How would you rebuild this team around AD?

As much as people talk about Golden State and San Antonio's offense, they have had top 3 defenses when they were winning/competing for titles. The new direction in defense, which Golden State is leading the league towards, is versatile defenders that can guard multiple positions and switch freely on the NBA's go to play, the Pick and Roll. I don't want defense only guys like Aminu, but 2 way players that can guard 2-3 positions should be the core of the team.

To me that means AD/Jrue/QPon/Dante can stay. I don't know much about Morris, but he would seem to fit the criteria as well.

We need an active center like gobert or drummond.
Or if we play AD at C then someone like Monroe that can play a decent two man post game and has a decent jumper.

A pg similar to Dragic that gets 8-10 assists a game and can score.
a roll player at sf that can guard multiple positions.

Fill in the roster with guys that play hard and can shoot 3s.

Tear it down to jrue, Quincy, AD. Add a cheap vertical spacing big man (alley oops) that can defend well enough (think Biyambo) Add a Defensive SF/PF (think Harrison Barnes) that can be respected from the arc.

Nows where it gets fun. jrue becomes your shooting guard and you go for a player with actually above average passing skills and isn't dumb at the point (think Rubio or wall) so that AD can get the ball in non obvious situations that defenses shut down. I'm tired of seeing post entry passes get stolen...

Rest of the positions I agree with TigerinATL on, just good two way players that can switch effectively and shoot average. You don't need great shooting if you have good movement, average shooting will do.

I want Davis as mainly a 5 but the ability to throw the defensive minded dude in there next to him (asik theoretically works but he just blows now) will be essential.

And I like ajinca so he can stay too

Add that we need more two way players for starting position as well.

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The wasting AD line is flawed

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Ok. Looking into the near future, what do you see that is promising? Other than having AD. We're probably stuck with Asik unless Dell sends out a pick, which he absolutely can't do. We're outmatched in free agency. We're probably going to win enough games this year to just miss the playoffs and get a fringe starter through the draft with the #10 pick. How are we going to add talent?

I feel like Peliclown, but I've been positive and excited over the last few years about our future. I don't see us being a championship team in the next 5 years, plain and simple. I hope I'm wrong, but the cap expansion is coming at the wrong time for us. We aren't a target destination, and like I said earlier, larger markets - and even small markets like Minnesota, Milwaukee - have us beat in free agency. The Pels aren't making a good name for themselves by underperforming with a top 5 player in the league.

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I don't see us being a championship team in the next 5 years, plain and simple.

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We need to avoid locking into any more long term money we can't trade easily, which is questionable with the pressure Demps must be feeling, but if we can, the team would have tons of flexibility in 2017. Asik would be at the point in his contract Splitter was when San Antonio gave him away, so maybe you can get Asik off the books, and if you do that you only are committed to AD/QPon/Dante/Ajinca with Bird Rights to Jrue and Tyreke. That's $74 million in cap space if you don't bring back Tyreke and Jrue in an offseason that is likely to see a ton of star level talent switch teams.

Pretend we are Boston but with AD on the roster

Competent FO
Young up and coming coach
Array of younger talent
Stockpile of picks
Huge money to spend in coming year

Pels could've chosen the same route, but it started with hiring better decision makers in lieu of Dell and Loomis. Now we've wasted a few years with the island of misfit toys

Young coach with a plan
Trade Gordon
Hit on the rivers pick
Keep Noel or #6
Keep 2014 1st
Which means no holiday and his contract
Retain GV and Lopez
Which means Don't trade for evans + $$
Don't acquire Asik
And certainly don't resign him

Yea it would've sucked for a few years, but you got AD and some young guys learning and playing hard, in theory. You got a plan and not forcing pieces that don't work. Being bad if you're supposed to be, fine. Being terrible when you're trying to be good with the best player in the league, no thanks

So I'd like to try this again and start from scratch. I don't want any of these guys except AD and ish. Clear money, get as many picks as possible, find a coach and gm. Let AD work out with potential draftees and FAs, get one or two of his guys in here.

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I don't want any of these guys except AD and ish.

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Ish Smith is a core piece now?

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Jrue has chronic injury issues.

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This is true.

And like almost virtually every other injury maligned talent that plays in New Orleans, he will undoubtedly have several years of 75+ game seasons with solid/great productivity on his new team.