Free Agency Thread

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Originally Posted by rt0307

this the 1 you mean?

Hahahahhahahaha!! #ifyouonlyknew https://t.co/4roSkSlEiL

— Quincy Pondexter (@QuincyPondexter) July 9, 2017

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Q pon looks like he's healthy at his basketball camp last week

https://twitter.com/MGRADS/status/883089425445433344

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Originally Posted by Buckwheat

Guys ever think Dell Demps hands are tied?
Maybe ownership has told him stand down?
It's obvious ownership doesn't want to spend any additional money otherwise Demps would have made a move.
Just my thoughts on this.

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No !

The first thing to understand about being an NBA fan is that no one really understands the cap. They just don't. Some will pretend to. Others think they do. But they do not. They will come on here and tell us "that won't work"..."we can't do such and such because this is already such and such". Then such and such happens but those same people are already on to some other such and such that can't happen that they never notice the previous such and such did happen.

These same people generally don't understand NBA trades as, just like the cap, no one understands NBA trades. They defy logic. It is very rare that an NBA trade looks even. We will see new passionate fans come in with their pipe dream trades and the people who pretend they know how NBA trades work....or at least think they do....will tell them how it will never work. But when we examine most NBA trades, they are in fact the same type of trades that these people say never happen.

Take the Boogie trade. No one saw it coming.

Had someone proposed the trade preseason to the board that person would have been ridiculed and laughed at.

The only certain thing that can be said about NBA trades and the cap is that when someone pretends to know how they work, that is the person you most need to ignore.

We don't even know what our FO is thinking. The plan could be that they figure this season as a preseason to just season and feel more of a fire to find someone closer to the trade deadline as opposed to now. The key is to keep Boogie. He may be happy with us pulling the trigger mid-season. We don't know.

Also remember, the same people who pretend they know how this all works or at least think they do are the same ones who thought we were in total stagnation and had no way out before the Boogie trade. Because they didn't see it coming. Because they no nothing.

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Originally Posted by rt0307

this the 1 you mean?

Hahahahhahahaha!! #ifyouonlyknew https://t.co/4roSkSlEiL

— Quincy Pondexter (@QuincyPondexter) July 9, 2017

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Sort of, the one about snakes in the grass. Always gets me nervous for a team when I see a player tweet about snakes in the grass.


http://https://twitter.com/quincypon...81947147440128

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Originally Posted by PELICANSFAN

And it's clear he has gone all-in on that route by letting all the FAs sign elsewhere. My concern is that with all of the options dwindling, he gets desperate and overpays for an average player.

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How exactly did Dell "let" Free Agents sign elsewhere? Was he supposed to handcuff Nick Young and not let him talk to other teams?

Dell and Boogie together at today's gamehttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...ff1b44d899.jpg

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Originally Posted by MSU-Sousaphone

The first thing to understand about being an NBA fan is that no one really understands the cap. They just don't. Some will pretend to. Others think they do. But they do not. They will come on here and tell us "that won't work"..."we can't do such and such because this is already such and such". Then such and such happens but those same people are already on to some other such and such that can't happen that they never notice the previous such and such did happen.

These same people generally don't understand NBA trades as, just like the cap, no one understands NBA trades. They defy logic. It is very rare that an NBA trade looks even. We will see new passionate fans come in with their pipe dream trades and the people who pretend they know how NBA trades work....or at least think they do....will tell them how it will never work. But when we examine most NBA trades, they are in fact the same type of trades that these people say never happen.

Take the Boogie trade. No one saw it coming.

Had someone proposed the trade preseason to the board that person would have been ridiculed and laughed at.

The only certain thing that can be said about NBA trades and the cap is that when someone pretends to know how they work, that is the person you most need to ignore.

We don't even know what our FO is thinking. The plan could be that they figure this season as a preseason to just season and feel more of a fire to find someone closer to the trade deadline as opposed to now. The key is to keep Boogie. He may be happy with us pulling the trigger mid-season. We don't know.

Also remember, the same people who pretend they know how this all works or at least think they do are the same ones who thought we were in total stagnation and had no way out before the Boogie trade. Because they didn't see it coming. Because they no nothing.

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Well it makes sense why someone would have been laughed at because the Kings were laughed at by the entire league at the time.

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Originally Posted by Mythrol

How exactly did Dell "let" Free Agents sign elsewhere? Was he supposed to handcuff Nick Young and not let him talk to other teams?

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Uh, if you believe the multiple reports, Young was ready to sign here until Dell withdrew the offer. So, are you going to tell me that not a single FA that has signed would have helped the team? He has decided to bypass using the full MLE for a FA. Maybe we will be able to get some league min bargains to fill the roster when the dust settles.

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Originally Posted by HoustonPelicans

Top 10 protected 1st for Asik. Moore is worth a 2nd. May have to give a 2nd or 2 to get rid of Ajinca. Idk that's Demps job to figure out the details, I was just pointing out that it is possible.

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It would take more than that and we would have to find enough teams with both roster spots and cap room to absorb the contracts without sending back a contract. Even then, I am not sure if that would get us to enough to fit KCP under the cap although it may be close. We would also have to renounce Cunningham.

I feel like using the MLE and making a trade shouldn't be mutually exclusive.

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Originally Posted by Mr. West

I feel like using the MLE and making a trade shouldn't be mutually exclusive.

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Yes, but the point is, what if you sign a guard and then the trade you manage to pull up is for a better guard. You would waste your money on someone who won't play instead of maybe going for a wing.

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Originally Posted by Mr. West

I feel like using the MLE and making a trade shouldn't be mutually exclusive.

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If we can get a starting #1 via trade & use the MLE on a Dunleavy and/or AMO (vet 3&D guys), then I'm good to go!

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Originally Posted by Delko

Yes, but the point is, what if you sign a guard and then the trade you manage to pull up is for a better guard. You would waste your money on someone who won't play instead of maybe going for a wing.

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What if all serviceable MLE targets are off the board by the time a trade is finished?

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Originally Posted by Mr. West

What if all serviceable MLE targets are off the board by the time a trade is finished?

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I guess that's why they were saying that the trade would come soon.

But even if it doesn't, it is still better not to sign anyone knowing that it would be a waste of money, it's not as if we were not doing it already with some contracts.

I have been thinking as well of the Bucks, they need to save some money since they are over the luxury tax and did not sign anyone yet.
Could we help them reducing their salary cap a bit with this trade :

NOP receives : Middleton, Dellavedova and Teletovic

MIL receives : Moore, Asik, Ajinca, Toupane Pondexter. By cutting Toupane they would save $6.5m.

You can add draft picks and cash to cover an eventual stretch of Asik on their side.

With Brogdon, Snell and Maker fitting more what Kidd want to do, those players will play less and they all have 3 years and earn $+10m per year and are fragile players, so it makes some sense to dump them for the Bucks.

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Originally Posted by PELICANSFAN

Uh, if you believe the multiple reports, Young was ready to sign here until Dell withdrew the offer. So, are you going to tell me that not a single FA that has signed would have helped the team? He has decided to bypass using the full MLE for a FA. Maybe we will be able to get some league min bargains to fill the roster when the dust settles.

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Where was the report about Dell withdrawing the offer? The article I read said they don't know why Young changed his mind then they offered a bunch of theories but no one knew the truth. The most common theory being Dell didn't offer a big enough contract for Young.

So, you have a problem with Dell waiting to sign free agents because it might cause him to overpay. . .But you also have a problem when Dell refuses to offer the full MLE to a player he doesn't feel is worth it?

As far as who has signed, look at the guys in our price range that didn't go ring chasing. Do I think they would be a vast improvement over what we have on the roster? No. Honestly I don't think anyone that was in our price range would be more than a 8-10 man. The closets would be CJ Miles but we have no idea what Dell discussed with him. He could have been trying to get something worked out behind the scenes but it didn't happen.

That's the thing. People act like because we didn't sign a player "Dell LET them walk away". But we have no idea how much Dell has been in contact with the free agents and what all is going on.

Heck, for all we know Dell really did pull his offer to Young and stopped trying to sign any free agents because he has a trade already worked out with Phoenix and it's just waiting on Asik to be able to pass his physical.

We don't know so instead of just waiting to see what happens people want to assign blame and act like Dell is screwing up by not giving Nick Young 4 years/36m.

But I don't believe Dell pulled the offer anyway. Young had DAYS to agree to our deal. If he had said yes it would have been over with. Young was the one who waited and kept taking meetings.

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Originally Posted by 23speedkillz

Dell and Boogie together at today's gamehttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...ff1b44d899.jpg

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Look at him, looking all disgruntled next to Dell!! He looks like he's unhappy with the Pelicans and wants to be traded!!!
/sarcasm

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Originally Posted by Mr. West

What if all serviceable MLE targets are off the board by the time a trade is finished?

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Then we can split it on multiple players.

Yea clearly Boogie is disgruntled, lol. Dell and Boogie laughing and talking the entire time.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...8c3adbffe4.jpg

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Would think Arron Afflalo will be swooped up soon. Wolves looked at him hard before going for Jamal Crawford. Shot 41 % on threes last year.

— David Aldridge (@daldridgetnt) July 9, 2017

Would think Arron Afflalo will be swooped up soon. Wolves looked at him hard before going for Jamal Crawford. Shot 41 % on threes last year.

— David Aldridge (@daldridgetnt) July 9, 2017

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Originally Posted by jprdbulldog20

Would think Arron Afflalo will be swooped up soon. Wolves looked at him hard before going for Jamal Crawford. Shot 41 % on threes last year.

— David Aldridge (@daldridgetnt) July 9, 2017

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He seems like one of the only options we have left

MM gets mad at me because I called him out on his bogus " insider" news reports and curses me out on Twitter calls me a winey B.... and says I'm ungrateful then he blocked me lol talk about a B..... https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...f009142dfd.png


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Originally Posted by MistaWhoDat

MM gets mad at me because I called him out on his bogus " insider" news reports and curses me out on Twitter calls me a winey B.... and says I'm ungrateful then he blocked me lol talk about a B..... https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...f009142dfd.png


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Admittedly, Mike's been grinding the gears lately. He says something will happen by the previous weekend and then when nothing does, he says it doesn't matter because there's still a ton of time before training camp.

Like, dude, you put the time limit out there lol

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Originally Posted by MistaWhoDat

MM gets mad at me because I called him out on his bogus predictions and curses me out on Twitter calls me a winey B.... and says I'm ungrateful then he blocked me lol talk about a B.....ch https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...f009142dfd.png


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Screw MM! He's a narcissistic psychopath that loves attention. He doesn't know as much as he leads on and gets an attitude when you call him out on it.

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Originally Posted by Mr. West

Admittedly, Mike's been grinding the gears lately. He says something will happen by the previous weekend and then when nothing does, he says it doesn't matter because there's still a ton of time before training camp.

Like, dude, you put the time limit out there lol

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He also said Holiday for around 28-30 mil along with his brother which wasn't true. Also, Swaggy and Jamal Crawford were top guys on Dell's radar for years and "Dell pulled out of the deal" and no attempt at Crawford.

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Originally Posted by Topdawg26

He also said Holiday for around 28-30 mil along with his brother which wasn't true. Also, Swaggy and Jamal Crawford were top guys on Dell's radar for years and "Dell pulled out of the deal" and no attempt at Crawford.

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Let me spare you guys completely. I know for a FACT that he doesn't know squat. He is throwing darts and hoping one will eventually stick. Dude lives a miserable life and obviously has no love in his.

Yea I was talking with the guy but he was getting everybody hyped up on his twitter about something is gonna happen Saturday then when it didn't he says don't really matter something will happen before camp ...then he says everybody needs to go get some fresh air ....maybe he needs to go get fresh air he's the one constantly on social media posting BS and getting off on the fact that people think he knows something . Dude says he's not a fan just likes to follow what the Pelicans do but he's on every Pelicans page there is MM your shows almost over bro go blow smoke up some other fan bases .....not to mention he likes to talk down to people and is very condescending then when you disagree he gets an attitude . Forget this FAKE INSIDER .


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Originally Posted by Mr. West

Admittedly, Mike's been grinding the gears lately. He says something will happen by the previous weekend and then when nothing does, he says it doesn't matter because there's still a ton of time before training camp.

Like, dude, you put the time limit out there lol

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Exactly !! If you don't know then don't speculate like you have inside info that's what is aggravating. I'll give it to the guy he knows a lot about the NBA and I appreciate that part but the condescending attitude and the post that are just his opinions but are made to look like he's got insider info needs to stop .


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Originally Posted by MistaWhoDat

the post that are just his opinions but are made to look like he's got insider info needs to stop

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It is worth noting that he doesn't do that on this forum much any more. My opinions on him are mixed. On one hand, he and Ryan Schwan produced what was once my favorite sports podcast period. On the other, it seems like he has entered a really dark period in his life that has affected his writing, public persona, etc. Everything seemed like it went downhill after his big push to get that dude from the T-P fired.

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Originally Posted by Delko

I have been thinking as well of the Bucks, they need to save some money since they are over the luxury tax and did not sign anyone yet.
Could we help them reducing their salary cap a bit with this trade :

NOP receives : Middleton, Dellavedova and Teletovic

MIL receives : Moore, Asik, Ajinca, Toupane Pondexter. By cutting Toupane they would save $6.5m.

You can add draft picks and cash to cover an eventual stretch of Asik on their side.

With Brogdon, Snell and Maker fitting more what Kidd want to do, those players will play less and they all have 3 years and earn $+10m per year and are fragile players, so it makes some sense to dump them for the Bucks.

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Not a bad idea.

Nah, boardroom. He's ALWAYS been like that. Just people are seeing it now. He had this following that would defend him if people called him out for the attitude. Not anymore. It's slightly sad but mostly karma.

He's really in the wrong field. That schtick works in uber polarized politics.

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Originally Posted by boardtown

It is worth noting that he doesn't do that on this forum much any more. My opinions on him are mixed. On one hand, he and Ryan Schwan produced what was once my favorite sports podcast period. On the other, it seems like he has entered a really dark period in his life that has affected his writing, public persona, etc. Everything seemed like it went downhill after his big push to get that dude from the T-P fired.

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I agree I supported the guy but when he came out and said he's not a fan and we will never win a championship and all that other stuff he was saying was really disappointing because I did and still do appreciate his basketball knowledge I just don't like it when you get fans hopes up for nothing and these are fans that follow him and believe he has insider info and then he does this to them and then blows it off like oh well it doesn't matter ... I take issue with that , not cool at all .


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Originally Posted by tthier2

Let me spare you guys completely. I know for a FACT that he doesn't know squat. He is throwing darts and hoping one will eventually stick. Dude lives a miserable life and obviously has no love in his.

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Why should I believe either of you then? He makes assertions that this or that will happen. You say he doesn't know anything and you're certain of it.

You know something? Spill it. Otherwise, every one is talking out they ****** for attention.

Who is MM?

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Originally Posted by MistaWhoDat

Exactly !! If you don't know then don't speculate like you have inside info that's what is aggravating. I'll give it to the guy he knows a lot about the NBA and I appreciate that part but the condescending attitude and the post that are just his opinions but are made to look like he's got insider info needs to stop .

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Why is everybody assuming he doesn't know just because nothing happened. The information we do have on Nick Young suggests the Pels did have something in place. The Warriors thought they had lost Nick Young to the Pels according to Zach Lowe. Were the Warriors speculating, or were they basing their thinking off of what others were telling them at the time in a fluid situation?

With the stuff Kushner has said about the cap and the tax and the fact that we still haven't signed anyone, I think Demps had a deal lined up to dump salary that fell apart. What information are you guys looking for? Do you only want a scoop on moves that actually happen by a few hours or do you want to know what the team is working on? Because a real insider is going to have a snapshot of the constantly changing situation that made the Warriors think they had lost Swaggy P. McNamara certainly could deliver the information in a way that made people more appreciative than suspicious, but I don't think you can assume he's just making stuff up because deals fell apart. And with the lack of moves, deals falling apart seems to be the most logical explanation for why Jrue and Darius Miller are the only acquisitions of the offseason so far.

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Originally Posted by Buckwheat

Who is MM?

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Warts and all, still one of the better sportswriters in NOLA basketball circles.

http://www.bourbonstreetshots.com/ta...possibilities/

Only problem with that is he didn't break the Nick Young news "rumors" it was well documented before he gave it a mention.

Personally I like some of the work he has done and his knowledge of the game. Just not the unprofessional behavior when challenged by fans. Keep it classy.

Of all the players we passed up, Avery Bradley is the only one that would've been a major asset. We didn't have a proven, solid big to give up in return to Boston based on what they got in return from Detroit in Marcus Morris. Everyone else like Nick Young and Jamal Crawford is more of the same of what we already have in Moore and Jordan Crawford. They add scoring, but would it have a been huge difference, besides a bigger Rotation? They're more of patchwork and stop gaps, than long term answers

Demps could be working with the right trade partner to get a clear cut starter in the backcourt, instead of making the same mistakes of signing players just to sign them to more bad contracts

Back to off-season discussion: Afflalo would make some sense. He could back up the 2 and 3 and shot 40% from the arc. If you could get him and/or Lawson with the MLE that'd be ideal in my mind for FA. Then focus on dangling the pick for a major piece.

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Originally Posted by SonOfNOLA

Of all the players we passed up, Avery Bradley is the only one that would've been a major asset. We didn't have a proven, solid big to give up in return to Boston based on what they got in return from Detroit in Marcus Morris. Everyone else like Nick Young and Jamal Crawford is more of the same of what we already have in Moore and Jordan Crawford. They add scoring, but would it have a been huge difference, besides a bigger Rotation? They're more of patchwork and stop gaps, than long term answers

Demps could be working with the right trade partner to get a clear cut starter in the backcourt, instead of making the same mistakes of signing players just to sign them to more bad contracts

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I agree completely. I am almost to the point where I'm rooting for the team to roll it back just so they don't unload future draft picks. I know a lot of people hate Asik's contract, but I've come to think of it as a placeholder for all of the money the Pelicans will soon be paying to Davis.

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Originally Posted by MistaWhoDat

Exactly !! If you don't know then don't speculate like you have inside info that's what is aggravating. I'll give it to the guy he knows a lot about the NBA and I appreciate that part but the condescending attitude and the post that are just his opinions but are made to look like he's got insider info needs to stop .


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Does he really know a lot about the NBA though? His player evaluations over the years have been pretty off. Has he come around on Klay Thompson yet? And he was one of the main people selling us on Asik being a good deal because it was "such a small % of the cap". He trashed Jaylen Brown and loved Mudiay. There's a lot of this on his ledger. I'm not saying anyone else is batting a higher %, but I'm also wouldn't claim they know a lot about the NBA. He puts a lot of effort into his blogging at BSS. I give him props for the commitment. But that's about it.

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Originally Posted by Mr. West

Back to off-season discussion: Afflalo would make some sense. He could back up the 2 and 3 and shot 40% from the arc. If you could get him and/or Lawson with the MLE that'd be ideal in my mind for FA. Then focus on dangling the pick for a major piece.

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Is any remaining FA G or F, not including DRose and Caldwell-Pope, any better than the ones we already have on the roster? Would Afflalo and Lawson produce more than Miller, Moore, Cook, Frank Jackson, and a healthy Pondexter? They're just about on the same level and would be wasting cap space if we signed them imo. At this stage we're signing just to be signing if that's the level of talent we can muster

There are 3 players I think we could trade some combination of Asik/Qpon/Cooks/2Panes straight up for:

Alan Crabbe
Evan Turner
Brandon Knight

I'd take any of the above if we can offload that poopoo platter of non guaranteed 2017 contracts, buyout candidates, and Asik's $3m guarantee in 2019 while keeping our picks.

For a team that wants to cut bait on salary, we could make something happen that benefits them financially.

For this team to make an unexpected leap next year, they're going to need players to play beyond what people expect. That could be Moore, Hill, or Jrue having breakout years, or that could be a guy like Knight, Crabbe, or Turner playing up to the expectations people had for them when they were given those contracts. Now isn't the time to play it safe, IMO. Or the time to roll into training camp with guys who are borderline NBA talents in key roles. Go get the obviously talented (but overpaid) castoffs from other teams and hope your coaches can get the best out of them in new roles.

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Originally Posted by SonOfNOLA

Would Afflalo and Lawson produce more than Miller, Moore, Cook, Frank Jackson, and a healthy Pondexter?

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Afflalo and Lawson would almost assuredly be an upgrade on all those guys except Moore.

And healthy Pondexter isn't a thing until proven otherwise.

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Originally Posted by NMThreeMVP

There are 3 players I think we could trade some combination of Asik/Qpon/Cooks/2Panes straight up for:

Alan Crabbe
Evan Turner
Brandon Knight

I'd take any of the above if we can offload that poopoo platter of non guaranteed 2017 contracts, buyout candidates, and Asik's $3m guarantee in 2019 while keeping our picks.

For a team that wants to cut bait on salary, we could make something happen that benefits them financially.

For this team to make an unexpected leap next year, they're going to need players to play beyond what people expect. That could be Moore, Hill, or Jrue having breakout years, or that could be a guy like Knight, Crabbe, or Turner playing up to the expectations people had for them when they were given those contracts. Now isn't the time to play it safe, IMO. Or the time to roll into training camp with guys who are borderline NBA talents in key roles. Go get the obviously talented (but overpaid) castoffs from other teams and hope your coaches can get the best out of them in new roles.

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Crabbe has some skills, but is too terribly overpaid to even consider. The other two are not only overpaid, but trash. I would not want either.

Did anybody else know Rudy Gay signed with the Spurs?

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Originally Posted by HoustonPelicans

Did anybody else know Rudy Gay signed with the Spurs?

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Yes, for a very reasonable contract. 2 years/$17 million

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Originally Posted by Mythrol

We don't know so instead of just waiting to see what happens people want to assign blame and act like Dell is screwing up by not giving Nick Young 4 years/36m.

But I don't believe Dell pulled the offer anyway. Young had DAYS to agree to our deal. If he had said yes it would have been over with. Young was the one who waited and kept taking meetings.

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You can choose to believe what you want. Even GS thought he was coming to the Pelicans. However, you are just throwing contract numbers against the wall. We would not have offered Young the full MLE because we were always going to use part on Jackson. That is a fact. Young accepted a 2 year deal (w/ 2nd year an option). It is clear Dell has chosen to sit the first phase of free agency out. Hopefully it works in his favor. It sounds as if he wants to do a trade but is having trouble getting anyone to bite on the terrible contract we have to offer. As such, he does not want to take a chance of going into the tax by using too much space signing FAs. Hopefully a favorable trade works out and then we can fill in with league minimum bargain deals for veterans.