Trade & FA 2024-25:

[F Gump]

“Right now, the Pelicans have no intention of waiving Zion Williamson. Their number one objective is to get him back on the court and build the right support around him.” 

I think that quote about Zion is actually true, but just doesn't tell the whole story.

Will NO waive Zion? No. Duh. Do they want him back on the court? And to have a team that makes him more effective? Yes, and yes. Obviously, and not really newsy.

But when I read it, what that snippet DOESN'T say at all is how NO sees their long term future. For their fans and Zion, it can be spun into a plan for him being there long-term. But they didn't actually say that (and if another team wanted to pursue him, who knows?), only that they want to see him playing, and playing well, as a Pelican.

[Chicagojk]

I don't believe this, but I do believe getting him back healthy so he's recovered and performing by the TDL is key.

David Griffin is terrible.  I don't know how he got such a great reputation from CLE.  I could win a championship with young Kyrie and top of form Lebron.  $133million for Zion, Ingram, CJ, and Murray????  What does it take for Benson to fire ineptitude?  Dennis Allen and Mickey Loomis were the worst HC/GM combo in the NFL.  She FINALLY fired Allen, but Loomis is still there, with rumors that he is returning.

Griffin is interesting.   He has done a fabulous job with second round picks and undrafted guys.  Just awesome. 

The trades are a little perplexing though.   Maybe he just got unlucky with a franchise guy and the rest is tough to overcome.   

Just seems like a mixed bag.  Really good drafting but just some weird trades/roster building.   I mean Marshall, Herb Jones, Alvarado, Trey Murphy.    Those are really nice moves.   McCollum is a good player but just an odd fit on every team.   They trading for Murray seemed like a bad idea.   Look at both trades too.  It seems like not a great deal for either already.


*********************
The Blazers have reached a deal to trade the veteran guard to the New Orleans Pelicans for Josh Hart, Tomas Satoransky, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Didi Louzada, a 2022 protected first-round pick and two second-round picks, a person with knowledge of the deal told USA TODAY Sports.

*******************
The Atlanta Hawks are trading All-Star guard Dejounte Murray to the New Orleans Pelicans for forward Larry Nance Jr., guard Dyson Daniels, and two first-round picks

[SleepingHero]

@esidery
The Jazz have begun shopping Collin Sexton, John Collins and Jordan Clarkson on the trade market, per @espn_macmahon (https://espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/...ions-watch).

Utah will be one of the NBA’s top sellers as they hope to bottom out to pair a young star in the draft alongside Lauri Markkanen.

[DallasMaverick]

@esidery
The Jazz have begun shopping Collin Sexton, John Collins and Jordan Clarkson on the trade market, per @espn_macmahon (https://espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/...ions-watch).

Utah will be one of the NBA’s top sellers as they hope to bottom out to pair a young star in the draft alongside Lauri Markkanen.

Collin Sexton is making $18m/yr. He's approaching his prime (25), and having arguably his best season. Defensive rating of 122.  None of the Dallas guards have a rating that bad, in fact, none over 115, including Hardy. So maybe Sexton can be your 6th-man type player?  

John Collins might be even less desirable. In his prime (27), having a really good offensive season. Defense is suspect, and a contract ($26.5m) that's more in line with a star-level player.  In comparison, PJ is just a superior value.

Clarkson is 32, making $11mil. But his game has dropped off a lot, shooting 39/27/80 this season.  Never known for his defense, kinda needs the ball to be effective.  Maybe a THJ equivalent?

Seems like neither of the three is a foundational piece for a contending team.

[Mavs2021]

Free Agents:
Omer Urtseven- I remember Mavs2021 going head over hills for this dude. For the most part, I didn't really see it. Then I saw him play against Portland and he matched up against Deandre Ayton so well. I think he had 15 points and 16 rebounds if I remember right (which I'm probably not, but it's definitely close to those numbers). After that, I finally saw a glimpse of what he could be in the league.

I have no idea who that is (Miami maybe), but if he´s good, I´ll gladly take the credit.

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

I was going to propose John Collins as our Maxi replacement before I saw he's still owed $53mill over the next 2 seasons. Ainge took a tough contract there. He'll have to be packaged with an asset of value

[SleepingHero]

I have no idea who that is (Miami maybe), but if he´s good, I´ll gladly take the credit.

Ok maybe I am taking crazy pills. I could've sworn you pointing him out when he was with the Heat and then the Jazz the last 2 years whenever he had a good game. Him and Goga. 

Between this and the fact I already failed counting to 23...Perhaps I am cray

[Mavs2021]

Ok maybe I am taking crazy pills. I could've sworn you pointing him out when he was with the Heat and then the Jazz the last 2 years whenever he had a good game. Him and Goga. 

Between this and the fact I already failed counting to 23...Perhaps I am cray

I was the Goga bandwagon, but I do remember somebody hyping up a center with an Eastern European/Central Asian name on the Heat, therefore my correct guess, who he was. So you were close enough.

[SleepingHero]

@esidery
The Rockets are open to moving reserve wing Jae’Sean Tate.

Tate is on an expiring $7.6 million salary as he remains unable to crack Houston’s rotation.

The likely asking price from Houston will be second-round draft capital.

[SleepingHero]

@hmfaigen
"All credible signals circulating about the Lakers suggest that L.A. is looking to fortify its frontcourt and add perimeter defense to assist LeBron James and Anthony Davis," rather than pursue Brandon Ingram, writes
@JakeLFischer for @TheSteinLine
.

[SleepingHero]

Just wondering how panicked the Nuggets are right now. Their only real pathway to adjusting the roster is moving MPJ. His bloated salary is also unstomachable. So I wonder if the Pelicans and the Nuggets swap wings and the Nuggets free up a significant amount of space?

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

@esidery
The Rockets are open to moving reserve wing Jae’Sean Tate.

Tate is on an expiring $7.6 million salary as he remains unable to crack Houston’s rotation.

The likely asking price from Houston will be second-round draft capital.

He'd be a good fit if he could hit a 3, but he has no outside shooting.  Good defender

[SleepingHero]

@esidery
Several contending teams are expected to pursue Kyle Kuzma on the trade market, per
@ShamsCharania
.

Kuzma is under contract through the 2026-27 on a descending salary: $23.5 million, $21.5 million, $19.4 million.

The Wizards will be one of the NBA’s top sellers.

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

@esidery
Several contending teams are expected to pursue Kyle Kuzma on the trade market, per
@ShamsCharania
.

Kuzma is under contract through the 2026-27 on a descending salary: $23.5 million, $21.5 million, $19.4 million.

The Wizards will be one of the NBA’s top sellers.

He misses 9 shots a game, 3.5 3pointers.  That's going to be a hard sell.

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

Just wondering how panicked the Nuggets are right now. Their only real pathway to adjusting the roster is moving MPJ. His bloated salary is also unstomachable. So I wonder if the Pelicans and the Nuggets swap wings and the Nuggets free up a significant amount of space?

$144mill in Joker/Jamal/MPJ/Gordon.  How did they think they could fill out the other 11 roster spots with $40mill?

[Mavs2021]

Not sure I've ever heard a player say that he'd prefer to be traded to a bad team with little-to-no chance of competing!

Kyle Kuzma and Jerian Grant.

[RGP1981]

$144mill in Joker/Jamal/MPJ/Gordon.  How did they think they could fill out the other 11 roster spots with $40mill?

I think Gordon's deal is okay... and he was with them on a lower contract previously.

MPJ's deal was the #1 killer there. They gave it to him before he had even did anything. He probably should have gotten something similar to Gordon.

Then comes Jamal's deal. Jamal is really good and was a large part of their title run when he was fit. I still think they should have given him a 25% max instead of 30% though.

NBA teams really have to stop handing out max contracts just because the CBA says they can.... cause the CBA doesn't say they have to.

[KillerLeft]

MPJ's deal was the #1 killer there. They gave it to him before he had even did anything. He probably should have gotten something similar to Gordon.

Totally agree, and I honestly believe they'd have been better off to trade MPJ a few years back, on his last contract, and ponied up enough dough to keep Jerami Grant. He was special for them during that season.

[SleepingHero]

(@esidery)
The Suns will be active on the trade market.

Jusuf Nurkic, Grayson Allen and Josh Okogie are the players many expect Phoenix to shop for rotation upgrades.

Phoenix’s 2031 first-round pick is viewed as a strong asset in the marketplace, if they decide to make an aggressive move.

[SleepingHero]

(@esidery)
The Trail Blazers have a strong trade market developing for Robert Williams.

The Bucks, Lakers, Suns, and Rockets are among the contending teams who have recently checked in on Williams.

Williams is averaging 9.6 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.9 blocks in 18.7 minutes per game.