2016-2017 Realistic scenario for Upgrading Roster

Here's a realistic scenario to the Pelicans significantly improving the roster immediately. The key is Boston!!!!


What to do?

First, you make that #6 draft pick stick... This may be the most important piece to the puzzle because it will allow for a relatively cheap player who can be a core piece without going into rebuild mode again. I for one think Hield is that pick, but would be OK with Dunn. Don't think Murray will amount to anything more than a 6th man on a quality team but I believe Hield may be a future All Star and has more than enough ability to be an All NBA defender. Same with Dunn if he develops his shot, which I fully expect.

As for our infamous 3 spot, I'm all for signing Barnes, but at the right price. He's NOT a max player and we don't need to put ourselves in another Gordon situation. He's not remotely close to a 1st or 2nd option on a championship caliber team and that's my barometer for being worthy of a max-deal, real simple. So if he can't sign with us for less than that, I'm fine and in turn, Dell should laser focus on Jeff Green, Bazemore, or someone that we know is better than what we have been accustomed to. I believe we would be a perfect fit for Green to re-establish himself as a starter in this league. Give him a 3 year deal and I think we wouldn't regret it. He should be our priority this off-season.

Should we re-sign Ryan Anderson??? Although, he was a coup for us when the trade was made for Ayon (don't know what the hell Orlando was doing), at this point, if his three ain't falling he is an overall liability. I'm OK with letting him go. I think Dell 2nd biggest mistake in his whole tenure as GM, is not trading Anderson at the deadline for assets that could have been part of the picture moving forward. I think Anderson would have merit a late lottery- low 1st round pick and a quality, young bench player that could have been part of next year's team. Nonetheless, I would seriously see if a sign and trade could be worked out with Boston.. A perfect trade would be Anderson and the 39 pick for the 23rd and 31st pick, and maybe Evan Turner (if we bust in SF free agency) or James Young/RJ Hunter/Jordan Mickey.

With the 23rd pick in hand, I select either Valentine (probably gone) Bembry or Bentl if available. Others to consider: Chieck Diablo, Taurean Prince, Malik Beasley. With the 31st pick, I look at Diamond Stone, Malcolm Brogdon who I feel with have a solid NBA career or Patrick McCaw.

Nonetheless, u have retooled your bench with players who if 2 or 3 pan out, makes this team a real threat all of a sudden to compete on a Davis timeline and we will be able to sustain it for the considerable future.

2016-2017 Projected Roster:

PG: Jrue Holiday, Tim Frazier, Malcolm Brogdon/Patrick McCaw (40th pick)
SG: Buddy Hield (6th pick) Tyreke Evans, James Young
SF: Jeff Green (or Evan Turner), QPON, Deandre Bembry (23rd pick)
PF: Anthony Davis, Dante Cunningham, Ben Bentl/Diamond Stone (31st pick)
C: Omer Asik, Alex Ajinca,

This scenario creates a solid team with flexibility to determine which players will be part of the future core and who needs to go. Also, overnight we go from basically no movable trade assets to a whole team worth besides Asik, but he may be movable if one of our bench players become coveted and expendable due to redundancy at a position.

You have great shooting, capable defenders, solid rebounding, players that can play multiple positions, experience mixed with youth and the odds are in your favor that this team becomes championship contenders within 2 or 3 years. Plus, you should have the assets to possibly make the trade for the 2nd bona-fide All Star to pair with Davis if Hield is not already that guy. Long thread, I know, but this scenario makes us formidable and flexible in the future and Dell looks like a genius and keeps his job. Hey Dell, your welcome.. Thoughts???