Way too big? Toronto tanks, CJM to LAC

[jayjaysee]

Yeah, it’s way too big for Toronto and they aren’t like to actually enter a tank versus just accepting one if they have to..

Toronto: Poeltl, Olynyk
Toronto: Powell, Tucker, Kobe Brown, Missi, 2025 NOP first 2025 first (top 10, 6, 4)

Powell reunion? Toronto gets a first and a prospect (2 really..) and tanks as some feel they should. They actively shop Powell, but he probably doesn’t have much a market. Some team probably give decent salary relief for him if you spend enough time looking though. Especially once some of the recent contracts are trade eligible..

LAC: Tucker, Mann, Powell, Brown, Bones
LAC: CJM and Olynyk

Ballmer takes on some extra money to improve the team around Harden/Leonard. CJM and Kelly would play big roles, whether as two starters or off the bench if you like the lineup balanced a different way. But they’d both play 25+ mpg even when the stars are healthy... CJM isn’t the best fit, but they could really use another guy to get points. If Spotrac is right, they have the room to fill bench under the apron easily after tjis.

NOP: CJM, Missi, 2025 first (top 10, 6, 4)
NOP: Poeltl, Mann, Bones

NOP trades two firsts to get a starting center, clear CJM’s second year and get a nice rotation wing that can do a bit of everything.

[Godaddycurse]

i think Clippers prefer Powell + Mann over CJM? Mann is a better backcourt partner defensively for Harden and Powell is a decent 6th man. A separate Tucker/Brown/minor value trade for Olynyk could have legs though.

I dont think Toronto will trade both Poeltl and Olynyk away, although OP's value is probably fair

[Mavrelous]

With Harden, Clippers need Mann more than CJM...

[Colbinii]

I don't think Toronto wants to tank. They want to see what the nucleus of Barnes/Quickley/Barrett/+Young Guys is, and that requires having competent big-man play around them.

[jayjaysee]

i think Clippers prefer Powell + Mann over CJM? Mann is a better backcourt partner defensively for Harden and Powell is a decent 6th man. A separate Tucker/Brown/minor value trade for Olynyk could have legs though.

I dont think Toronto will trade both Poeltl and Olynyk away, although OP's value is probably fair

I had the Mann/Powell for CJM trade sort of paying for the Tucker/Brown for Kelly deal. LAC is pretty asset poor so tried to get creative with it.

Think with Paul George being replaced by DJJ/Nico, the offense could use real help. Mann is a better fit with Harden I agree, but maybe Dunn/DJJ offer enough there that you can upgrade the role you really need. Especially on nights Leonard is out..

But I do agree that Toronto isn’t likely to tank, they would’ve traded Poeltl by now if they were. Just a random bad idea.

[ejftw]

I just don't see Clippers FO fighting to keep Mann out of the Harden (and other speculated moves in the past) to include him for McCollum. Maybe the Jones addition changes that, but I'd bet against it.

And, honestly, I'd rather just give Porter a shot while keeping T.

[MessiahUjiri]

I think this needs to be reworked to make it Ingram going to LAC. Clippers are crazy enough to pay Ingram, and we know he liked LA.




Los Angeles Clippers gets: Brandon Ingram

New Orleans gets: Norm Powell, Jacob Poeltl

Toronto gets: Ivica Zubac, Yves Missi, PJ Tucker (waived)



This has some flaws needing follow ups. Clippers are left without a starting C, so they need a follow up trade (eg T Mann+salary to Atlanta for Clint Capela). But the direction is there.


Clippers get a third star player.

Pelicans break Ingram into 2 starting quality players.

Raptors turn Poeltl into 2 younger Centers.




Clippers:
Harden / Porter / Kawhi / Ingram / Capela
Bones / Dunn / Jones / Batum / Bamba


^backcourt needs one more player at the buyout market



Pelicans:
Murray / McCollum / Herb / Zion / Poeltl
Alvarado / Hawkins / Powell / Murphy / JEarl


Raptors:
Who cares. They suck

[zimpy27]

I just don't see why Pelicans let Val walk and opt for a plodding big..

[MessiahUjiri]

I just don't see why Pelicans let Val walk and opt for a plodding big..

Val was defensively weak.

The Pelicans don’t really need much on offense from their C, but they need someone who is mobile and a good rim runner. Poeltl fits.

[jayjaysee]

I think this needs to be reworked to make it Ingram going to LAC. Clippers are crazy enough to pay Ingram, and we know he liked LA.




Los Angeles Clippers gets: Brandon Ingram

New Orleans gets: Norm Powell, Jacob Poeltl

Toronto gets: Ivica Zubac, Yves Missi, PJ Tucker (waived)



This has some flaws needing follow ups. Clippers are left without a starting C, so they need a follow up trade (eg T Mann+salary to Atlanta for Clint Capela). But the direction is there.


Clippers get a third star player.

Pelicans break Ingram into 2 starting quality players.

Raptors turn Poeltl into 2 younger Centers.




Clippers:
Harden / Porter / Kawhi / Ingram / Capela
Bones / Dunn / Jones / Batum / Bamba


^backcourt needs one more player at the buyout market



Pelicans:
Murray / McCollum / Herb / Zion / Poeltl
Alvarado / Hawkins / Powell / Murphy / JEarl


Raptors:
Who cares. They suck

My issue here is… Why are the Raptors involved?

Poeltl isn’t a Missi more valuable than Zubac. And trimming 3-4 million of Tucker’s deal shouldn’t be hard. Offer CLT a couple seconds for Martin. Or something with Houston/Jock for a nice reunion… then it’s a legal trade and NOP gets to keep their rookie center..

I think Toronto’s involvement could actually be Kelly for Tucker/Brown and some 2nds and LAC tries to get by with Kelly/Bamba/Nico and another vet min… maybe trades Bones and a second for Richards or something.

[MessiahUjiri]

I think this needs to be reworked to make it Ingram going to LAC. Clippers are crazy enough to pay Ingram, and we know he liked LA.




Los Angeles Clippers gets: Brandon Ingram

New Orleans gets: Norm Powell, Jacob Poeltl

Toronto gets: Ivica Zubac, Yves Missi, PJ Tucker (waived)



This has some flaws needing follow ups. Clippers are left without a starting C, so they need a follow up trade (eg T Mann+salary to Atlanta for Clint Capela). But the direction is there.


Clippers get a third star player.

Pelicans break Ingram into 2 starting quality players.

Raptors turn Poeltl into 2 younger Centers.




Clippers:
Harden / Porter / Kawhi / Ingram / Capela
Bones / Dunn / Jones / Batum / Bamba


^backcourt needs one more player at the buyout market



Pelicans:
Murray / McCollum / Herb / Zion / Poeltl
Alvarado / Hawkins / Powell / Murphy / JEarl


Raptors:
Who cares. They suck

My issue here is… Why are the Raptors involved?

Poeltl isn’t a Missi more valuable than Zubac. And trimming 3-4 million of Tucker’s deal shouldn’t be hard. Offer CLT a couple seconds for Martin. Or something with Houston/Jock for a nice reunion… then it’s a legal trade and NOP gets to keep their rookie center..

I think Toronto’s involvement could actually be Kelly for Tucker/Brown and some 2nds and LAC tries to get by with Kelly/Bamba/Nico and another vet min… maybe trades Bones and a second for Richards or something.

Well Poeltl is a better defender than Zubac, and Toronto is also eating the contract of Tucker.

You make an interesting point, that NOP may want to just keep Zubac for themselves and have Missi as a backup. It could work, but I think Zubac is closer to Valanciunas, who they didn’t want to bring back. A Norm + Poeltl duo is very productive, a pure winning move.

[Xman]

Reduce it to:
TOR gets Ingram(or CJ), Missi and a pick (one of or both if needed - lower of NO/LAL 2025 1st, lower of MIL/NO 2027 1st)
NO gets Poeltl, Oly and DavianM (needed for salary)

NO overloads at center and uses training camp to narrow it down.
TOR gets its center of the future, maybe. Plus a pick or picks.

[MessiahUjiri]

Reduce it to:
TOR gets Ingram(or CJ), Missi and a pick (one of or both if needed - lower of NO/LAL 2025 1st, lower of MIL/NO 2027 1st)
NO gets Poeltl, Oly and DavianM (needed for salary)

NO overloads at center and uses training camp to narrow it down.
TOR gets its center of the future, maybe. Plus a pick or picks.

Ingram is the most likely to get traded, as NOP doesn’t wanna pay him, and they’re already shopping him. The challenge is that Toronto doesn’t want him.

So you need a 3rd team to reroute him. Who wants Ingram? Probably Hornets, and Clippers…maybe the Warriors and Spurs.


The Hornets seem like an obvious play. Something like this:


Hornets in: Brandon Ingram
Pelicans in: Jacob Poeltl, Grant Williams
Raptors in: Josh Green, Yves Missi, ‘27 DAL 1st & ‘25 PHI 2nd (from CHA)


…OR… with the Spurs:

Spurs in: Brandon Ingram, Ochai Agbaji
Pelicans in: Jacob Poeltl
Raptors in: Keldon Johnson, Yves Missi, 2nd lowest ‘25 1st between ATL/CHA/CHI (from SAS)

[YayBasketball]

Reduce it to:
TOR gets Ingram(or CJ), Missi and a pick (one of or both if needed - lower of NO/LAL 2025 1st, lower of MIL/NO 2027 1st)
NO gets Poeltl, Oly and DavianM (needed for salary)

NO overloads at center and uses training camp to narrow it down.
TOR gets its center of the future, maybe. Plus a pick or picks.

Ingram is the most likely to get traded, as NOP doesn’t wanna pay him, and they’re already shopping him. The challenge is that Toronto doesn’t want him.

So you need a 3rd team to reroute him. Who wants Ingram? Probably Hornets, and Clippers…maybe the Warriors and Spurs.


The Hornets seem like an obvious play. Something like this:


Hornets in: Brandon Ingram
Pelicans in: Jacob Poeltl, Grant Williams
Raptors in: Josh Green, Yves Missi, ‘27 DAL 1st & ‘25 PHI 2nd (from CHA)


…OR… with the Spurs:

Spurs in: Brandon Ingram, Ochai Agbaji
Pelicans in: Jacob Poeltl
Raptors in: Keldon Johnson, Yves Missi, 2nd lowest ‘25 1st between ATL/CHA/CHI (from SAS)

I know Ingram's perceived value is super low now, but I can't see Griffin/Pelicans adding further value like picks or rookie Missi for a neutral or lowball offer. Griffin loves to clutch his pearls and come out as a clear winner in trades. Will be interesting to see if/when he accepts sunk cost.

I do see Hornets as an interested team, but not before the season, only ar the deadline. If they're struggling to win games looking like the young rebuilding team they are-- then they'll happily embrace the tank for one of these 2025 draft gems. But if they start out the gate hot and look to be ahead of schedule (like Pacers last year)-- then I could see them making a swing at the deadline for Ingram. Think would take the both the future DAL and MIA picks, at least. I don't think the Spurs will have significant interest.

One last factor-- I've been dreaming of Poeltl as the competent all-around defensive anchor for the Pels, too. But recently listening to the Dunc'd On podcast discussing the Southwest division-- they mentioned they want to get younger, mobile bigs on the same timelines as their young core. Poeltl is only 28 and semi-mobile for his size, but he's probably lost a step since his Spurs days, right? They're running in the opposite direction away from unswitchable slower Jonas V types, which Poeltl isn't exactly, but could decline into that. I think Griffin/Pels/Green will prioritize athletic, quick-feet switchable bigs like Allen and Claxton. Or just keep going younger Center by committee approach until the right good Center deal becomes available.