Interesting stuff from Monty

The owner argument isn't accurate. Using Chris Paul as the test subject. Who's a worse owner than Donald Sterling? People are trying to go to L.A. to play with Paul awful owner and a losing "culture". We couldn't attract players here under the same situations.

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Originally Posted by Pelicans_fan_504

Thats not were we originally thought it would be at, is it?

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Attachment 4776

To the left of the saints turf field by the train tracks

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Originally Posted by bojangles837

Attachment 4776

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Pretty sure that was just a fan mockup after the announcement

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Originally Posted by da ThRONe

The owner argument isn't accurate. Using Chris Paul as the test subject. Who's a worse owner than Donald Sterling? People are trying to go to L.A. to play with Paul awful owner and a losing "culture". We couldn't attract players here under the same situations.

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Not valid. There isn't any nor will there ever be a cloud hanging over the Clippers that they might leave L.A., and that team has been established there for decades. Nothing like the situation here when Paul was here with attendance benchmarks, no training facility, in town less than a decade, and an owner in deep financial trouble despite good attendance during the playoff years. You can then add ALL that on top of this being a small market. Hornets just didn't look like an NBA franchise even when Paul/West/Chandler were here winning games.

Apple/orange.

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Originally Posted by Rocket Man

Pretty sure that was just a fan mockup after the announcement

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I know

I've recently (2 days ago) seen beams and what looks like the frame of a roof right next to the Saints facility instead of across from it. I don't think the Saints are expanding so I assumed it's the Pelicans moving in.

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Originally Posted by luckyman

Not valid. There isn't any nor will there ever be a cloud hanging over the Clippers that they might leave L.A., and that team has been established there for decades. Nothing like the situation here when Paul was here with attendance benchmarks, no training facility, in town less than a decade, and an owner is deep financial trouble despite good attendance during the playoff years. You can then add ALL that on top of this being a small market. Hornets just didn't look like an NBA franchise even when Paul/West/Chandler were here winning games.

Apple/orange.

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If I'm not mistaken I think the Clippers were thinking about moving out to Anaheim for a min. Not that it's a significant move.

I agree it's not 100% identical of course no situation would be identical. However I disagree about it being non valid. The Clippers were indeed the joke of the league for several decades something the Hornets franchise never really experience in either city. And as bad as Shinn was I'm sure he has never been heard screaming insults at his highest paid player. I think because the Clippers are good people forget how disfynuctional that organization was from top to bottom. Or how historical bad of an owner Sterling has been.

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Originally Posted by da ThRONe

The owner argument isn't accurate. Using Chris Paul as the test subject. Who's a worse owner than Donald Sterling? People are trying to go to L.A. to play with Paul awful owner and a losing "culture". We couldn't attract players here under the same situations.

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Who is trying to go to LA? Jamal Crawford? Willie Green? Star recruiting ability is a myth. Even LeBron couldn't get anyone to go to Cleveland. DWade didn't recruit LeBron and Bosh, LeBron and Bosh chose the best opportunity available to them, forming a contender in a glamor market. Anyone think that if Cleveland had the cap space the Big 3 forms in Ohio instead of Miami? I don't.

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Originally Posted by nolaslim213

Monty: "You'd be amazed at how many free agents walk over (in-game), tap me on the hip and say, Coach, don't forget about me this summer!"

— Jim Eichenhofer (@Jim_Eichenhofer) April 2, 2013

Monty cited reasons why he believes team will attract free agents, incl. NOLA uniqueness, practice facility, owner's passion, being in South

— Jim Eichenhofer (@Jim_Eichenhofer) April 2, 2013

Monty: "We don’t want to ever settle for being in this position. Next year we want to be knocking on the door trying to make the playoffs."

— Jim Eichenhofer (@Jim_Eichenhofer) April 2, 2013

Monty Williams on team's big picture: "We’re going to evaluate that this summer. Because there’s a great chance our team could change again"

— Jim Eichenhofer (@Jim_Eichenhofer) April 2, 2013

Teachable moments with hornets coach Monty Williams twitter.com/juankinc4/stat…

— juan kincaid (@juankinc4) April 2, 2013

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i bet he's talking about Willie Green lol

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Originally Posted by BP225

Who is trying to go to LA? Jamal Crawford? Willie Green? Star recruiting ability is a myth. Even LeBron couldn't get anyone to go to Cleveland. DWade didn't recruit LeBron and Bosh, LeBron and Bosh chose the best opportunity available to them, forming a contender in a glamor market. Anyone think that if Cleveland had the cap space the Big 3 forms in Ohio instead of Miami? I don't.

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I find this to be highly untrue.

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Originally Posted by BallSoHard

I find this to be highly untrue.

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I'm not saying he didn't talk to them, I'm saying Wade himself isn't what sold them on Miami being where they should go.

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Originally Posted by BP225

I'm not saying he didn't talk to them, I'm saying Wade himself isn't what sold them on Miami being where they should go.

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i would say it was 50% Wade 50% Pat Riley that sold em on it.... If not for Wade i don't think it happens.

Even when Lebron was in Cleveland, him and Wade were always buddy-buddy.

Wade was a huge piece of the pie. Top 5 player with bird rights in the same draft class as Lebron who he has a ton of respect for in a great location with a franchise that had a clean slate as far as players and a legend that is pay Riley running the show. Wade was huge and had a lot of tools to recruit with.

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Wade was huge and had a lot of tools to recruit with.

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I'm not saying he had zero impact, just that Wade alone was not enough, just like CP3 alone is not enough. Stars being able to recruit other stars is a myth or LeBron would still be in Cleveland.

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Originally Posted by BP225

I'm not saying he had zero impact, just that Wade alone was not enough, just like CP3 alone is not enough. Stars being able to recruit other stars is a myth or LeBron would still be in Cleveland.

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I don't think it's a myth and i think we're disagreeing on semantics. It's a factor, just not as big of a factor as people think.

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Originally Posted by kidjock24

Hold up! You mean to tell me, we will now attract free agents because of our location and city, and we couldn't when we had CHRIS PAUL!!! The second most unselfish superstar after LeBron? Come on Monty. We get FA's when we overpay. See Peja. See Nnamdi still ain't picked our football team yet and the Saints have a TITLE! It's gonna come down to money. Always have and always will.

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Ryan Anderson?

Not to mention Niners were in the SB last year, we are going on 4 seasons removed

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Originally Posted by BP225

I'm not saying he had zero impact, just that Wade alone was not enough, just like CP3 alone is not enough. Stars being able to recruit other stars is a myth or LeBron would still be in Cleveland.

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HOF players were lining up to play with Shaq and Kobe in the early 2000s. It may not be one single variable. It's true that things like like location, Players, Coaching staff, owners, salary, and the ability to contend all play some part in it. But I guarantee you that the players play a huge part in it. You undersell their influence in the matter. You're mistaken if you don't think the social aspect plays a big part in it. Especially in today's league where there's a social circle amongst the elites.

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Originally Posted by NOLa.

Just wish the fan base was stronger. However, I have no room to talk because I rarely go to games as I can't afford to go.

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$6 gets you in the crappy seats for non-marquee games (you can move around once you;re in the arena pretty much anywhere not lower bowl). Park on the street and walk... eat before or smuggle in food (don't pat down dudes lol)...

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Originally Posted by IamQuailman

$6 gets you in the crappy seats for non-marquee games (you can move around once you;re in the arena pretty much anywhere not lower bowl). Park on the street and walk... eat before or smuggle in food (don't pat down dudes lol)...

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Sounds good until you factor in the $50 dollars in gas, and not getting home until 1 AM. lol

Yeah I'm guilty of it too, and I only live 10 minutes away. But life is life you know? I get up at 5 every day for the gym and go to bed at 9 usually :hihi:

Can't wait till we sign L.Sanders

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Originally Posted by BallSoHard

No one said they were top notch.

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Then we wouldn't and shoudn't be singing Monty's praises would we?

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Originally Posted by PELICANSFAN

Then we wouldn't and shoudn't be singing Monty's praises would we?

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No one said they weren't either.

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Originally Posted by BP225

NO still can't compete with the Glamor Markets, but it's surely better than Detroit, Milwaukee, Cleveland, Toronto, etc.



Money and Minutes are the top factors, but when similar offers are on the table then organization and location will become factors.



Yeah, I can't imagine a guy at the top of the FA list will be campaigning. But the Saints have developed a reputation for letting the best players play regardless of draft position, which probably puts them at the top of the list for UDFAs, I'm sure the stories of Vasquez, Lopez, Thomas and Roberts will help the Pelicans have their pick of guys wanting to prove themselves, which isn't a bad thing if you know how to pick the guys that are both hungry and good.

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Have you been to Toronto?
That's a huge city, diverse, very low crime and not to mention very beautiful.

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Originally Posted by Atarwii

Have you been to Toronto?
That's a huge city, diverse, very low crime and not to mention very beautiful.

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Is that why Toronto gets all the big name FA's? Oh, they don't? Ok then. :D It can be everything you say and more, it doesn't necessarily make it a big-time FA destination.

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Originally Posted by UNO Gracias

Good question, do you know how many players take pay cuts to come play for the Saints?

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Well, I know for a fact Keenan Lewis CB from the Steelers turned down a few million to play for the Saints and a few other players like Curtis Lofton. We don't have as much cap space but still get players that can play else where for more money.

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Originally Posted by donato

Is that why Toronto gets all the big name FA's? Oh, they don't? Ok then. :D It can be everything you say and more, it doesn't necessarily make it a big-time FA destination.

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true..

Poor Toronto.

So many players will tell u Toronto is their favorite nba city( charles barkly, kevin durant, shaq, etc) When it comes to nightlife, big city feel and diversity only ny, chicago and la compete, comparing milwaukee, salt lake city, phoenix or scaramento to Toronto is downeight ridiculous. It is the 4th biggest north american market. That team has had awfull managment from day 1, have been stuck in cap hell almost every year. Is it NY or Chicago... No because players still dont like to deal with borders, higher taxes and being ina different county. But toronto has never really had a problem with FA compared to some other teams.