It seems if Zach Lowe is correct, the organization is not completely confident in Jrue coming back. With Evans injury history and his own vagueness about re-signing(and the Pels own vagueness on their desire to do so), we are in a bit of a spot right now. Having a star player looking to win now, an organization looking to execute a mini-rebuild, increase the win column every year, and prevent the bottom from falling out on all that. Unfortunately stuck in a situation that is making that look more and more fleeting.
We don't have the cap space to get many of the PG alternatives to Jrue and Evans in FA if they walk(most seem like they are staying put, will get overpaid or will be seen as major downgrades). Maybe there is an outside shot at a blockbuster trade that could bring back a young veteran like McCollum on a longer contract, but that seems low. The likelihood of my preference(trading both for draft assets and clearing cap space) seems even more unlikely due to ownership/GM reasons.
To compound it all, with the rash of injuries on teams vying for the 8th seed and the Clippers situation, we may not have the fortune to get high enough in the lottery to grab one of the elite PG prospects, if we can get in at all.... Yet could realistically see both players walk in spite of that. Even with some lottery luck, players take time to develop. So are there any missed avenues in the Pelicans limited range of movement that could open up the possibility of satisfying the difficult task at hand? Especially in the worst case scenario of losing both players for nothing and missing the lottery sweet spot?
One idea that is intriguing me revolves around this guy:
Milos Teodosic
Over the last 12 months, Serbian point guard Milos Teodosic has been perhaps the best basketball player in the world outside of the NBA. Since January of 2016, Teodosic has led his Russian club, CSKA Moscow, to a Euroleague title, led Serbia to the gold medal game of the 2016 Rio Olympics, and in 2016-2017 has CSKA Moscow on target to make their sixth consecutive Euroleague Final 4 since he joined the squad.
Teodosic has already won a Euroleague MVP in 2010, and at 29-years old, appears to be the favorite to win his second this season, averaging 16.9 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 7.6 assists per game.http://fansided.com/2017/01/19/milos...-nba-for-sure/Teodosic has long been a player on NBA radars. He flirted with a contract offer from the Memphis Grizzlies in 2013, and last summer was briefly courted by the Brooklyn Nets, although those overtures never really went anywhere. The NBA has long been a dream for him, and he came out and said as much in an interview this week with Mozzartsport.
For Teodosic, jumping to the NBA would be a no-brainer. He’ll be a free agent this summer, free to explore his options without the complication of a buyout. He’s also accomplished nearly everything you can at the European level: Euroleague champion and MVP (possibly twice after this season), two-time VTB League MVP, two-time Greek Cup MVP, and five All-Euroleague team nominations. At this point, Teodosic has solidified his reputation as one of the top three or four European players of this generation. Setting sights on a new challenge as he walks into the last few years of his prime makes sense."2016 was my best year. I will go to the NBA for sure, but I still don’t know when, in which club and on what terms. We’ll see. CSKA Moscow certainly has an advantage in the negotiations of a new contract…I like to play and I don’t like to sit on the bench and I would not agree to any contract if I have to sit on the bench. This is my condition for going to the NBA.”
An additional write up talking about how, amongst other things, NBA GM's voted him the best international player.
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/meet-mi...193837654.html
Now by no means am I saying this guy, a 29 year old with spotty english who has never played in the NBA, is a sure thing. For one his biggest knock is defense, and that is putting it lightly. He could bust out pretty realistically or struggle to adjust to the NBA world. Not to mention by the time FA comes around, his price could get pushed up out of our reach(though I don't think that will happen because of those factors I listed). But he at least offers a few things, and if the Pelicans do lose Holiday and Evans and we don't have a clear replacement lined up already from a trade, we also have a few unique pitches that could give us an edge and maybe keep that price affordable. Which could bring in a player that if he can translate his game to the NBA could be a really solid player.
For the organization he could be sold as replacing Jrue and Evans with an intriguing international player with major credentials that can be sold to AD as someone to try and still get him wins.
To Milos we can sell him on the one thing he desires most: playing time. With the added sweetener of playing with AD and having the opportunity to be a franchise face.
In my wishful thinking mind, the possibility of a Milos out there could maybe give Demps and Co. a little more cushion to trade Jrue and Evans(if they seemingly want out) for draft assets and cap clearing knowing a face-saving move we would be uniquely positioned to pitch him on is out there now(I know that is far-fetched thinking, but I will do it anyways lol).
Finally, even if we lucked into Ball or Fultz, they likely will have a learning curve that could keep AD frustrated and Milos could be a relatively low risk gamble to create a bridge...or maybe more. Eventually being moved to a 6th or 7th man role.
It's just an idea stemming from a growing interest in a player I was not familiar with til recently but like more and more given our circumstance.