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I saw this proposal in an article today; enjoy. I'm all in!!
New Orleans Pelicans Receive: C Jonas Valanciunas, F Kyle Anderson
Memphis Grizzlies Receive: C Steven Adams, G Eric Bledsoe, 2021 first-round pick, 2022 second-round pick (via Cleveland Cavaliers)
The Pelicans need to start making the playoffs as soon as next season to keep the young core happy, especially with Zion Williamson becoming extension eligible in 2022.
Adams is a solid center, but having two non-thee-point shooters on the court at the same time in today's NBA is a death sentence for spacing.
Valanciunas has only gotten better as an outside shooter, going 21-of-55 this season (38.2 percent) from beyond the arc. He's got the same type of toughness Adams brings on defense and on the boards, but with a better overall offensive game.
Anderson is the ideal sixth man, able to play and defend multiple positions while acting as both scorer and playmaker. He's enjoying a career year with 12.2 points, 5.9 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.3 steals and a 34.9 percent mark from three.
Getting off Bledsoe's contract while freeing up more minutes for the young guards would be a blessing as well.
Adams is basically the basketball equivalent of a grizzly bear, so it seems only right he play in Memphis. He's a far better fit alongside Jaren Jackson Jr., who spends more offensive time on the perimeter than Zion Williamson. Having Adams around means Jackson doesn't have to defend opposing centers, either.
Bledsoe gives Ja Morant a veteran in the backcourt to learn from, but primarily nets the Grizzlies the Pelicans first-round pick in this year's draft, a selection that's currently projected to be 11th overall.
New Orleans gets better immediately while Memphis adds a lottery pick to try and land a third star in the draft.
I would do that in a microsecond but no way Memphis would. Jonas is insanely valuable to that team both on and off the court and they dont need another middling young prospect. They have tasted the playoff/play in twice now and want to move up, not down. They actually have too many guys and I would anticipate they try to package a few of them and a pick or two to get better, not worse.
I think you would see that if we had one - Olynyk to use your example - that the trade off for a little more space but worse defense and worse screen setting, less offensive rebounds, etc would be a net neutral trade off. It wouldnt move the needle. The guard who could run the offense, settle things down, get to the line (which neither Lonzo or Bledsoe do), etc would move the needle far, far more
Fair enough, I can't imagine the defense being worse, but I'm just stubborn. And I definitely think the games of both Zion and Ingram (maybe even more than Zion) would benefit with an accessible rim. The energy it takes now to get there on the offensive end is enormous.
I agree with MM . The main weaknesses in this team have been (a) guards (b) defence (c) bench so trading for a stretch five doesn't necessarily mean a net improvement. IMO our centre mix is solid at the moment with Adams/Jax/Billy its the backcourt that needs a rebuild more than anything.
Just another Kiwi basking in the reflected glory of Steven Adams....bask bask...
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