Ideal trade scenario with AD
It’s been a while!! Miss you guys!!
Sorry the write up is so long.. If not interested just skip..
After evaluating my main 4 teams in the Lakers, Celtics, Bulls, and Knicks for the AD sweepstakes one has emerged as my clear favorite. With the other 3 having very good packages as well imo no matter what we do we will get our chance at building a deeper and better team. With the best package the Knicks are my favorite team for the Pelicans to make a deal with.
http://www.espn.com/nba/tradeMachine
First I’ll start off with the reasons the Knicks make the deal. This move instantly makes them credible as a destination for FAs to create a super team this offseason. You have Durant, Kyrie, Butler, Leonard, and quite a few others guys that would be targets in FA with a near guarantee to land atleast 1 and very likely 2 of those guys. Making the bold move landing AD to bring in other stars instantly makes them the team to beat in the East and possibly the entire NBA. Kyrie/Durant/AD, Leonard/Durant/AD, Kyrie/Butler/AD, or just KD/AD are some of the scenarios that would make some very dangerous teams. The Knicks owner Dolan who wants to sell the team would be able to name his price for what would likely be the biggest deal in all of sports. IMO a great move for the Knicks and well worth the risk even without a promised extension. I’m them and have AD for another year I go for it all and pull the trigger on a trade.
Now my reason for why the Knicks package is the best choice for the Pelicans. The prize piece for me would be landing the “Unicorn” Kristaps Porzingis. IMO he has potential to be every bit as good as AD while he continues to develop. KP has been on near the same exact pace to start his first three years at basically the same age as AD. Another all time great he has had a near identical start to is Dirk Nowitzki in his first 3 years as well just slightly better in just about every category offensively while being a far superior defender. Porzingis is just 23 years old standing at 7’3 and still has a ton of room to fill out his body while adding more strength. We have great experience is this area with our staff having done an amazing job with AD. I think Porzingis is someone who we would never have to worry about leaving like a Dirk/Duncan and could care less about being in some big market. He is someone you can build a championship around and a trade piece that doesn’t get much better to replace AD.
The next key get would be that elusive missing piece at the SF position we haven’t been able to fill. That young 19 year old kid would be Kevin Knox who imo has the potential to be an absolute stud while already showing tons of flashes in his rookie year. He reminds me as the Devin Booker of SFs in a sense of where he was drafted and how he will continue to improve into a star as arguably the best pick in his draft class. He is 6’9 with very good athleticism and has a ton of defensive potential while having what is going to be a deadly 3 point shot. Kid has everything we are looking for in a SF prospect and has looked to be every bit as good as Ingram/Tatum who would be 2 potential wings if we pursue other options. Adding Knox to an already all star duo in Holiday/Porzingis could be the forming of something very special. On top of that a lottery pick!?
We have now come to the hometown kid in Mitchell Robinson who was someone I wanted during the draft. A young 21 year old prospect on a rookie 4 year deal who has a ton of potential as a Tyson/Jordan type of center. He is 7’1 with a 7’4 wingspan and a frame to put on more muscle mass and strength in a similar way to AD. No telling how good this kid can become and just adding strength along with some experience and natural improvement makes him a solid NBA Center. He shoots 67% from FG which is very promising showing he does the right things.
I have Hardaway Jr. as the throw in to make the $ work. He is someone I think would be a great addition at the SG position alongside Jrue. He would be a nice piece that can score 20 ppg. If he is someone they insist on keeping then Courtney Lee could be a throw in piece that makes the $ work and would be on an expiring contract after this year.
My wildcard that I didn’t include in trade is Alonzo Trier. The trade machine wouldn’t allow him to be selected so to not confuse some people I’ll put him separately. Since a draft pick likely won’t be included he could be a very possibly get as well. I don’t think anything is out of the question when trading a player like AD who has the potential to turn around your franchise do to the attractiveness of the market as well. Trier is another rookie who is a 6’5 SG that has a deadly 3 point shot. He would fit in great between Holiday and Knox. I would be willing to exclude Mitchell if it meant landing Trier. I think taking on contracts like Hardaway and/or Lee nearly clearing their books for FA would land us some extra pieces. Trier is one of those pieces you need in a lineup to win a championship. His skill set is a big part of today’s game. Has a similar style game to Ray Allen. No not as good but offers a deadly 3 with a nice overall game as well. Jrue/Trier/Knox/Unicorn/Lottery!?!?
Adding Knox, Mitchell, and Porzingis who are just 19, 21, and 23 years old to what we already have would be an amazing addition to our team giving us a nice youth boost that can win right away. Combine what we have and what we can do in FA/draft really gives this organization the chance to become serious contenders one day. I doubt the Knicks would want to give up their pick but maybe we could swap picks and take on bad contracts to get the deal done. Another potential twist would be letting them keep Knox and taking their 1st that could potentially land us Ja Morant to play alongside Jrue as perfect compliments to each other. Trading AD to the Knicks becomes the best decision we ever made.
Not saying this is the exact group we keep around but we have some great core pieces and solid bench options for us to make decisions on. I would love to bring one of Randle or Mirotic back at the right price. Keeping Frank Jackson is a must while evaluating Diallo/Okafor with this team as young and cheap bench options. Moore and Hardaway would both be guys I would be open keeping one around or possibly use as trade chips to land better fits to go along with what moves we potentially make in FA. What could really be a franchise altering move is our draft picks where we could land another stud big to put next to Porzingis or another guard next to Jrue. We hit on our draft pick and you are looking at a dominant team in a couple of years and for a long time at that. Lots of different ways we can go and a lot of very good outcomes.
Jrue/Knox/Porzingis
Jackson/Moore/Hardaway ?Diallo/Okafor? ?Randle/Mirotic?
Lottery pick ?
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Originally Posted by AUSSIE_PELICAN
