2024 Offseason Thread

[msusousaphone]

But can it play center?

[Darkhorse985]

Wet dream trade=

Kings get
Brandon Ingram

Jazz get
Harrison Barnes
Chris Duarte
2025 Trailblazers 2nd round pick via Kings
2026 Kings 1st round pick
2027 Pelicans 1st round pick
2028 Kings 1st round pick
2029 Pelicans 1st round pick

Pelicans get
Lauri Markkanen to be a small ball center next to Zion and a PF when Zion is out.
Walker Kessler (traditional center, matchup driven)
Trey Lyles (backup PF)

Pels depth chart

PG: Murray/Alvarado
SG: McCullum/Hawkins/Reeves
SF: Jones/Murphy/Ryan
PF: Zion/Lyles/Robinson-Earl
C: Markkanen/Kessler/Missi

[mriguy]

Above could happen if we include our 2025 first rounder. Ainge won’t trade him if he doesn’t get at least five firsts.

[Darkhorse985]

Above could happen if we include our 2025 first rounder. Ainge won’t trade him if he doesn’t get at least five firsts.

Ainge can suck it then. He won’t get a better deal than that.

[PELICANSFAN]

Season may be months away but, let's be fair, we all know things are vastly more likely to happen in the FA period than later.

Yes, the Donovan Mitchell trade happened in September but the reason that was so shocking was that it's an outlier.

Generally speaking, this is when things get done. There's always an outside chance of a move later in the summer but it's a pretty reasonable assumption to think that the big moves are over in the first two weeks of July.

No need to panic. The new league year has not even started yet.

[hornetsrebirth]

Wet dream trade=

Kings get
Brandon Ingram

Jazz get
Harrison Barnes
Chris Duarte
2025 Trailblazers 2nd round pick via Kings
2026 Kings 1st round pick
2027 Pelicans 1st round pick
2028 Kings 1st round pick
2029 Pelicans 1st round pick

Pelicans get
Lauri Markkanen to be a small ball center next to Zion and a PF when Zion is out.
Walker Kessler (traditional center, matchup driven)
Trey Lyles (backup PF)

Pels depth chart

PG: Murray/Alvarado
SG: McCullum/Hawkins/Reeves
SF: Jones/Murphy/Ryan
PF: Zion/Lyles/Robinson-Earl
C: Markkanen/Kessler/Missi

That would be so perfect? I'd even give up more to make this happen

[mriguy]

Ainge can suck it then. He won’t get a better deal than that.

Do you think Lauri is better than Bridges? Look at what he was traded for.

[Darkhorse985]

Do you think Lauri is better than Bridges? Look at what he was traded for.

About the same, but I think the bridges trade was an overpay. No one is giving up 5 1sts for Markannen nor do the mentioned interested teams have the war chest to do so.

[Spanish_pelican]

I don't like Markkanen in the C, in offense is really good but defense... is non existent in the paint. Yes, Zion improved but we would the the worst in the NBA defending the paint.
And being honest don't think we have assets (or even in a 3-team trade) to get Lauri.

We have to get a decent C for rebounding and defense and some depth in the sf-pf-c

[hornetsrebirth]

I don't like Markkanen in the C, in offense is really good but defense... is non existent in the paint. Yes, Zion improved but we would the the worst in the NBA defending the paint.
And being honest don't think we have assets (or even in a 3-team trade) to get Lauri.

We have to get a decent C for rebounding and defense and some depth in the sf-pf-c

I think the center position more than any other depends on the matchup. If there's a big and strong bully type C we are going against then I don't like him at the five. If it's a small ball situation I am very intrigued by it.

[Pelicanidae]

Brandon Ingram's name has been heating up in trade talks recently, and it looks like his days in New Orleans are coming to an end, per @TheSteinLine

“Attempts in New Orleans to trade Brandon Ingram have intensified in recent days, league sources say. Sources tell The Stein Line… pic.twitter.com/GKVkgI2qzb

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) July 4, 2024

[Pelicanidae]

PG: Murray/Alvarado
SG: McCullum/Hawkins/Reeves
SF: Jones/Murphy/Ryan
PF: Zion/Lyles/Robinson-Earl
C: Markkanen/Kessler/Missi

I like how even in a wet dream trade we can't get Trey starting.

[Darkhorse985]

I like how even in a wet dream trade we can't get Trey starting.

I think Trey gets extended at 4 years $100 million and takes McCullum’s starting spot in 1-2 years . Adding Markkanen gives us plenty of shooting to keep Herb in the starting lineup. It’s not like Herb doesn’t deserve to be a starter. 1st team all defense players arent 6th men. CJ still getting 20 points a game with 39% at 3. Also, does it really matter? Willie will distribute the minutes as he wants.

[Darkhorse985]

I don't like Markkanen in the C, in offense is really good but defense... is non existent in the paint. Yes, Zion improved but we would the the worst in the NBA defending the paint.
And being honest don't think we have assets (or even in a 3-team trade) to get Lauri.

We have to get a decent C for rebounding and defense and some depth in the sf-pf-c

See Walker Kessler/Missi as needed for matchup purposes. Centers like Kessler/Missi don’t get more than 20-25 minutes a game in the modern NBA.

[hornetsrebirth]

I think Trey gets extended at 4 years $100 million and takes McCullum’s starting spot in 1-2 years . Adding Markkanen gives us plenty of shooting to keep Herb in the starting lineup. It’s not like Herb doesn’t deserve to be a starter. 1st team all defense players arent 6th men. CJ still getting 20 points a game with 39% at 3. Also, does it really matter? Willie will distribute the minutes as he wants.

Yup. Murray/CJ is the starting backcourt combo for sure, Herb developed a catch and shoot 3 to go with his outstanding defense and you just cant justify sending him to the bench. The only way Trey starts next season is if/when one of those 3 is injured.

[hornetsrebirth]

I would legit rather pay and keep BI than trade him for Barnes and Huerter tho, that just makes no sense without a 3rd team involved (Utah)

[Pelicanidae]

I think Trey gets extended at 4 years $100 million and takes McCullum’s starting spot in 1-2 years . Adding Markkanen gives us plenty of shooting to keep Herb in the starting lineup. It’s not like Herb doesn’t deserve to be a starter. 1st team all defense players arent 6th men. CJ still getting 20 points a game with 39% at 3. Also, does it really matter? Willie will distribute the minutes as he wants.

Yeah it's not Herb I'm suggesting go to the bench, it's CJ. I know that for various reasons (WG's respect for seniority over everything, his contract value, etc) that will never happen, but again if we're dreaming why not dream big.

In any case, if I'm Trey and I'm still coming off the bench in year 5 despite having earned $25m a year and being one of the league's best and most dangerous shooters, I'm considering asking for a trade. Team clearly does not value you that much.

Edit: to be clear, I'm not saying he would or should ask for a trade. I'm just saying he should be considering it. If you'd start on 20-25 teams in the league but you're forced to keep coming off the bench for politics sake, you should be annoyed.

[msusousaphone]

If the cap is impossible to balance keeping BI, how does it look trading him out for Markannen and Kessler?

[AUSSIE_PELICAN]

If the cap is impossible to balance keeping BI, how does it look trading him out for Markannen and Kessler?

This year totally fine. 22M v's 36M for this season.
Next season will be tax for sure as need to extend Trey and Markannen. They would need to offload CJ.

[hornetsrebirth]

Yeah it's not Herb I'm suggesting go to the bench, it's CJ. I know that for various reasons (WG's respect for seniority over everything, his contract value, etc) that will never happen, but again if we're dreaming why not dream big.

In any case, if I'm Trey and I'm still coming off the bench in year 5 despite having earned $25m a year and being one of the league's best and most dangerous shooters, I'm considering asking for a trade. Team clearly does not value you that much.

Edit: to be clear, I'm not saying he would or should ask for a trade. I'm just saying he should be considering it. If you'd start on 20-25 teams in the league but you're forced to keep coming off the bench for politics sake, you should be annoyed.

I don't think it has to do with politics, seniority, or contracts. I think it's because of who is better at playing basketball and who fits in that spot.

[Darkhorse985]

This year totally fine. 22M v's 36M for this season.
Next season will be tax for sure as need to extend Trey and Markannen. They would need to offload CJ.

The trade I previously outlined actually saves the Pels money this year.

CJ would be an expiring next year that would need to be traded. TMIII would take his place as the starting SG. It would essentially be replacing BI and CJ’s combined salary with TMIII, Markkanen, and Kessler next year.

Or… or… Gayle can open her coinpurse for 1 year and pay the luxury tax.

[13 - 3]

Brandon Ingram's name has been heating up in trade talks recently, and it looks like his days in New Orleans are coming to an end, per @TheSteinLine

“Attempts in New Orleans to trade Brandon Ingram have intensified in recent days, league sources say. Sources tell The Stein Line… pic.twitter.com/GKVkgI2qzb

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) July 4, 2024

[JJackisangry]

Watch BI and CJ go in the same trade. That would be wild.

[13 - 3]

ESPN Sources: Free agent Buddy Hield is joining Golden State on a sign-and-trade deal guaranteed for two years and $21 million. Hield gets $18M in first two years, a $3M partial guarantee in 3rd year and player option on non-guaranteed 4th year. Warriors send Sixers 2031 second…

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 4, 2024

[Darkhorse985]

Watch BI and CJ go in the same trade. That would be wild.

CJ going to the Jazz with Barnes and Duarte going to the Pels would work in my previous trade suggestion. Pelicandae could then release his pent up river.

Pels depth chart…

PG: Murray/Alvarado/Reeves
SG: Murphy/Hawkins/Duarte
SF: Jones/Barnes/Ryan
PF: Zion/Lyles/Robinson-Earl
C: Markkanen/Kessler/Missi