General Offseason News

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Originally Posted by Butters

If Charlotte takes Miller and Portland offers Simmons and the number three, which would be Scoot, does Zion pack his bags?

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I would hope we could make a bigger package and pry Shaedon Sharpe. Portland wants to win now, so...

Adjusting that trade to something like this:

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Originally Posted by donato

Who cares if the media hammers us? That's what they've usually done anyway. At this point I couldn't care less about their criticism.

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Which is why I said that if there's a can't-say-no haul, then you take the criticism. But why invite it for a subpar return? That's what I was saying.

I will yet again reiterate my belief that we'll probably keep both Zion and Ingram this summer and any major moves that happen will be pick based, probably involving JV as cash may be needed, and will probably involve us trying to awkward thread the needle between youth movement and contention, because that is the Griff special.

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Originally Posted by DaFranchise80

https://twitter.com/blazers_palace/s...RY1NhkbE5NzbOg


I have no clue how to embed tweets. Someone help me out please :)

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CJ McCollum on the Ryan Russilo podcast:

"Zi and I just worked out the other day, and that boy is as motivated as I?ve seen him. He already looks leaner." pic.twitter.com/evv8ZfLMd6

— Blazers Palace (@blazers_palace) June 19, 2023

You click the three dots in the top right of the tweet, which gives a drop down menu. Select 'embed tweet'. It then takes you to a page with a link you copy - paste that link in to embed it.

Windhorst: ''Zion has no relationship with the team, no relationship with his teammates.''

CJ: ''It's the offseason and me and Zion are working out together, he looks great''
Zion: constantly doing youth events at the Pels facility in the offseason

I'm not trying to act like Zion is best friends with everyone employed by the Pels, that's just not likely at all - and who would expect it? - but he clearly has at least a reasonable relationship with some teammates and parts of the FO.

Yeah. That definitely doesn't sound like no relationship.

My take on backlash if something did happen, from how things have played out over the past few years and with this side boo drama, my wager is we would be seen as the victims and Zion would get most of the negativity UNLESS he has some dirt on the FO that he unloads.

ESPN Sources: As expected, Washington Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma has declined his $13 million player option and become a free agent. Kuzma will be one of the marketplace’s most prominent players. A return to Washington on a new deal remains a possibility.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 20, 2023

Center Damian Jones has exercised his $2.58 million player option to return to the Utah Jazz next season, sources tell ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 20, 2023

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Originally Posted by msusousaphone

Yeah. That definitely doesn't sound like no relationship.

My take on backlash if something did happen, from how things have played out over the past few years and with this side boo drama, my wager is we would be seen as the victims and Zion would get most of the negativity UNLESS he has some dirt on the FO that he unloads.

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Kevin Garnett: "First off, Zion [Williamson] is a generational talent... Motherf**kers was patient with [Joel] Embiid and Giannis."

Paul Pierce: "I don't really agree that he's a generational talent."

KG: "You're f**king crazy." ��

(via @shobasketball)pic.twitter.com/tdJ3WCrtfe

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) June 20, 2023

I see it as highly unlikely that the Pels come out looking the victim.

All Zion has to do is say ''I rehabbed in Portland instead of New Orleans because they hired a completely incompetent training staff - who they have since fired because he's clashed with me, Gentry, SVG, and Ingram - and I had zero trust in them to help me through another injury. My rookie year I got injured and they kept me out an extra 6 weeks trying to re-teach me to walk when I was ready to play. How could I have any faith in that garbage fire of a front office?''

And then the media storm is ''New Orleans is a poorly run franchise, with a spending averse owner, in a terrible arena, who has had two consecutive number one picks fumbled, run by Griffin who has fumbled #1 picks before elsewhere, and now they're trying to throw the blame on to the 22 year old when these problems pre-date him and will continue after he's gone.''

New Orleans is already a team they hate. You think that they're going to give the franchise the benefit of the doubt over Zion? When his ''side boo drama'' is no different from what most of the league already does? Bogut was in the media saying as much the other day. Bogut's coming out to say it's not unusual, KG is now in the media telling the franchise to calm down because he's a young man who makes mistakes, and you're saying the media is going to cast us as the victim when they already want us moved from the city? Come on, now.

Buying high and selling low is just bad business. If Z and BI can play 65 games each we're probably in the WCF

The Los Angeles Clippers have reportedly left rival teams with the impression that they are gauging Paul George's trade value, per @TheSteinLine �� pic.twitter.com/KSwsM43CUE

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) June 21, 2023

Philadelphia 76ers center Montrezl Harrell is declining his $2.7 million player option for the 2023-24 season and will become an unrestricted free agent, league sources tell @NBAonTNT, @BleacherReport.

— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) June 21, 2023

Denver Nuggets G/F Bruce Brown Jr. is declining his $6.8 million player option for the 2023-24 season and will become a free agent, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Brown, a key member of the Nuggets title, faces decision of Denver return in free agency versus deal elsewhere.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 21, 2023

Zion is generational, but the Pels have several factors to consider. If Zion gets another bad injury, they have his salary and a guy who not many would trade for at that point. This is a serious roll of the dice. He could also figure out his body and reach his ceiling.
The Pels have the leverage with Portland. It is much more in their interest to acquire Zion in order to make Dame happy, than the Pels trading Zion for Scoot. It’s just the smoke they are trying to cover this up with is non sense. The Pels are in the driver seat right now. I don’t care what any media pawn decides to lie about. Blazers want Zion more than Pels want Scoot.

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Originally Posted by Fedupfan

Zion is generational, but the Pels have several factors to consider. If Zion gets another bad injury, they have his salary and a guy who not many would trade for at that point. This is a serious roll of the dice.

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I know this has been said a million times but it somehow keeps not influencing the discussion.

Zion's contract is set up with a bunch of non-guaranteed money in it that relies on both him hitting weight/body fat %age numbers, and games played. If Zion is injured severely enough going forward (this is the first year of the new contract) to legitimately impact winning, his money owed drops precipitously to the point where, if it's truly apparent that he will never be healthy, he could even conceivably be just cut without that much salary drama.

This is why it's not a serious roll of the dice. If you keep Zion, and he plays, you have an MVP talent. If you keep Zion and he never gets it together you can cut him for basically nothing. If you trade him while his value is low and then he plays, you just gave up an MVP level talent for crumbs. It's very little risk, very high reward to keep him.

The Nuggets are trading the least favorable of its 2024 first-round picks in deal to move into the first-round and early second in Thursday's NBA Draft, per sources. https://t.co/fV40LZCrgk

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 21, 2023

“From what I’m hearing… Scoot would like to be in New Orleans”

- @ChrisBHaynes

(Via @RipCityRadio620 ) pic.twitter.com/8LfDqldlS4

— NBACentral (@TheNBACentral) June 21, 2023

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Originally Posted by Pelicanidae

“From what I’m hearing… Scoot would like to be in New Orleans”

- @ChrisBHaynes

(Via @RipCityRadio620 ) pic.twitter.com/8LfDqldlS4

— NBACentral (@TheNBACentral) June 21, 2023

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Yes please!!!

New Orleans wants Scoot.

Scoot wants New Orleans.

Griff, make the deal.

Sources: Wizards, Celtics and Clippers are in strong talks on a trade that would send Kristaps Porzingis to Boston, Marcus Morris and draft compensation to Washington and Malcolm Brogdon to Los Angeles. Sides are still working through details and Porzingis’ $36M player option.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 21, 2023

We need a big man and a point guard. Get Scoot and add a shot blocker big. I don?t want to trade Zion unless we know he?s not going to change. We could regret it so bad. Gotta keep that in mind.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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Originally Posted by pelicanchamp

We need a big man and a point guard. Get Scoot and add a shot blocker big. I don?t want to trade Zion unless we know he?s not going to change. We could regret it so bad. Gotta keep that in mind.

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As far as I'm concerned, the only reason you move Zion is if you're convinced his injury problems will never come around.

But surely, you'd want your new training staff/people to make that evaluation, and we haven't even hired them yet (at least not publicly). So it's hard to imagine a move there unless someone just offers the world for him, imo.

ESPN Sources: The Celtics are working on a trade to acquire the Wizards’ Kristaps Porzingis in a three-team deal that sends Malcolm Brogdon to Clippers. LA would be sending Marcus Morris, Amir Coffey and 30th pick to Washington. Sides still have more work to do on an agreement.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 21, 2023

A little more info on this move

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Originally Posted by Pelicanidae

ESPN Sources: The Celtics are working on a trade to acquire the Wizards? Kristaps Porzingis in a three-team deal that sends Malcolm Brogdon to Clippers. LA would be sending Marcus Morris, Amir Coffey and 30th pick to Washington. Sides still have more work to do on an agreement.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 21, 2023

A little more info on this move

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Clippers make out like bandits.

pays to be opportunistic i guess.

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Originally Posted by Pelifan

Clippers make out like bandits.

pays to be opportunistic i guess.

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He's currently "optimistic he won't need offseason surgery" and has played more than 60 games three times in seven seasons. I like him but combined with PG (assuming he stays) and Kawhi and you're looking at a team that could be great but will need a ton to go right to do it.

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Originally Posted by Jabberwalker

He's currently "optimistic he won't need offseason surgery" and has played more than 60 games three times in seven seasons. I like him but combined with PG (assuming he stays) and Kawhi and you're looking at a team that could be great but will need a ton to go right to do it.

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Well that guy definitely belongs in New Orleans, then.

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Originally Posted by Jabberwalker

He's currently "optimistic he won't need offseason surgery" and has played more than 60 games three times in seven seasons. I like him but combined with PG (assuming he stays) and Kawhi and you're looking at a team that could be great but will need a ton to go right to do it.

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They got off Morris and got a real player for pick 30 and coffey.

The Nuggets had jamal murray and MPJ (probably the worst medical in the league this side of Lonzo) healthy for an entire playoff run. Sometimes you need a little luck. But you always need talent.

The three-team talks on a Porzingis-Brogdon deal with Celtics, Wizards and Clippers have fallen apart, sources tell ESPN. Sides are moving on. https://t.co/WoNkOcTYe5

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 22, 2023

Fairly unusual for talks to ''fall apart'' so late that it's already been reported

The Wizards are still working on ways to get Kristaps Porzingis to the Celtics in an opt-in and trade scenario, but it won't be in a three-way with the Clippers, sources tell ESPN. Porzingis still has the ability to decline his $36 million player option and become a free agent.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 22, 2023

Concerns raised by the Clippers about Malcolm Brogdon's injury status, league sources say, led to the collapse of the three-team trade expected to send Kristaps Porzingis to Boston before midnight tonight.

A direct Wizards/Celtics deal has not been ruled out.

More NBA from me:

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 22, 2023

Boston/LAC/Wiz deal fell apart because Brogdon is Broken, according to LAC

The clock is also ticking on Milwaukee's Khris Middleton, who has a $40.4 million player option he must either exercise by midnight or become an unrestricted free agent.

The option would make him extension-eligible with the Bucks in July ... as Porzingis was hoping in Boston. https://t.co/8473yx8RhI

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 22, 2023

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Originally Posted by Pelicanidae

I know this has been said a million times but it somehow keeps not influencing the discussion.

Zion's contract is set up with a bunch of non-guaranteed money in it that relies on both him hitting weight/body fat %age numbers, and games played. If Zion is injured severely enough going forward (this is the first year of the new contract) to legitimately impact winning, his money owed drops precipitously to the point where, if it's truly apparent that he will never be healthy, he could even conceivably be just cut without that much salary drama.

This is why it's not a serious roll of the dice. If you keep Zion, and he plays, you have an MVP talent. If you keep Zion and he never gets it together you can cut him for basically nothing. If you trade him while his value is low and then he plays, you just gave up an MVP level talent for crumbs. It's very little risk, very high reward to keep him.

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Totally disagree with you. Trading Zion now and getting the #2 or #3 pick in return is not a small thing to ignore. If Zion never gets it together and the Pels have to cut him, thus losing the opportunity to get something of this value back... well, then that is a large risk. You are conveniently ignoring to factor this in though, cause you want to keep Zion and think he will become serious about an NBA career, for some weird reason.

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Originally Posted by LAL1947

Totally disagree with you. Trading Zion now and getting the #2 or #3 pick in return is not a small thing to ignore. If Zion never gets it together and the Pels have to cut him, thus losing the opportunity to get something of this value back... well, then that is a large risk. You are conveniently ignoring to factor this in though, cause you want to keep Zion and think he will become serious about an NBA career, for some weird reason.

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It is somewhat of a risk, but it doesn't mean you're any worse off than you are now - in fact, you get a lot of salary cap back so you improve your position very slightly. You can argue that's not as good as getting #2 or #3, and that's fair, but acting like it's a loss isn't the case; it's just a smaller gain.

Which is my point. It's not that keeping Zion is the perfect situation in all cases, it's that his contract is not, in itself, a negative to have on the books. Which is what the post I was replying to said.

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Originally Posted by Pelicanidae

It is somewhat of a risk, but it doesn't mean you're any worse off than you are now - in fact, you get a lot of salary cap back so you improve your position very slightly. You can argue that's not as good as getting #2 or #3, and that's fair, but acting like it's a loss isn't the case; it's just a smaller gain.

Which is my point. It's not that keeping Zion is the perfect situation in all cases, it's that his contract is not, in itself, a negative to have on the books. Which is what the post I was replying to said.

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Getting salary cap back only matters if you are able to sign someone good with it, right?

Anyway, let's agree to disagree... I think that not getting the #2 or #3 pick is a loss (or even not trading Zion for other young talent), you don't. So there is probably nothing I can say to change that, or vice versa.

Wowowow bet the under on the Grizzlies https://t.co/BgfhTNPwLa

— Shamit Dua (@FearTheBrown) June 22, 2023

Agreed with Shamit here. A large part of the reason the Grizz have been competitive without Ja in the last few years is that Tyus has been a really good backup for them who knows his role very well and plays it to a tee. If Ja's getting that big suspension and they're without Tyus to start the year, they could get off to a very rocky start.

Obviously depends on what else is happening but wow.

The Celtics are trading Marcus Smart to the Grizzlies as part of deal, sources tell ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 22, 2023

WOW.

I like Smart a lot and he's very good but he's not the same kind of PG that Tyus is. Will be interesting to see how that works, and I am pretty surprised that the Celtics finally pulled that trigger.

Three-time All-Star forward Khris Middleton has declined his $40 million player option with the Milwaukee Bucks to become a free agent, his agents Mike Lindeman and Jeff Schwartz of @excelbasketball tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/k0sO5qhSk6

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 22, 2023

It is all happening

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Originally Posted by Pelicanidae

The Celtics are trading Marcus Smart to the Grizzlies as part of deal, sources tell ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 22, 2023

WOW.

I like Smart a lot and he's very good but he's not the same kind of PG that Tyus is. Will be interesting to see how that works, and I am pretty surprised that the Celtics finally pulled that trigger.

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The Grizzlies are sending 2023 and 2024 first-round picks to the Celtics, sources tell ESPN. Grizzlies are sending No. 25 on Thursday night and 2024 pick via Golden State for Smart.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 22, 2023

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Originally Posted by Pelicanidae

The Grizzlies are sending 2023 and 2024 first-round picks to the Celtics, sources tell ESPN. Grizzlies are sending No. 25 on Thursday night and 2024 pick via Golden State for Smart.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 22, 2023

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hmmm seems like a lot for what imo is a downgrade and not the kind of player they needed. smart does have a better contract situation though.

not sure what wiz wants with Tyus, but when he's free go for it.

So memphis losing Dillon Brooks + Tyus Jones + 2023 1st round pick + Ja out 25 games + plus his usual missed games due to injury. And getting back Marcus Smart.

Memphis has more wood to chop for sure.

Tyus is on an expiring contract this year. Just sayin.

Championship contender Celtics just traded the heart and soul of the team. I do not want to hear Pels fans talk about the sacred culture of a 9 seed ������ https://t.co/rijVV3iwMk

— Shamit Dua (@FearTheBrown) June 22, 2023

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Originally Posted by Pelicanidae

Championship contender Celtics just traded the heart and soul of the team. I do not want to hear Pels fans talk about the sacred culture of a 9 seed ������ https://t.co/rijVV3iwMk

— Shamit Dua (@FearTheBrown) June 22, 2023

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IF I SEE ONE MORE POST ABOUT KEEPING THE VIBES. Who cares about vibes for a mid team? Make your team better!

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Originally Posted by Silverfoxx

IF I SEE ONE MORE POST ABOUT KEEPING THE VIBES. Who cares about vibes for a mid team? Make your team better!

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That's what I'm saying!

Without player movement, health improvement would be a start. However, injuries do happen. But conditioning is not only action but a mind state, and the negative coming out of New Orleans is all about the wrong mindsets. That might be chatter to be chatter. Hard to say. I would hope the chatter is not true and Zion is ready to commit to being in play shape. However, it seems we are starting every season with this hope. My son reminded me other stars in the league struggled early in their careers before they clicked. Tonight will reflect some responses. One thing is clear to me. The Pelicans are concerned. How much?

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Originally Posted by Silverfoxx

IF I SEE ONE MORE POST ABOUT KEEPING THE VIBES. Who cares about vibes for a mid team? Make your team better!

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Preach.

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Originally Posted by Pelicanidae

I know this has been said a million times but it somehow keeps not influencing the discussion.

Zion's contract is set up with a bunch of non-guaranteed money in it that relies on both him hitting weight/body fat %age numbers, and games played. If Zion is injured severely enough going forward (this is the first year of the new contract) to legitimately impact winning, his money owed drops precipitously to the point where, if it's truly apparent that he will never be healthy, he could even conceivably be just cut without that much salary drama.

This is why it's not a serious roll of the dice. If you keep Zion, and he plays, you have an MVP talent. If you keep Zion and he never gets it together you can cut him for basically nothing. If you trade him while his value is low and then he plays, you just gave up an MVP level talent for crumbs. It's very little risk, very high reward to keep him.

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He would basically have to have a career ending type injury for that to come into play though. He keeps playing 30ish games a season, you're going to keep fooling yourself into thinking it will get better and you're not going to out and out cut him. Especially when you consider that you could have turned him into Scoot. Human nature doesn't work like that.

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Originally Posted by Pelicanidae

Championship contender Celtics just traded the heart and soul of the team. I do not want to hear Pels fans talk about the sacred culture of a 9 seed ������ https://t.co/rijVV3iwMk

— Shamit Dua (@FearTheBrown) June 22, 2023

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Dont understand what dude is going for with this tweet. First of all it remains to be seen how the Celtics respond to this trade, could work out but it is also possible their culture will suffer and they will look back on this trade as a mistake. Way too soon to view this as validation. Secondly, who is he trying to get rid of from our team that will disrupt the culture and in exchange for what?

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Originally Posted by hornetsrebirth

Dont understand what dude is going for with this tweet. First of all it remains to be seen how the Celtics respond to this trade, could work out but it is also possible their culture will suffer and they will look back on this trade as a mistake. Way too soon to view this as validation. Secondly, who is he trying to get rid of from our team that will disrupt the culture and in exchange for what?

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Point 1) It doesn't matter, the fact is that teams which are winning are more willing to take risks regarding 'culture' than we are, and we're losers. This indicates that maybe the fan attachment to the culture we have isn't that valuable; our culture cannot compare to theirs and they are still willing to risk it because they want results.

2) A number of people. For example, portions of the fanbase told us we can't trade Hart because he's the heart of the team. Now we're being told we can't trade Ingram because he's the heart of the team. In the past people have said you can't move Jrue because he's the heart of the team. The point is that nobody is untouchable on culture grounds.

Although it probably won't..... I hope the trade goes down.
Im not sure really why, except for the face that im sick of all the b.s. As a fan, I want the factors that contribute to winning to be decided and displayed on the court.

Id feel good about this squad

Scoot Henderson
Anfrenee Simmons
Brandon Ingram
Herb Jones
Trey Murphy
ect