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Hot take: CJ Should Stay

Posted on 1/13/25 at 10:01 am
Posted by 50_Tiger
Arlington TX
Member since Jan 2016
41642 posts
Posted on 1/13/25 at 10:01 am
I get it, he’s our lovable non clutch basketball you know what, BUT he is exactly what we need at the SG position. The only reason to trade him at this point is to get a younger version of him that’s on par or slightly lower than him for a better cap position.

This also depends on where we fall in the draft as well. If we land Flagg or Harper you still have the opportunity to trade him next deadline.

With all that said. Don’t let him take any more final shots PLEASE.
Posted by Galactic Inquisitor
An Incredibly Distant Star
Member since Dec 2013
16879 posts
Posted on 1/13/25 at 10:17 am to
I'm not sure who else you want taking that shot. Zion is way too passive, and CJ was about 1/4 from a dagger. Dejounte has missed more clutch shots than he has made this year. Trey would have been nice, but he doesn't always do a great job of making himself available.
Posted by Delusional
Member since Dec 2018
5224 posts
Posted on 1/13/25 at 10:38 am to
We're not winning anything of note in the near future so I'm glad we have him. At least he's available and makes games exciting.
This post was edited on 1/13/25 at 10:39 am
Posted by NOFOX
New Orleans
Member since Jan 2014
10031 posts
Posted on 1/13/25 at 10:44 am to
If we can get any value for him, then you trade him. He didn’t sign up for a tank

If he’s negative value in a trade, then keep him.

Posted by Macintosh
Leveraging Salaries University
Member since Sep 2011
53813 posts
Posted on 1/13/25 at 10:52 am to
Yall never learn
Posted by TigerinATL
Member since Feb 2005
62382 posts
Posted on 1/13/25 at 11:39 am to
A lot depends on if there is a BI trade and what that looks like. Trading CJ next year probably gets you more value than this year, so if a BI trade can get you the tax relief you need, you kick the CJ can down the road unless there is a good deal available.
Posted by Macintosh
Leveraging Salaries University
Member since Sep 2011
53813 posts
Posted on 1/13/25 at 11:47 am to
quote:

Trading CJ next year probably gets you more value than this year
based on what exactly? History says roleplayers value decreases the longer you keep them. He’s 33 and a lot of contending teams rn feel they have a chance with Boston not being as elite as last year and the top teams in the west are very young and inexperienced in the playoff. He’s been playing well of late too.
This post was edited on 1/13/25 at 11:53 am
Posted by GOP_Tiger
Baton Rouge
Member since Jan 2005
19821 posts
Posted on 1/13/25 at 11:59 am to
We really need to trade both him and BI. Doesn't even really matter what we get back. It's about money.
Posted by Split2874
Mandeville
Member since Jul 2012
2830 posts
Posted on 1/13/25 at 12:23 pm to
I can see a playoff team inquiring about CJ especially is if somebody gets hurt on a playoff team.

Posted by TigerinATL
Member since Feb 2005
62382 posts
Posted on 1/13/25 at 12:35 pm to
quote:

based on what exactly?


His contract being an expiring next year. We gave up a 1st for CJ and were in a bidding war with 2 other teams when he was generally considered a negative asset around the league. So if you find a deal for actual value, take it. But if there isn't one there then he becomes salary in a bigger trade next year.
Posted by Townedrunkard
Member since Jan 2019
11165 posts
Posted on 1/13/25 at 1:16 pm to
quote:

based on what exactly?


Expiring contract I’m guessing. Teams can get off a bad longer term contract for an experienced helpful player.

But yiu never know, may fall off a cliff like what happened to Reddick, and we don’t get crap.
Posted by brmark70816
Atlanta, GA
Member since Feb 2011
10500 posts
Posted on 1/13/25 at 2:27 pm to
I have a simple philosophy when it comes to roster construction and the draft. If you take a guy top 5-10, he starts year 1. No exceptions, no projects. I don't care how bad it makes the team. The only way to develop talent is to play.

This is important, cause we should have a top 5 pick. That player, whoever they are, should start day one, right away. So everything depends on who we take. But whoever is in front of that player has got to change positions or they have to go. We can't trade Murray, so if we take a guard (like Harper), McCollum has to go. He can't play any other role. So alot will depend on the draft..
Posted by Dantheman504
N/A
Member since Jun 2013
4718 posts
Posted on 1/13/25 at 2:32 pm to
quote:

But you never know, may fall off a cliff like what happened to Reddick, and we don’t get crap.


Actually this isn't even the worst part of that situation.

The worst part would be wasting another offseason not knowing what our future team will look like and losing 30min a game on someone who isn't a part of our long term plans/ window.

If we make that decision then we are choosing to delay the rebuild and waste another year with Herb,Trey, Zion, etc

We aren't in a position to say "we will win a championship next year". Maybe we will be legit but our timeline is really now 2,3,4 years from now.

So anyone we don't see on that team at that time should leave asap IMO.
This post was edited on 1/13/25 at 2:40 pm
Posted by shel311
McKinney, Texas
Member since Aug 2004
112320 posts
Posted on 1/14/25 at 2:23 pm to
quote:

History says roleplayers value decreases the longer you keep them
I don't think every player fits under the category of each star player or role player.

CJ is in that in between category. Not good enough to be a star player, but he's certainly too good to be considered a role player IMO.

He's a dude who has averaged 20ppg for 12 years straight, still going strong, and only 1 year left on his deal after this one.
Posted by VOR
Member since Apr 2009
64833 posts
Posted on 1/14/25 at 6:41 pm to
The most professional guy on the team.
Posted by jonjonsmith
Member since Jan 2024
64 posts
Posted on 1/16/25 at 7:03 am to
He's a dude who has averaged 20ppg for 12 years straight, still going strong, and only 1 year left on his deal after this one.


20 points a game on a bad team, is not the same as 20 points a game on a good team.
Posted by supe12sta12z
Tiger Town
Member since Apr 2012
11618 posts
Posted on 1/16/25 at 8:47 am to
McCollum has been good for Trey and Murray. Even if you move him, the Pelicans will have to replace the scoring and the spacing he brings to the floor. I'm not against it but I question the ability to bring in a proper replacement especially now that we know Hawkins is too hot and cold while being worse on defense. It's a tough situation to be in if they intend to compete next season.

Either way, it simply won't be an addition by subtraction and they'll absolutely need to find a prolific scorer/shooter to add to the roster if they choose to move him.
Posted by TeddyPadillac
Member since Dec 2010
28136 posts
Posted on 1/16/25 at 9:10 am to
I was hoping Hawkins would take that next step and could fill CJ's role next year. And I don't mean that as a starter like CJ and average 20+ a game, but as a bench role shooter that would give you 12+ a night and the occasional 20+ when he's hot. I do think the back injury is limiting him this year, but I have less and less faith that he can provide what I'm looking for next year in replacing CJ.

Posted by spaghettioeauxs
Baton Rouge
Member since Jan 2017
2003 posts
Posted on 1/16/25 at 10:04 am to
I don’t know, Hawkins had a few games he was sniping from every spot on the court before he hurt his back. If he gets healthy, I’m confident in him. He plays with a lot of confidence and intention. Regardless, basically everything depends on Zion to be that gravity puller. Zion has the same ability as LeBron to make every player around him better. Hawkins can be an elite scorer playing off of Zion, but being a focal point? Probably not.
Posted by TeddyPadillac
Member since Dec 2010
28136 posts
Posted on 1/16/25 at 10:36 am to
We don't need Hawkins to be a focal point. CJ is capable of being that guy from time to time, but he was great last year b/c he was 3rd guy and not the focal point.
YOu move CJ and BI, then you absolutely have to bring back in a focal point kind of offensive player that will absorb the defensive pressure with Zion, and allow Murray and Trey and the rest of the role players to play a role within the offense.

Hawkins shooting is different than a C&S 3 guy. With a different coach, I think you'd see even more off ball movement from him, which he's one of the few guys that actually moves off ball now, and the type of shooter he is demands constant defensive attention. Kyle Korver later in his career would play 20 mpg, take 5 3's and maybe 1 or 2 pull ups when run off the line, and would have the attention of the defense all 20 minutes as he ran around screens. That's what Zion needs around him, and tha'ts a skill set that you don't find often in the league. But he's got to start hitting those shots near 40% for that attention from the defense to really be there.

and I love his confidence too, and I don't want to give up on him. I really don't like the idea that's been floating around of trading him just to get out of the tax. That would piss me off if they did that.

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