Pelicans finalizing trade for Asik

[Primetime]

You first.

Where are you seeing that it's only top 3 protected? After the initial "heavily protected" tweet someone said, only area of contention is amounting to what other portion of the lottery is protected.

What does the possibility of AD getting hurt have to do with anything?

1. Numerous reports are that the pick goes to them if it lands between 4 - 19. If it's wrong, I can go back to enjoying my drinks and celebrating the arrival of a real center.

2. If AD gets hurt, the trade is awful (assuming numerous reports are correct). You can't discount this possibility when evaluating the trade. Because if he gets hurt, at least you get a really nice asset. So if **** hits the fan, you have something to make up for it. With this trade, if **** hits the fan, you get ... well, ****.

[Pelicantoo]

This isn't Carmelo. We have his bird rights. Begone ghost of Chris Paul

[MichaelMcNamara]

Cant possibly grade this trade until we know:

1. The protection

2. The other shoe that drops

As someone who knows the CBA and all the numbers, I am telling you all that one of the main 6 contracts MUST be traded to accommodate this trade. Once we get the full view, then we can judge the trade IMO

[iNolaNightmare]

I don't get why people are freaking out about the pick protection.

Our pick was 10 this season and we had the worst luck when it comes to injuries that I can remember in this franchise's history. So there is likely large improvement in itself. Then you take into account the upgrade of Asik over guys like Stiemsma, a likely upgrade of some kind over Aminu and the fact that Davis will probably be even better next season. We shouldn't be worrying about pick protection. Worst comes to worst we are trading the 14th pick in a bad draft. Most likely scenario is we barely keep the pick or give up the 18th or 19th pick, which would be the case if we finished 7th or 8th in the West (with the East being so bad).

Bravo cause this is a damn good comment.

[Primetime]

OK... that's a possibility that's out there no doubt.

But if he leaves, then you have 8 mill to spend on his replacement. Who's to say that top 5 pick would yield Asik's replacement?

Should be fun.

By any chance, have you ever picked up a book on Game Theory? Regardless whether or not we ever make this trade, we'd still have that 8 million to spend, so that doesn't enter the equation at all. The only thing that changes is whether or not yo have a 1st rounder (and where that 1st rounder is completely matters)

How many years do you want to be in rebuilding mode? This deal screams of a team that wants to win now. Monty has been playing with youngins and d-leaguers since CP and DW left. Its time to put a team on the court that can compete for the playoffs, and we have a couple years to prove to AD that we're trying to win or else he could decide to dip.

Maybe you want to sit thru 3 more years of hoping, but Monty, Dell, and Tom Benson aren't.

Trades like this is what puts you in constant rebuilding mode. This deal screams of a GM who has no regard for the price of a future asset. Zero regard for the price of a future asset.

Again, this is dependent on the protection.

[Mythrol]

I would have been far more comfortable if it was top 8 protected, but we are a division rival. Houston doesn't want to send Asik to us and we had to offer them something for them to bite.

When you consider that 11 months ago the discussion was Anderson for Asik . . .this is a really good trade. We have a sick front court rotation now.

I wish the pessimist would just get off it ONE TIME. Just once be happy about a single move we make.

[Eman5805]

1. Numerous reports are that the pick goes to them if it lands between 4 - 19. If it's wrong, I can go back to enjoying my drinks and celebrating the arrival of a real center.

2. If AD gets hurt, the trade is awful (assuming numerous reports are correct). You can't discount this possibility when evaluating the trade. Because if he gets hurt, at least you get a really nice asset. So if **** hits the fan, you have something to make up for it. With this trade, if **** hits the fan, you get ... well, ****.

1. Even if you're right, it means the pick isn't only top lottery protected.

2. I wrote a big paragraph response, but the bottom line is...hope AD doesn't get hurt. Simple. Because our problems would extend beyond what we gave up to get Asik.

[nosfan1019]

Cant possibly grade this trade until we know:

1. The protection

2. The other shoe that drops

As someone who knows the CBA and all the numbers, I am telling you all that one of the main 6 contracts MUST be traded to accommodate this trade. Once we get the full view, then we can judge the trade IMO

My thoughts exactly, way too early to judge this deal. I like Asik as a player and I like the fit but if we gave up a #4-19 or are force to deal Anderson to get under the cap this is a bad move.

I hate to **** on the parade but lately Dell has reminded me of a 13 y/o ADD kid making moves in NBA 2k. It bothers me too that Asik is on a one-year rental. It just reeks of a GM trying to get immediate results for job security.

That being said if it turns out being the number #15 pick in 2015 for a good/great C that re-ups for 4 years I love it.

[AUSSIE_PELICAN]

Cant possibly grade this trade until we know:

1. The protection

2. The other shoe that drops

As someone who knows the CBA and all the numbers, I am telling you all that one of the main 6 contracts MUST be traded to accommodate this trade. Once we get the full view, then we can judge the trade IMO

Who do you think it is?

[DroopyDawg]

I know Babbitt isn't in the same stratosphere as Ryno (as a shooter), but do y'all think Babbitt's ability to stretch the floor and play (SOME) defense would make Ryno expendable?

[MichaelMcNamara]

Who do you think it is?

99% chance it is Ryno, Rivers, or Gordon. 1% chance it is Jrue or Reke.

He has time to explore all avenues and get the best deal. I think we are all hoping for Gordon.

[DefensiveMind]

I've cooled considerably on this deal until I get more facts. This trade does nothing for us if we have to sacrifice Reke, Jrue or Ryno. So between Rivers, the future 1st, Gordon, PJ, Withey, Ajinca that had better be all the additional grease needed. If we lose one of the core 4, then we are stuck in 47 win purgatory unless AD turns into KG circa 2004 next season.

[MichaelMcNamara]

I know Babbitt isn't in the same stratosphere as Ryno (as a shooter), but do y'all think Babbitt's ability to stretch the floor and play (SOME) defense would make Ryno expendable?

If you think Babbitt can give you 70-75% of what Ryno does and you can move Ryno for a good SF (better than J. Green), then yes you can do it IMO. Issue with that is end of games. Other teams can hack Asik if he gets the ball or from the 5-2 minute mark in the 4th. Huge benefit from Ryno was having two great FT shooting big men late in games.

[Pick&Roll]

There comes a time in most people's lives, that aren't blessed with the silver spoon, that one has to bet on himself/herself. Dell is doing that with this move. No guarantees. Only guarantee in this league is Lebron or Duncan. Dell loves his house of cards and is calling all in. Not all in in the sense of championships, but in the sense of a longer leash. Take the glass half full, or the glass half full approach, he is gambling on perceived borrowed time and banking on a payday. I like the move, and think, with the right 3 we are playoff bound. Need that domino to fall before anything else IMO.

P&R

PS love this forum. You guys finally drew me in to post

[eatmoreyeah]

Look, maybe saying 'for sure picking in the top 5' is overstating it, but it wouldn't be all that surprising. These guys haven't done a {edited-language} thing together. And precisely because we're in the west, we may wind up selecting top ten. So to rewind, we may have given the Rockets a chance at putting together a ridiculously good team + they get to roll the dice and at worse, they opened up money. At best, they opened up money + received a top ten selection.

You realize if we didn't do the deal for Asik, another team would have? It's been known and talked about that the Pels were interested in him last year. So why not make the deal and shore up a position of great need for a player we've been targeting. We need not worry about how other teams are being constructed, only OUR team.

[MonsterMash]

It depends on what they do to make this happen. If they get back a legit player for Anderson or one of the guards then ok. If they end up just flat dumping one then lol at them.

[MichaelMcNamara]

I've cooled considerably on this deal until I get more facts. This trade does nothing for us if we have to sacrifice Reke, Jrue or Ryno. So between Rivers, the future 1st, Gordon, PJ, Withey, Ajinca that had better be all the additional grease needed. If we lose one of the core 4, then we are stuck in 47 win purgatory unless AD turns into KG circa 2004 next season.

The end of this comment made no sense to me. It reads as if you are saying a superstar version of AD gets you our of "purgatory", right? So, what does it matter if he gets there next year or the year after? For you to be stuck there, according to your perceived argument, he would have to never get there. Once he does, you are out.

[Primetime]

You realize if we didn't do the deal for Asik, another team would have? It's been known and talked about that the Pels were interested in him last year. So why not make the deal and shore up a position of great need for a player we've been targeting. We need not worry about how other teams are being constructed, only OUR team.

You realize he's making 15 million dollars this year right? He's not a steal by any means.

[PelsFan2313]

You realize he's making 15 million dollars this year right? He's not a steal by any means.

Only 8.5 against the cap.

[da ThRONe]

So what does the depth chart on this team look like after this. Especially if we don't trade one of our core members?

[itsADstime]

You realize he's making 15 million dollars this year right? He's not a steal by any means.

Cap hit is only like 8.3. Not as if we the fans are paying the difference.

[DroopyDawg]

If you think Babbitt can give you 70-75% of what Ryno does and you can move Ryno for a good SF (better than J. Green), then yes you can do it IMO. Issue with that is end of games. Other teams can hack Asik if he gets the ball or from the 5-2 minute mark in the 4th. Huge benefit from Ryno was having two great FT shooting big men late in games.

Very true.

[Smow-]

So what does the depth chart on this team look like after this. Especially if we don't trade one of our core members?

Holiday/Roberts/Jackson
Reke/Gordon
Miller/???
Davis/Anderson
Asik/Ajenca(spelling?)/Whithey

[DefensiveMind]

The end of this comment made no sense to me. It reads as if you are saying a superstar version of AD gets you our of "purgatory", right? So, what does it matter if he gets there next year or the year after? For you to be stuck there, according to your perceived argument, he would have to never get there. Once he does, you are out.

Because even 2004 KG could only do it once despite his herculean efforts. I believe the core 4 works..and since I know who the speculation is centered on as far as the follow up move I don't believe what's remaining is sustainable.

[MichaelMcNamara]

Loaded front court, loaded back court. Hole at SF.

Which unit loses a player to fill that hole? We will hopefully know soon enough