the 2027 1st in OP if they are trading 26 + 28

God all the websites are so out of date lol (I don't blame them, a lot happening). I'll just avoid making trade ideas for a while lol

Now if you want to somehow use some of that ammo we just got from the Pelicans trade to go after KAT for the hawks we could really use a player like him right now lol. Thats literally one of our biggest needs at this point XD

[winforlose]

NOP traded 2025 LAL 1st to atlanta already. They also traded one 1st away in 2027 in that trade so they cant trade the 2027 1st in OP if they are trading 26 + 28

God all the websites are so out of date lol (I don't blame them, a lot happening). I'll just avoid making trade ideas for a while lol

Now if you want to somehow use some of that ammo we just got from the Pelicans trade to go after KAT for the hawks we could really use a player like him right now lol. Thats literally one of our biggest needs at this point XD

The picks you guys got from the Pels are pretty meh. I don’t know if your talking about going and getting Markkanen for the Wolves or offering the Wolves a package straight up, but either way I am doubtful the Hawks would make such a move at this point.

[winforlose]

Trade 1:
NOP trades: CJ McCollum, Jordan Hawkins, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, 2025 LAL 1st, 2026 MIL/NOP 1st (higher), 2027 MIL 1st, 2028 NOP 1st
in: Karl Anthony-Towns
Pelicans get a stretch 5 to maximize Zion.

MIN trades: Karl Anthony-Towns
in: Lauri Markkanen, Jordan Hawkins
Minnesota reduces their payroll but takes on some risk with Lauri being a FA at the end of the season. They also add a young sniper off the bench to give them more scoring options. This deal also pulls them under the first apron, so committing a max contract to Lauri in the offseason seems pretty reasonable.

UTA trades: Lauri Markkanen
in: CJ McCollum, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, 2025 LAL 1st, 2026 MIL/NOP 1st (higher), 2027 MIL 1st, 2028 NOP 1st
Utah gets 4 1sts for Lauri, and CJ who they can probably flip later in the season for another 1st (depending on what they take back).

Trade 2:
NOP trades: Brandon Ingram
SAC trades: Harrison Barnes, Kevin Huerter, 2028 SAC 1st, 2029 pick swap (NOP receives higher of NOP/SAC 1st, SAC receives lower)
New Orleans moves Murphy and Jones into the starting lineup and replenishes their picks a bit. They walk away with a very balanced roster and the only year in which they won't have a 1st is 2026. Sacramento gets a third star to get back into the playoff picture and hopefully give them an outside chance at a championship.


Pelicans depth-chart:

Karl Anthony-Towns/Yvis Missi
Zion Williamson/Harrison Barnes
Herb Jones/Trey Murphy
Trey Murphy/Kevin Huerter
DeJounte Murray/Jose Alverado

I think this is a pretty balanced and fun team that still has assets to move if they need to.

The risk part is the part that probably makes this not happen. Losing Karl for a one year Markkanen rental would be devastating to the Wolves. Especially with the next 7 years of draft capital in some way committed except for the 2028 pick. The Wolves would not be able to replace the salary slot or the quality of player. What would likely need to happen is Utah would need to return some of the Wolves draft assets or sweetening the pot with more young talent. Also Daniels is a SG and that is not a position of need for the Wolves with Ant, NAW, Shannon, and potentially Clark being able to play SG. Walker Kessler would likely be part of this deal.

Something like Wolves get their 27 pick back, the protections on 29 go from top 5 to top 10, Walker Kessler is added to the trade, and maybe a 2nd or two are tossed in as well. With enough padding the risk would likely be easier to swallow. As for why the other teams would go all with it, I would need to dive much deeper to answer that.

[babyjax13]

Trade 1:
NOP trades: CJ McCollum, Jordan Hawkins, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, 2025 LAL 1st, 2026 MIL/NOP 1st (higher), 2027 MIL 1st, 2028 NOP 1st
in: Karl Anthony-Towns
Pelicans get a stretch 5 to maximize Zion.

MIN trades: Karl Anthony-Towns
in: Lauri Markkanen, Jordan Hawkins
Minnesota reduces their payroll but takes on some risk with Lauri being a FA at the end of the season. They also add a young sniper off the bench to give them more scoring options. This deal also pulls them under the first apron, so committing a max contract to Lauri in the offseason seems pretty reasonable.

UTA trades: Lauri Markkanen
in: CJ McCollum, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, 2025 LAL 1st, 2026 MIL/NOP 1st (higher), 2027 MIL 1st, 2028 NOP 1st
Utah gets 4 1sts for Lauri, and CJ who they can probably flip later in the season for another 1st (depending on what they take back).

Trade 2:
NOP trades: Brandon Ingram
SAC trades: Harrison Barnes, Kevin Huerter, 2028 SAC 1st, 2029 pick swap (NOP receives higher of NOP/SAC 1st, SAC receives lower)
New Orleans moves Murphy and Jones into the starting lineup and replenishes their picks a bit. They walk away with a very balanced roster and the only year in which they won't have a 1st is 2026. Sacramento gets a third star to get back into the playoff picture and hopefully give them an outside chance at a championship.


Pelicans depth-chart:

Karl Anthony-Towns/Yvis Missi
Zion Williamson/Harrison Barnes
Herb Jones/Trey Murphy
Trey Murphy/Kevin Huerter
DeJounte Murray/Jose Alverado

I think this is a pretty balanced and fun team that still has assets to move if they need to.

The risk part is the part that probably makes this not happen. Losing Karl for a one year Markkanen rental would be devastating to the Wolves. Especially with the next 7 years of draft capital in some way committed except for the 2028 pick. The Wolves would not be able to replace the salary slot or the quality of player. What would likely need to happen is Utah would need to return some of the Wolves draft assets or sweetening the pot with more young talent. Also Daniels is a SG and that is not a position of need for the Wolves with Ant, NAW, Shannon, and potentially Clark being able to play SG. Walker Kessler would likely be part of this deal.

Something like Wolves get their 27 pick back, the protections on 29 go from top 5 to top 10, Walker Kessler is added to the trade, and maybe a 2nd or two are tossed in as well. With enough padding the risk would likely be easier to swallow. As for why the other teams would go all with it, I would need to dive much deeper to answer that.

There is just no way we'd add draft assets in the deal, so it's probably DOA.

[winforlose]

Trade 1:
NOP trades: CJ McCollum, Jordan Hawkins, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, 2025 LAL 1st, 2026 MIL/NOP 1st (higher), 2027 MIL 1st, 2028 NOP 1st
in: Karl Anthony-Towns
Pelicans get a stretch 5 to maximize Zion.

MIN trades: Karl Anthony-Towns
in: Lauri Markkanen, Jordan Hawkins
Minnesota reduces their payroll but takes on some risk with Lauri being a FA at the end of the season. They also add a young sniper off the bench to give them more scoring options. This deal also pulls them under the first apron, so committing a max contract to Lauri in the offseason seems pretty reasonable.

UTA trades: Lauri Markkanen
in: CJ McCollum, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, 2025 LAL 1st, 2026 MIL/NOP 1st (higher), 2027 MIL 1st, 2028 NOP 1st
Utah gets 4 1sts for Lauri, and CJ who they can probably flip later in the season for another 1st (depending on what they take back).

Trade 2:
NOP trades: Brandon Ingram
SAC trades: Harrison Barnes, Kevin Huerter, 2028 SAC 1st, 2029 pick swap (NOP receives higher of NOP/SAC 1st, SAC receives lower)
New Orleans moves Murphy and Jones into the starting lineup and replenishes their picks a bit. They walk away with a very balanced roster and the only year in which they won't have a 1st is 2026. Sacramento gets a third star to get back into the playoff picture and hopefully give them an outside chance at a championship.


Pelicans depth-chart:

Karl Anthony-Towns/Yvis Missi
Zion Williamson/Harrison Barnes
Herb Jones/Trey Murphy
Trey Murphy/Kevin Huerter
DeJounte Murray/Jose Alverado

I think this is a pretty balanced and fun team that still has assets to move if they need to.

The risk part is the part that probably makes this not happen. Losing Karl for a one year Markkanen rental would be devastating to the Wolves. Especially with the next 7 years of draft capital in some way committed except for the 2028 pick. The Wolves would not be able to replace the salary slot or the quality of player. What would likely need to happen is Utah would need to return some of the Wolves draft assets or sweetening the pot with more young talent. Also Daniels is a SG and that is not a position of need for the Wolves with Ant, NAW, Shannon, and potentially Clark being able to play SG. Walker Kessler would likely be part of this deal.

Something like Wolves get their 27 pick back, the protections on 29 go from top 5 to top 10, Walker Kessler is added to the trade, and maybe a 2nd or two are tossed in as well. With enough padding the risk would likely be easier to swallow. As for why the other teams would go all with it, I would need to dive much deeper to answer that.

There is just no way we'd add draft assets in the deal, so it's probably DOA.

Obviously the value would need to come from the Pels to make that work. I think that being on an expiring makes Lauri’s value somewhat depressed and this trade suggests a premium for him. While it is true there is a bidding war, it is also true that Utah doesn’t want to give him to the Spurs or the Thunder. The Jazz are two years into a rebuild that could easily take another two or three at the rate it is progressing. If you give Markkaen to a team with Wemby or Chet you are creating a dragon that Utah may need to slay any given year to advance in the playoffs. The Wolves and Pels are safer bets for Utah because Rudy is aging and the salary issues for the Wolves will force some big changes in a couple of years (right around when you guys are getting going.) The Pels are still gonna need Zion to stay healthy to do anything and that is a much lower risk proposition for Utah to bet on. Long story short, a deal with teams who are on the rise is bad for business. You want to send Lauri to the East or to teams who are already near the top, and are therefore going to struggle with the new CBA.

[babyjax13]

The risk part is the part that probably makes this not happen. Losing Karl for a one year Markkanen rental would be devastating to the Wolves. Especially with the next 7 years of draft capital in some way committed except for the 2028 pick. The Wolves would not be able to replace the salary slot or the quality of player. What would likely need to happen is Utah would need to return some of the Wolves draft assets or sweetening the pot with more young talent. Also Daniels is a SG and that is not a position of need for the Wolves with Ant, NAW, Shannon, and potentially Clark being able to play SG. Walker Kessler would likely be part of this deal.

Something like Wolves get their 27 pick back, the protections on 29 go from top 5 to top 10, Walker Kessler is added to the trade, and maybe a 2nd or two are tossed in as well. With enough padding the risk would likely be easier to swallow. As for why the other teams would go all with it, I would need to dive much deeper to answer that.

There is just no way we'd add draft assets in the deal, so it's probably DOA.

Obviously the value would need to come from the Pels to make that work. I think that being on an expiring makes Lauri’s value somewhat depressed and this trade suggests a premium for him. While it is true there is a bidding war, it is also true that Utah doesn’t want to give him to the Spurs or the Thunder. The Jazz are two years into a rebuild that could easily take another two or three at the rate it is progressing. If you give Markkaen to a team with Wemby or Chet you are creating a dragon that Utah may need to slay any given year to advance in the playoffs. The Wolves and Pels are safer bets for Utah because Rudy is aging and the salary issues for the Wolves will force some big changes in a couple of years (right around when you guys are getting going.) The Pels are still gonna need Zion to stay healthy to do anything and that is a much lower risk proposition for Utah to bet on. Long story short, a deal with teams who are on the rise is bad for business. You want to send Lauri to the East or to teams who are already near the top, and are therefore going to struggle with the new CBA.

Why would we not want to trade him to the Spurs or thunder? To be honest, I think KAT and Lauri probably have very similar value on the open market even with Lauri expiring. Could be wrong, but I don't think I am.

[winforlose]

There is just no way we'd add draft assets in the deal, so it's probably DOA.

Obviously the value would need to come from the Pels to make that work. I think that being on an expiring makes Lauri’s value somewhat depressed and this trade suggests a premium for him. While it is true there is a bidding war, it is also true that Utah doesn’t want to give him to the Spurs or the Thunder. The Jazz are two years into a rebuild that could easily take another two or three at the rate it is progressing. If you give Markkaen to a team with Wemby or Chet you are creating a dragon that Utah may need to slay any given year to advance in the playoffs. The Wolves and Pels are safer bets for Utah because Rudy is aging and the salary issues for the Wolves will force some big changes in a couple of years (right around when you guys are getting going.) The Pels are still gonna need Zion to stay healthy to do anything and that is a much lower risk proposition for Utah to bet on. Long story short, a deal with teams who are on the rise is bad for business. You want to send Lauri to the East or to teams who are already near the top, and are therefore going to struggle with the new CBA.

Why would we not want to trade him to the Spurs or thunder? To be honest, I think KAT and Lauri probably have very similar value on the open market even with Lauri expiring. Could be wrong, but I don't think I am.

You want a twin towers that can shoot 5 out in the west for the next 6 years plus? Wemby and Chet are both gonna be elite offensive players in this league sooner than later. LM on the Spurs is especially dangerous with Wemby’s rim protection and defensive potential.

Karl is expensive now, because he is on a supermax, but max deals will catch up. If the cap goes up by 10% next year with a tv deal a max will cost around 46 million and change. With annual raises Markkanen is not that much cheaper than KAT. KAT is also the better rebounder and defender. KAT also enjoyed better shooting splits last year and is better at getting to the line and finishing through contact. I am not saying Karl is way above Lauri, but there is daylight there. The Jazz may decide to keep him, but that has its own problems once he demands a full max. A trade could return some nice assets but again involves significant risk for the team that acquires him. That risk depresses his value.

[shrink]

If (big if) Markannen was to re-sign with the Wolves, with a 10% increase in the cap and his 30% max, he’d only be $6.4 mil less than Towns. He’s also only 1.5 years younger. Meanwhile, Towns’ deal is locked in, and we know he wants to be in MIN and is willing to help Ant be the star. I could see a Markannen fit, but the risks far outweigh the upside to trading Towns, imho.

[winforlose]

If (big if) Markannen was to re-sign with the Wolves, with a 10% increase in the cap and his 30% max, he’d only be $6.4 mil less than Towns. He’s also only 1.5 years younger. Meanwhile, Towns’ deal is locked in, and we know he wants to be in MIN and is willing to help Ant be the star. I could see a Markannen fit, but the risks far outweigh the upside to trading Towns, imho.

All true. I didn’t even get into how close Towns and the other players are. Rudy and Ant are both quite close to KAT, and while KAT may not be the locker room leader, I do think he is the heart of the teams culture and closeness.

This is why I was saying it would take more than just LM. Getting Kessler back, one of our unprotected picks, more protection on another, and maybe some seconds helps to make the risk and downgrade more palatable.

[Whole Truth]

NOP traded 2025 LAL 1st to atlanta already. They also traded one 1st away in 2027 in that trade so they cant trade the 2027 1st in OP if they are trading 26 + 28

God all the websites are so out of date lol (I don't blame them, a lot happening). I'll just avoid making trade ideas for a while lol

Pels own the Bucks 27. They traded the worse of Bucks/NO's to Atlanta. Still have the best of the 2 to trade.

That said the best part of the trade is CJ is going out, The worse part is Kat is coming in.

Kat's game should be a good fit offensively but he's low IQ player & equally poor defender, weak in the middle. Combined with his salary & injury risk. I'm not dreaming of fit & getting lost in reality.

If NO's don't mind injury risk, I'd rather Isaac if possible & a quality backup, have a center rotation by committee to keep Isaac healthy.

BI to Kings for Barnes, Huerter, Carter, Pick
CJ/pick to Detroit for Stewart, cap space

Huerter, pick to Magic for Isaac.

Isaac - Wiseman - Missi - Stewart
Zion - Stewart
Murphy - Barnes
Herb - Hawkins
Murray - Carter - Jose