Can you turn NOP into a contender?

[BuddyBuckets]

I can see the roster-balancing reason this deal works for the Pels. It's not a bad offer, considering BI's perceived value around here. Wouldn't hate it if it happened.

[winforlose]

So this is incomplete from the money side. This is supposed to be a framework idea only. What about Wiggins to Cleveland, Allen to NOLA, and BI to GSW?

Cleveland gets a wing that in theory can be useful on a high end roster. Pels get their center. GSW moves off of the risky Wiggins contract and takes on an overpriced but higher producing BI to help Steph in the next few years and then possibly be moved during the rebuild when salaries catch and up and BI doesn’t look so overpriced any more.

Thoughts?

[BlackThought]

You cannot put a center that can't shoot 3s next to Zion. That was the main problem with JV.

[mcfly1204]

So this is incomplete from the money side. This is supposed to be a framework idea only. What about Wiggins to Cleveland, Allen to NOLA, and BI to GSW?

Cleveland gets a wing that in theory can be useful on a high end roster. Pels get their center. GSW moves off of the risky Wiggins contract and takes on an overpriced but higher producing BI to help Steph in the next few years and then possibly be moved during the rebuild when salaries catch and up and BI doesn’t look so overpriced any more.

Thoughts?

I think GSW would need to pony up significantly more value. Wiggins is about as polarizing as they come, and I see no reason for Cleveland to move Allen without seeing a significant upgrade on the wing in return.

[winforlose]

So this is incomplete from the money side. This is supposed to be a framework idea only. What about Wiggins to Cleveland, Allen to NOLA, and BI to GSW?

Cleveland gets a wing that in theory can be useful on a high end roster. Pels get their center. GSW moves off of the risky Wiggins contract and takes on an overpriced but higher producing BI to help Steph in the next few years and then possibly be moved during the rebuild when salaries catch and up and BI doesn’t look so overpriced any more.

Thoughts?

I think GSW would need to pony up significantly more value. Wiggins is about as polarizing as they come, and I see no reason for Cleveland to move Allen without seeing a significant upgrade on the wing in return.

How would you do that? Again, the money is far from set at this point in the idea anyway.

[winforlose]

You cannot put a center that can't shoot 3s next to Zion. That was the main problem with JV.

There are not a lot of 3 pt shooting centers available at the moment, and none that the Pels are gonna be able to afford. Especially with BI being seen as a negative value. Your best bet is KAT and the Wolves would need a big return to move him this soon after their WCF run.

[BuddyBuckets]

You cannot put a center that can't shoot 3s next to Zion. That was the main problem with JV.

Not true. You can't put a defensive liability next to Zion. That's the main thing. Zion isn't a great paint protector, he gets a few highlight blocks but aside from that he's a guy who isn't gonna risk getting fouls and isn't as quick to change speed/direction as you'd like. When the Pels had Steven Adams he and Zion worked well together with Adams setting screens near the free throw line and Zion being able to explode from those. It's workable. But there is just no point running a 5 that can't rim protect at a high level next to Zion.

[bgrep14]

This is bad for New Orleans

[BlackThought]

You cannot put a center that can't shoot 3s next to Zion. That was the main problem with JV.

Not true. You can't put a defensive liability next to Zion. That's the main thing. Zion isn't a great paint protector, he gets a few highlight blocks but aside from that he's a guy who isn't gonna risk getting fouls and isn't as quick to change speed/direction as you'd like. When the Pels had Steven Adams he and Zion worked well together with Adams setting screens near the free throw line and Zion being able to explode from those. It's workable. But there is just no point running a 5 that can't rim protect at a high level next to Zion.

You rather have a guy that can protect the paint and shoot a little bit and if you're giving up Ingram and a frp you should at least get a Brook Lopez type. I love Jakob but he is very limited. He also can't shoot free throws so you won't even have him on the court a lot of the time at the end of the game.

If Pels must go that route, can probably get Daniel Gafford for a lot cheaper. I wouldn't give Ingram + frp for a non shooting big.

Can also try Wendell Carter or Mo Wagner. They're not awful defenders and can shoot a little bit. Maybe even a Zach Collins. In all those scenarios you would be paying a lot less and probably get similar impact.

[jezzerinho]

Vooch? Should be gettable as Bulls want him off the books.

[ChettheJet]

Start the chorus of how Vucevic is so bad at everything.

I would say he's the non star that fits in with the attention getters they have. Yeah he had a bad year shooting, especially 3's, what did he do over the previous 5 years, or do people make their point on one year and not the overall record? He's smart enough to see when Zion is in a position in the lane and spread the floor, he can be available when Murray and CJ drive to the basket. I would say if they has Vucevic it would widen the range of who they could ask for if they're so intent on moving Ingram.

Don't really see what the Pels could send the Bulls but a bench guy, a pick from their basket and a TPE, unless there's a 3-4 way Ingram deal, Vuc would be their 5th highest paid player.

[Helsbyte]

First you need to convince Zion to stay in shape and play defense. Then trade Ingram + picks(how many Indiana asks) for Turner.
Murray/Alvarado
Jones/McCollum/Hawkins
Murphy/Jones/Hawkins
Zion/Murphy/???
Turner/Missi.

If Zion plays like a MVP, this team is a contender.

Can't see Indy interested in Ingram at all. We would be creating a hole in the middle and our finances become more complicated.

[hugepatsfan]

Ingram and a 1st for Poeltel is egregious lmao

[Godaddycurse]

Ingram and a 1st for Poeltel is egregious lmao

the egregious part is GSW getting Ingram for Wiggins

[jredsaz]

And they should be going to New Orleans, not Toronto.

I think NOP shouldn't be paying a 1st. But Toronto should receive pick(s) for swapping poeltl for wiggins

I think this is the right approach.

Also, you can dump Payton’s contract into Toronto to avoid pushing NOP into luxury tax. They don’t need him anyways, given Dejounte/CJ/Dyson/Alvarado.

I just don’t see it guys. Wiggins is still a 6’8” wing with 3/D chops. I don’t think Wiggins is a great fit next to Barnes necessarily but if they’re playing alongside shooting at the five I like it better. I realize he costs more but his position is a lot more valuable. Toronto would have to value him to make this deal and that means no picks at least nothing more than a second.

[wegotthabeet]

I feel like they should move Zion, but I don’t know what he’d fetch and if it’s worth it.

[gswhoops]

You cannot put a center that can't shoot 3s next to Zion. That was the main problem with JV.

I mean this is the biggest obstacle to building NO into a contender, as great a player as Zion is when he's on and healthy.

You need a 5 that can space the floor, because Zion needs room down low to operate. You also need a 5 that can anchor your interior defense, because Zion isn't a good defender.

The list of 5s who can space the floor and anchor a defense is extremely short and those guys are very hard/expensive to acquire. OKC just paid $30M a year for Hartenstein to kinda be that guy.

[JHFVF07]

You cannot put a center that can't shoot 3s next to Zion. That was the main problem with JV.

I mean this is the biggest obstacle to building NO into a contender, as great a player as Zion is when he's on and healthy.

You need a 5 that can space the floor, because Zion needs room down low to operate. You also need a 5 that can anchor your interior defense, because Zion isn't a good defender.

The list of 5s who can space the floor and anchor a defense is extremely short and those guys are very hard/expensive to acquire. OKC just paid $30M a year for Hartenstein to kinda be that guy.

He also needs to be a good rebounder, cause Zion isnt.

[gswhoops]

You cannot put a center that can't shoot 3s next to Zion. That was the main problem with JV.

I mean this is the biggest obstacle to building NO into a contender, as great a player as Zion is when he's on and healthy.

You need a 5 that can space the floor, because Zion needs room down low to operate. You also need a 5 that can anchor your interior defense, because Zion isn't a good defender.

The list of 5s who can space the floor and anchor a defense is extremely short and those guys are very hard/expensive to acquire. OKC just paid $30M a year for Hartenstein to kinda be that guy.

He also needs to be a good rebounder, cause Zion isnt.

That would be nice to have, but you can get away with being a mediocre rebounding team and still be a contender. Much harder to build a contender with bad spacing/defense.