re: 6th man

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If the best bench player in the league (JR Smith) is only getting 5-6M a year,

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wut?

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I'm sure the team had a bigger role in mind for him and that would have to include starting.

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I think they did too, but that doesn't mean they told Tyreke that. It's not like they said "Tyreke, you haven't gotten as good as people hoped you would and not many people are beating down your door with offers, so how about coming off the bench and being our Janero Pargo?" They said "We've assembled this exciting young team and although we already have several good guards, we think your versatility will let you be our Manu Ginobili and have a huge impact on our team coming off the bench. We think we can make the playoffs this year with your help."

What damage is there to Tyreke's reputation in doing what he did Friday? Everyone played a part in that final run, Gordon scored as many points including the 3 that put the team ahead for good, AD was AD, yet Tyreke is being talked about by the fans more than anyone. Why wouldn't he be completely happy with that role? Your point is that starter is an important label, but it's not the only good label there is. Hero is a good label too. So is game changer and winner, especially after 4 years in Sactown.

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To be fair that article came out months after the trade. I'm sure Evans would have agreed to anything to get the biggest contract. But I'm sure the team had a bigger role in mind for him and that would have to include starting.

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So they made the trade and, before seeing the players in a game/practice together, Monty realized that something had gone wrong and that he wouldn't be able to start Evans as expected?

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The only way I'd expect Reke to ever start for the Pelicans in the near future is if EG goes down or we trade him away. That was the situation when we signed him and it's still the situation now. Everyone knew he'd be coming off the bench. Even him.

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I really just can't believe that. It's just reckless if it's true and horrible planning. With the salary cap, a team can only have 3-4 10M+ players (unless you have a billionaire Russian owner). The Pelicans already have 3 (Holiday, Gordon and Evans) and one really close (Anderson). Davis is a lock to get an extension after next season, but they will be capped out. So they'll have to go over to sign him. How are they going to add anymore players then? That's why you can't have bench players making 10M+.

I think, like Anderson, they saw a chance to add an asset and hoped Evans would be a steal. Which he still could be. But if the plan was for him to back-up 3 positions, while keeping Aminu as the starter and cutting Rivers/Roberts minutes, then that was a weird plan.

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Yeah, I think it matters, to the players at least. If it didn't matter, then why do all the good players in the NBA start? Why don't more teams bring their 2nd or 3rd best players off the bench?

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spurs use manu off the bench(even when he was a top 5 SG 4+ years ago)

JR is arguably the second best player on the knicks

The rockets have basically put lin(who makes 8mil/year) as a sixth man and he's averaging 15/5

Jamal crawford has been a rock solid player forever and is a sixth man.

Harrison Barnes in GS

Paul milsap when he was with the jazz

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I don't think you fully understand the NBA..

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He's got a point. Let's look at how this plays out long term. Best case scenario you can resign Gordon in 2 years for a pay cut to around $9-$10 million per year. Anthony Davis gets a Rose/Griffin size extension so you have

Davis $16
Holiday $10
Gordon $10
Evans $10
Anderson $9

That's $55 million, so you are just $3 million beneath the cap with your core 5.

Lets assume you need at least an Aminu and a Smith at about $4 million each. Then you have 2 guys you draft averaging around $2 million each. Then add 5 minimum contracts to fill the roster, another $5 million. That puts you at $72 million. Right at or around the tax line.

So assuming the best case scenario of pay freezes for anyone not named Anthony Davis and a pay cut for Eric Gordon (which is possible, Monta Ellis only got $8.5 per), you can keep the band together. When does the best case scenario play out though? I don't see all of these pieces being able to stay together long term.

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I don't think you fully understand the NBA.. Acquiring talent, regardless of position, is paramount

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To an extent, you are right. But not totally. You don't overload at a position and you shouldn't overpay for it. The goal is to acquire cheap assets and then sell them high. That way you are dealing from a position of strength and you have pieces that people want. What do the Pelicans have now as far as movable players? It's not a full cupboard..

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Evans was brought in because he's a combo guard that can play 3 positions. He gives Monty a lot of flexibility to put different lineups on the court.

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That is what they are selling now. But, I'm telling you, nobody gets 11M to be a bench player or to be a primary back-up. Everybody can scream Manu, but that is one example out of 30 teams and even SA isn't paying him like that anymore.

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He'll get his minutes and benefit from being surrounded by guys that allow him to do what he's best at.

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I'm not an Evans fan, though I hope he becomes great. But I watched him and the Kings a lot. His game doesn't change, he doesn't do anything great and he doesn't make others players better. I hope I'm wrong, but that just hasn't been who he is. He gets stats, that's it..

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You also don't need an allstar center, in this league, to win a title. Guards and forwards win you titles. All we need is a Tyson Chandler type that can contribute with pick and rolls, and dominate on the boards

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Dude, I hate to break this to you, but Chandler is an all star Center and one of the top 3 Centers in the league (or he was when he played in Dallas). He also makes 10M+ a year, which is why NO traded him away in the first place. That kind of kills your whole point.

Interesting, I wasn't aware of the Rose Rule, thanks.

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Gordon has a player option for his last

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You don't think that he'll opt in for his $15m? I would think that would almost be a guarantee.

Yeah. If he feels the need to lock up long term money, ie he's injured, he won't be able to get a good contract. And if he's playing well, he's probably looking in the neighborhood of Monta Ellis/Tyreke money which is a pay cut. He'd pretty much have to become worthy of a max level deal to not be losing money by opting out.

From a Pelicans perspective you almost want him to opt out though. That's your last chance to have cap space. There may be some small 1 week window to use Gordon's cap space on a FA before AD actually signs his new deal in the 2016-2017 offseason, but if Gordon isn't here for the long haul really should turn him or his salary into something else before Davis' 2nd contract.