re: Pelican Fans Perspective for 2014

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Small market teams have to build through the draft. Jrue is a great piece to this team no doubt, but I think we are still missing a piece to really put this team in contention.

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There is a big difference between drafting well and getting lucky here and there (SA) and relying on the draft as the only means to get better.

This "have to build through the draft" is an empty platitude.

This market size thing is for the birds, as well. Good management correlates much more with success than butts near the Arena. Lakers and Clippers through the years are the only proof necessary, but Knicks and Nets are there if someone wants another go.

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Been against "tanking" and this idiotic conception of the "Thunder Model" from the jump. Piles of data and rational thought all point to just winning making things better WHEN you have good management.

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42, are you disparaging my tank-your-way-to-success methodology?!? Seriously, though, I do agree that you can't just sit in the top lottery's top five every year until you think you've built your 'core' of future all-stars. Teams that do that are usually the same ones that sit there forever.

Regarding the trade I can't say for certain that it was the most 'efficient' use of the number six pick but I understand the logic behind it. You speed up the timetable plus you get a fairly proven commodity versus an unknown at the point like Burke or Carter-Williams. And so long as the 2014 is top five protected it isn't a big of an asset is a lot of people might think. In the last half dozen or so drafts you can't pick out more than a few elite talents that went in the 6-12 range. After that you can easily buy your way back into the first round.

Regarding Iguodala I'm not as high on signing him as others. Whereas a 23 year old can fit both the 'win now' and 'build for the future' approaches, a 30 year old (with a large contract) is an all-in proposition and one that I don't think would get the team to the Finals. If Tyreke Evans could legitimately play small forward I think that would be the better move.

Also, hi.