My realistic offseason plan

[Darkhorse985]

Option A

Trade:
SG Eric Gordon to the Chicago Bulls for SF Luol Deng

Why Chicago does the trade?
Deng is a steady, solid all-around SF, but Jimmy Butler has emerged late in the season to show some explosive talent at that position. The Gordon/Butler starting combo has a lot more upside than Hamilton/Deng when healthy. Rip Hamilton is a great veteran insurance option at SG if Gordon misses any time during the season. The Bulls could then sign someone like Corey Brewer to backup/share time at SF.

Bulls Lineup (when healthy):
Rose/Hinrich
Gordon/Hamilton
Butler/Brewer are another veteran SF backup
Boozer/Gibson
Noah

Why New Orleans does the trade?
The Pelicans need a steady, productive veteran presence as a wing player. Deng is a great all-around SF as mentioned before. He has had a lot of use throughout his 9 year career, but he is still only 28. He has had a great track record of relatively good health. Also, there is plenty of talent at SG in both free agency and the draft to replace Gordon, more so than SF.

Draft:
PG Trey Burke if available. Great player with excellent floor vision and a true leader on the court at Michigan. If Burke is gone, then they draft the best SG available in McLemore or Oladipo.

Free Agency:
Sign SG Tyreke Evans to a contract similar to Ryan Anderson's at 8-10 million per year for 4 years.
Sign a backup to Deng at SF like Aminu (more defense) or Chase Budinger (more offense) at roughly 3-3.5 million per year.
Re-sign Roger Mason for around the veteran minimum. He was a great veteran presence this past season off the bench.

Projected Pelicans Lineup:

PG: Vasquez/Burke/Roberts (Burke would eventually start over Vasquez when Monty believes he is ready.)
SG: Evans/Rivers/Mason
SF: Deng/(Aminu/Budinger)/Miller
PF: Davis/Anderson/Thomas
C: Lopez/Smith

I truly belieive this team could compete for a playoff spot.

Option B

Ok here is my new and vastly improved realistic offseason plan as I posted in another thread....

Trade 1:
Magic get Eric Gordon and 6th pick (Trey Burke)

Pelicans get 2nd pick (Ben McLemore) and Maurice Harkless

Trade 2:
Bucks get Greivis Vasquez and Robin Lopez

Pelicans get Brandon Jennings (11 million-max)

Sign:
1. Either Al Jefferson or Nikola Pekovic (11 million-max)

2. Either Chase Budinger, Corey Brewer, or Aminu (3-4 million a year)

3. Re-sign Roger Mason for around the vet minimum for his veteran bench presence.


Projected Pelicans lineup:
PG: Jennings/Rivers
SG: McLemore/Roberts/Mason
SF: (Brewer or Budinger)/Harkless/Miller
PF: Davis/Anderson/Thomas
C: (Jefferson or Pekovic)/Smith


Pipe dream I know, but that would be a lineup that could eventually be better than OKC.

[Vinny6420]

No Deng, ew

[RaisingTheBar]

I wouldn't mind Deng. Just don't like spending 8-10 a year on Evans. And IMO Burke is a Day 1 starter.

[Pelicans78]

Porter is a day one starter as well and brings much more defense than Burke.

[Pelicans_fan_504]

No Deng, ew

This, Deng is overrated on here plus he going in to the back in of his career

[Darkhorse985]

Porter is a day one starter as well and brings much more defense than Burke.

But if we traded for Deng as I outlined, why would we draft Porter over Burke?

[Kumar]

With that line up, you might be better off with Reke at the 1 and Vasquez at two. Vasquez is pretty good off the ball and will have an easier time guarding two's than the quick pg's. Reke has the quickness and the length to guard the Point. But either way, the line up is waaay too PG heavy. I would much rather sign Reke and draft Oladipo. That way you can shop Vasquez and or Lopez around for a good deal. Dipo and Deng on the wings would be great defensively. The perfect addition to that roster would be Pekovic. Bringing out the final line up of:

Reke/ Rivers/ Roberts
Oladipo/ Rivers/ Mason
Deng/ Aminu or Budinger/ Miller
Davis/ Anderson
Pekovic/ Smith

[Darkhorse985]

This, Deng is overrated on here plus he going in to the back in of his career

Deng has put up solid, consistent numbers throughout his career and has been very dependable for the most part. Gordon obviously does not want to play here and is not the stable vet at wing that we need. Gordon is gone in 2 years anyway. What other realistic Gordon trade would you suggest?

[Pelicans78]

But if we traded for Deng as I outlined, why would we draft Porter over Burke?

Why trade for Deng?

[nolaslim213]

I appreciate the thought and effort, but I'm in the don't trade Gordon camp, at least not unless a fantastic offer comes across, and Luol Deng certainly isn't it.

[Official]

I think Jimmy Butler could play SG. What Chicago needs is someone to replace God-awful Boozer.

[Pelicans78]

They're not gonna trade for Gordon's contact. Plus he and Rose would be a bad fit together.

[da ThRONe]

Porter is a day one starter as well and brings much more defense than Burke.

There's questions about Porter's lateral quickness. Not sure how well of a defender he'll end up being.

[RealPelicans Fan]

[HornetGuru]

gordon for deng? No... by the time we are competing he'll be 30+ plus I think otto porter will be like deng but better. I say if we can get porter, keep gordon, give rivers another go and if not make a move for a PG next season

[HornetGuru]

There's questions about Porter's lateral quickness. Not sure how well of a defender he'll end up being.

His height, length, basketball IQ and instincts will more than make up for it. He is gonna be a stud.

[da ThRONe]

His height, length, basketball IQ and instincts will more than make up for it. He is gonna be a stud.

I don't agree I think he's a solid starter. And I'm not convinced he'll be a defensive stopper.

[pmarpelicansfan]

I'll take it!!!
Although I would prefer drafting mclemore over Burke.

I don't understand how Deng isn't satisfying though?
I mean he's not quite Gordon's level but with Gordon s injuries and
His doubts about being here it kind of makes it a fair trade.
Deng carried the bulls to the playoffs this year, the dude can ball.

I love the addition of tyreke as well. This would make a solid team.

Biggest problem I see is I highly doubt bulls would give up Deng after just a great playoffs out of butler.
I think this would be more of a trade during the season thing if butler proves to the bulls that he can ball consistently.

[NMThreeMVP]

Chicago would have to throw in pick #20 for me to do this deal. And I want Gordon gone like yesterday! No pick, and I hold my nose and hang on to Gordon.

If we worked it out though, I'd be willing to trade our pick for a young SG or PG and possibly a later pick.

I believe the value in this draft is better 13-25. None of the player in the top half are really worth the spots they'll be drafted, but if someone offers you top end of lottery compensation, you take it and trade.

[Darkhorse985]

Chicago would have to throw in pick #20 for me to do this deal. And I want Gordon gone like yesterday! No pick, and I hold my nose and hang on to Gordon.

If we worked it out though, I'd be willing to trade our pick for a young SG or PG and possibly a later pick.

I believe the value in this draft is better 13-25. None of the player in the top half are really worth the spots they'll be drafted, but if someone offers you top end of lottery compensation, you take it and trade.

I don't see that happening at all. You are way overvaluing Gordon. I don't see any other legitimate trade option other than us getting Deng. I doubt Golden State has any real interest. I would stick with Thompson and/or Barnes any day over Gordon and his inconsistency.

[PELICANSFAN]

I cannot imagine any team taking on Gordon's contract right now. We would not get any value for him in a trade. I am in the Burke camp for the draft as I think we need a true PG who can make things happen.

[msw2024]

I like this trade. Deng would bring stability to SF and we could draft a SF in next years draft. This would allow the rookie sf time to learn behind a good veteran. You could even go small with burke, rivers, tyreke or rivers, vasquez, tyreke. I agree people are over valuing gordon. We paid him a max contract to not lose him for nothing. Deng is a nice player if its the best option out there.

[da ThRONe]

I like Deng as a player I'm just convinced it's better to build a core around guys that will mature at/around the same time. Adding guys in their late 20's early 30's as core members just seems like you give the team a tighter window for success.

[Vinny6420]

Deng is very injury prone too, he'll be old when we start competing..... risking a better future to be a maybe 8th seed isnt worth it

[NMThreeMVP]

I don't see that happening at all. You are way overvaluing Gordon. I don't see any other legitimate trade option other than us getting Deng. I doubt Golden State has any real interest. I would stick with Thompson and/or Barnes any day over Gordon and his inconsistency.

Deng is a rental, with one year left on his contract. I've never been accused of overvaluing Gordon. Check every post I've made...I think he's a broad! But maybe I'm undervaluing or you're overvaluing Deng. Deng for one year is no different than Danny Granger for one year, and we'd definitely ask the Pacers to throw in pick 23. This is supposedly a "bad draft" so why wouldn't they give up the pick?

When the Heat are in your way in the East, you swing for the fences. Not getting Gordon because you don't want to include a pick in the 20s is like bunting.