S&T With New Orleans: The Devonte Graham Thread

[yosemiteben]

Kupchak has talked about about the team's lack of depth a lot the last few months. He has to have the inside track on a player or two in free agency to let Graham walk to the Pelicans.

Those quotes from Hayward about how he'll be recruiting FAs are sticking in my mind right now

[vexco]

Graham shot 38%/36% last year. I'm more than happy moving him for a first in this scenario.

[amcoolio]

Reggie Jackson? Brings playoff experience, dude seems like a new man

[JDR720]

I'd make an offer to Nunn.

Miami may not match, considering they're signing so many players.

[Chapelchilla]

I wonder if this might turn into one of those "careful what you wish for" things.

A LOT of posters wanted to show Graham the door. They got their wish.

Be interesting to see how this shakes out.

I would have been happy to keep Graham for that contract, oh well

[mattcampbell]

Honestly at this point I’ve gotten so used to 34-48 or 35-47 it’s fine, just run it back again. Can we get Round 3 with Ramon Sessions? Maybe Felton?

I watched a Big 3 game a few weeks ago that Jannero Pargo played in and he was lighting it up

In all seriousness, that's a pretty solid deal for the Pelicans. Did we actually develop a player and get a decent return for once??? I'm curious to see what the rest of the protections are on the pick as I don't really see the Pelicans making the playoffs next season.

[GoBobs]

Maybe backup pg is undrafted rookie or d league guy. We will see whaf happens. Either way i’m good with it, offering dg big money felt like a treadmill move. If Lamelo can’t carry the load and we get a top pick next year, good. If we find a player and go to the playoffs, goid.

[euphorbus]

Well, that caught me flat-footed. I thought for sure Graham was coming back as backup to LaMelo Ball. The coach loves him. He had by far the best +- on the team, followed by Monk. Now, both are gone.

High risk move, if you ask me.

[SWedd523]

I’m fine with the first-round pick, don’t get me wrong, as long as it’s not super protected. But we’re right back in 10th or 11th in the East now with a trash backup PG.

Curious where you thought they were before losing Graham

If Hayward stayed healthy, LaMelo kept up his pace and PJ got any better, 6th to 8th.

Last time we made the playoffs was the last time we had a healthy team with two good PGs. That trend continues again for another year.

So you think Devonte takes us from potentially the 6th seed to the 11th.

That's a massive swing for a bench player

I think you may just be a huge Devonte fan

[_tijo_]

Well, there is one combo guard that I do know of that might be a fit now that Graham is gone. Was kinda blowing up when he got suspended. Now he's "damaged goods" and we might be able to get him for much less than the $12m that Devonte got.

[SWedd523]

All hands on deck to find a backup PG now.

Honestly, Graham at 12m per year is probably better than whoever is left.

We think we're gonna get screwed by giving a bad contract. We end up being screwed in a completely different way.

The draft pick is nice, but I'd rather have swapped him for a player. I highly doubt NOP make the playoffs next season too.

Mitch had a really good draft. Free agency gets an F, barring some unforeseen cheap-but-not-trash acquisition at PG. By now, the cupboard is largely bare.

Man. The more I think about that trade, the more I hate it. That was stupid. Literally screwed us.

Confirmed.


Losing Devonte Graham and Malik Monk has little impact on the long term viability of the franchise. Neither one is a needle mover so there's really no reason to commit to either one, and definitely not for 4 years.

[Vanderbilt_Grad]

Sad to see Devonte' go. I was a huge fan of his. Rooting for him to do well with the Pels.

Also glad that the Hornets got something back for him. That pick may very well enable some future trade down the road or turn into another interesting player next year.

[BigSlam]

Read on Twitter

Not a bad return for a 2nd round pick.

What happens if the pick lands in the lottery though?

Anyone know the answer to this?

Does the pick have sliding protection the following years? Does it convert to 2 x 2nd round picks at any time etc?

[CuseMayne]

Kendrick Nunn would be awesome. Heat have been extremely active so it feels like they don't have room to keep him.

[Liver_Pooty]

I'm torn. Glad we got a first, but going to miss Graham. I'm sure Mitch has a plan though.

Definitely not going to miss Graham going 4-17 every other game.

[Diop]

I wonder Jeff McInnis is up to . . .

[Diop]

I'm torn. Glad we got a first, but going to miss Graham. I'm sure Mitch has a plan though.

Definitely not going to miss Graham going 4-17 every other game.

This is where I am, happy for the pick but nervous about who we get to replace him

[UNCNYC]

I think Graham will do well in NO. Zion is a good dude and leader to allow Graham to be him. I am happy we got the 1st. I hope it's the year we traded the Knicks so we ain't PICK-LESS. I wish we would have picked up some PG'S in the draft or after tho. JaQouri McGloulin woulda been a nice back up. Fans are already high on him in Golden State.

[Rich4114]

Now, not picking up the QO on Monk is even more questionable. We just lost two guards and I’m not sure Bouknight will be ready to rock his rookie year. With our cap space, you have to assume there is more to this plan. Nunn would be great but there’s plenty of backup quality points out there. French Frank could be decent with a change of scenery and come very cheap. Marcus Smart? Dennis Smith Jr? Bledsoe? These guys all have deficiencies but we need a backup pg not an all star.

[JMAC3]

Yeah right now this trade is an enigma...

Love the fact we got a first for Graham...

Hate the fact we don't really have money for a backup point guard now.
Oh and 4/47 was pretty reasonable.