WOJ: Jonas Valančiūnas to New Orleans (Adams, Bledsoe, and picks galore).

[VCfor3]

Does this trade mean memphis is forgoing being a below the cap team this offseason?

If they do end up with any cap space, it would probably be such a small amount to not even bother with.

Small amount cap space + Room Exception versus Non-Taxpayer MLE.

We have to operate as a cap team to make the deal happen. We just won't have cap left over to do much of anything else ha. And I don't know if we have a roster spot for a Room Exception guy or not.

[zimpy27]

So......will New Orleans look to extend Jonas as a long-term answer at the 5? Or will they be cautious after extending Adams and seeing it be a mistake so quickly? Are they seeing Jonas as a bridge to Hayes? Or are they still looking for a long-term 5? Interesting to see.

Next offseason is the last before Zion and Hayes get paid. So I expect Pels to preserve capspace and go big FA hunting.

Unless they blow the wad on lowry this offseason

Which would be awful but not out of the realm of possibility.

[Texas Chuck]

if this is really all Lowry, its a bit of a gamble making the move using 10 instead of waiting and using future picks. Also interesting that Presti wasn't involved in this which maybe signals OKC going after good players this off-season? Pels of course can fall back on matching Lonzo, but that doesn't seem great.

And for Memphis, will they try and make another move and try and consolidate some stuff before JJJ's big caphold/extension hits next off-season? And makes my Tyus Jones trades seem much more likely now, right? JA/Jones/Melton/Bledsoe is at least one guy too many.

[nykballa2k4]

Am I crazy for thinking Memphis is going to be a real winner when we look back on this in 6 months?

Adams wasn't a great fit in New Orleans, but I think he will be great with Morant. I don't think Memphis is going to lose much there.

So to me this was taking Bledsoe to move up 7 spots and get the Lakers 1st? Love that.

I don't think Val is going to be the answer next to Zion. Shifting the issue.

I think this was an absolute steal for Memphis. The only way to salvage this, IMO, from a NoLa perspective is with making really good choices with that cap space.

Now, if Jonas is moved AGAIN, that could change my assessment. But for now, Memphis just made a lateral move at C, added a back up guard, upgraded picks, and did all that while obtaining more short term contracts. So by the time they have to pay guys, they will have open cap space. Great day at the office.

[Texas Chuck]

I'm not sure how this is some huge positive. So they want Lowry.. A 35 year old point guard to solve all of Zion's issues? And I'm supposed to believe Lowry, who spent the last how many years in Toronto and is from Philly is going to head to New Orleans to play with early 20's Zion/Ingram?

Seems like a long shot without a significant overpay. No matter how you slice it its going to be bad for them.

Chris Paul in Phoenix worked a treat as a guy going to play with kids. So clearly that's influenced the thinking, but its also showed the concept works. This board gets way too hung up on ages matching. Get good players. Outside a few core guys most teams are churning over the roster every couple years anyway.

[zimpy27]

I'm still dreaming on Wiseman and Wiggins to Memphis. Maybe Adams could be moved to GSW with a collection of Grizzlies.

[nykballa2k4]

Next offseason is the last before Zion and Hayes get paid. So I expect Pels to preserve capspace and go big FA hunting.

Unless they blow the wad on lowry this offseason

Which would be awful but not out of the realm of possibility.

IMO Pels would have been better served moving the two guys for John Wall, resigning Lonzo and just going Balls to the Wall this year. But that's just me

[LightTheBeam]

Am I crazy for thinking Memphis is going to be a real winner when we look back on this in 6 months?

Adams wasn't a great fit in New Orleans, but I think he will be great with Morant. I don't think Memphis is going to lose much there.

So to me this was taking Bledsoe to move up 7 spots and get the Lakers 1st? Love that.

I don't think Val is going to be the answer next to Zion. Shifting the issue.

I think this was an absolute steal for Memphis. The only way to salvage this, IMO, from a NoLa perspective is with making really good choices with that cap space.

Now, if Jonas is moved AGAIN, that could change my assessment. But for now, Memphis just made a lateral move at C, added a back up guard, upgraded picks, and did all that while obtaining more short term contracts. So by the time they have to pay guys, they will have open cap space. Great day at the office.

Ya I love this for Memphis. At #10 get a top level scoring wing prospect.

Bigs: Adams, Jackson Jr, Clarke, Tillman, Anderson
Wings: Brooks, Bane, Allen, #10
Guards: Morant, Bledsoe, Melton, Jones

My god this team is deep. Going to have 13 solid players. I imagine they could still shift some of this depth around for picks if they want.

[VCfor3]

One additional benefit for Memphis here is they don't make the mistake of picking up the option on Winslow. A guy I expect to sign for cheap with one of the contenders and the thread to freak out about unfair and his impact will be just like Cousins on GSW and both LA teams, basically nothing.

Chuck please let myself talk myself into Justise as the new Iguodala in peace

This will likely be the first healthy offseason in forever for Winslow. The first stretch of games he came back this year Winslow was a monster on defense. He then kind of wore down quick with the super compact schedule. Let him work on his 3pt shot to at least get closer to league average when left wide open plus actually get quality conditioning in and he could definitely be an Iggy off the bench type for some contender.

[VCfor3]

if this is really all Lowry, its a bit of a gamble making the move using 10 instead of waiting and using future picks. Also interesting that Presti wasn't involved in this which maybe signals OKC going after good players this off-season? Pels of course can fall back on matching Lonzo, but that doesn't seem great.

And for Memphis, will they try and make another move and try and consolidate some stuff before JJJ's big caphold/extension hits next off-season? And makes my Tyus Jones trades seem much more likely now, right? JA/Jones/Melton/Bledsoe is at least one guy too many.

Yeah I think Tyus gets moved with a small chance Bledsoe is moved instead for a worse contract or something

[nykballa2k4]

One additional benefit for Memphis here is they don't make the mistake of picking up the option on Winslow. A guy I expect to sign for cheap with one of the contenders and the thread to freak out about unfair and his impact will be just like Cousins on GSW and both LA teams, basically nothing.

Chuck please let myself talk myself into Justise as the new Iguodala in peace

This will likely be the first healthy offseason in forever for Winslow. The first stretch of games he came back this year Winslow was a monster on defense. He then kind of wore down quick with the super compact schedule. Let him work on his 3pt shot to at least get closer to league average when left wide open plus actually get quality conditioning in and he could definitely be an Iggy off the bench type for some contender.

Not gonna lie, part of me hopes the Knicks swipe him.

[LightTheBeam]

I'm not sure how this is some huge positive. So they want Lowry.. A 35 year old point guard to solve all of Zion's issues? And I'm supposed to believe Lowry, who spent the last how many years in Toronto and is from Philly is going to head to New Orleans to play with early 20's Zion/Ingram?

Seems like a long shot without a significant overpay. No matter how you slice it its going to be bad for them.

Chris Paul in Phoenix worked a treat as a guy going to play with kids. So clearly that's influenced the thinking, but its also showed the concept works. This board gets way too hung up on ages matching. Get good players. Outside a few core guys most teams are churning over the roster every couple years anyway.

Ehhh.. I'm not overly concerned with age. I was more pointing out that Lowry at 35 probably won't be eager to go play with Zion/Ingram.

But I think there's a few differences to these scenarios.

1. CP3 is vastly superior to Lowry.
2. PHX was trending upwards in the bubble, I can't say the same for the Pelicans.
3. PHX as a whole fits very well together. Star scoring guard, great big man, tons of good wings, and then add CP3 to make the engine roar. Pelicans still don't fit well together. Ingram/Zion/J-Val? Those aren't the guys id want to surround Zion with in the front court.

All i'm saying is I think getting Lowry (short of an overpay in years/salary) is going to be a tough task. And even then you let Ball/Hart walk out of the door, both who are good players. They should be improved, but this isn't the route I woulda taken. I woulda tried to move Ingram/#10 to Cleveland for Sexton/#3 tbh.

[ThatBoyNick]

Edit nvm

[VCfor3]

Chuck please let myself talk myself into Justise as the new Iguodala in peace

This will likely be the first healthy offseason in forever for Winslow. The first stretch of games he came back this year Winslow was a monster on defense. He then kind of wore down quick with the super compact schedule. Let him work on his 3pt shot to at least get closer to league average when left wide open plus actually get quality conditioning in and he could definitely be an Iggy off the bench type for some contender.

Not gonna lie, part of me hopes the Knicks swipe him.

I mean there is always a chance Memphis uses the Room Exception to bring him back. He is tight with JJJ. But I think that a mildly cheap swing for the fences on Winslow is a decent gamble for some team. Just have a Team Option to protect yourself from the downside. Worst case scenario you lose a few millions. Best case you get a cheap lockdown wing defender.

[Resistance]

Does this trade mean memphis is forgoing being a below the cap team this offseason?

If they do end up with any cap space, it would probably be such a small amount to not even bother with.

Small amount cap space + Room Exception versus Non-Taxpayer MLE.

We have to operate as a cap team to make the deal happen. We just won't have cap left over to do much of anything else ha. And I don't know if we have a roster spot for a Room Exception guy or not.

I just eyeballed the numbers from

Memphis

Guaranteed Total: $84,936,048

JV is $14 million outgoing.
Adams + Bledsoe is $35.2 incoming.

A net increase of $21.2 million brings guaranteed salary to $106.13 million.

The cap hold for the #10 should be about $4.5 million depending on the salary cap number.

$106.13 million + $4.5 million = $110.63 million. Roughly $1.8 million of cap space + Room Exception.

Jontay Porter is $1,950,000 Non-Guaranteed. If they bring him back, then they would be slightly over a $112.4 million salary cap.

[patman66]

I think this is about thembeing able to sign Lowry outright now. so if you ad that to the package, and then do a S+t with ball and the bulls for Thad Young and a TPE.

I see the potential of the Raptors being the big loser in this. Now both NYK and NOP can sign Lowry outright. Maybe the Raptors can send a couple of 2nds for a tpe like in Hayward.

[K_chile22]

So if Memphis probably won't be a capspace team next year, probably won't make any sense for them to take advantage of Bledsoes non guarantee outside of maybe tax concerns??

[Euphonetiks]

Love this for the Pels. Val becomes the bridge to Hayes and Vinson gets to work on his outside shot. It is a significant upgrade on what Adams was last year. We only move down 7 spots in this draft and give up a pick in mid to late 20's nect year. We can still trade #17 for a vet or pick an older high floor shooter (Duarte, Kispert, murphy). We have the option of cap space or a $18Mish TPE if we keep the Ball/Hart cap holds. Just gives us a lot of flexibility to reshape the roster at not much cost in terms of the warchest.

[patman66]

If they do end up with any cap space, it would probably be such a small amount to not even bother with.

Small amount cap space + Room Exception versus Non-Taxpayer MLE.

We have to operate as a cap team to make the deal happen. We just won't have cap left over to do much of anything else ha. And I don't know if we have a roster spot for a Room Exception guy or not.

I just eyeballed the numbers from

Memphis

Guaranteed Total: $84,936,048

JV is $14 million outgoing.
Adams + Bledsoe is $35.2 incoming.

A net increase of $21.2 million brings guaranteed salary to $106,23 million.

The cap hold for the #10 should be about $4.5 million depending on the salary cap number.

$106.23 million + $4.5 million = $110.73 million. Roughly $1.4 million of cap space + Room Exception.

Jontay Porter is $1,950,000 Non-Guaranteed. If they bring him back, then they would be slightly over a $112.4 million salary cap.

Well I am pretty sure they are going to move Jones Now that is 7 mill

[Texas Chuck]

Ehhh.. I'm not overly concerned with age. I was more pointing out that Lowry at 35 probably won't be eager to go play with Zion/Ingram.

But I think there's a few differences to these scenarios.

1. CP3 is vastly superior to Lowry.
2. PHX was trending upwards in the bubble, I can't say the same for the Grizzlies.
3. PHX as a whole fits very well together. Star scoring guard, great big man, tons of good wings, and then add CP3 to make the engine roar. Pelicans still don't fit well together. Ingram/Zion/J-Val? Those aren't the guys id want to surround Zion with in the front court.

All i'm saying is I think getting Lowry (short of an overpay in years/salary) is going to be a tough task. And even then you let Ball/Hart walk out of the door, both who are good players. They should be improved, but this isn't the route I woulda taken. I woulda tried to move Ingram/#10 to Cleveland for Sexton/#3 tbh.

You made sure to highlight all the relevant ages. Seems like a concern to me.

And I'm not suggesting Lowry is going to vault the Pels to the Finals. I'm just pointing out the concept is the same. The Suns wanted a guy who could come in and lead a young core and help them understand winning basketball. He absolutely did that. Now he also had an all-NBA season and several players notably Ayton and Bridges made major leaps and so their success was great.

But Zion is already one of the best offensive players in the league. So its not a stretch to me for the Pels to think add in one more really good player at a position of biggest need(along with the JV upgrade which I want to be sure we don't skip over) and we can get solidly into the playoff picture.

And Lowry has clearly signaled money is the biggest factor. So sure if Philly and Miami would pay 3/$90M he'd probably choose them, but that's really tough for those other teams and requires Toronto's help. And they probably aren't willing to go that guy. If the Pels are, then they should have a real shot at getting him.

I get the appeal of Sexton as well, but its clear they think they need a veteran leader and he definitely doesn't offer that. I think they feel its vital Zion sees he can win here and right freaking now.