re: NBA Offseason officially kicks off, Ingram’s days in NOLA coming to an end per Stein

Seems to me like both Kessler and WCJ are easily available. Kessler we don't even have to give salary back can just fit him into the TPE.

But maybe they just don't want to do anything until BI is settled? Or they want to wait and see if the price goes down to nothing?

Whatever it is, its a game because you may lose the chance to piecemeal the Center position with guys signing elsewhere.

Allegedly only a 1st which is a little hard to believe. But maybe we don't want to give up one, or they want it completely unprotected which is pretty dumb for someone like Kessler.

They may just sign guys like Robinson and Reed and wait it out.

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Seems to me like both Kessler and WCJ are easily available. Kessler we don't even have to give salary back can just fit him into the TPE.

But maybe they just don't want to do anything until BI is settled? Or they want to wait and see if the price goes down to nothing?

Whatever it is, its a game because you may lose the chance to piecemeal the Center position with guys signing elsewhere.

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The issue with WCJ is his salary, we have 12 players on the roster and we're less than 1 million under the tax. His salary could fit into the MLE, but we can't do that because we're capped at the first apron which is about 8 million over the tax line. We also don't really have many salaries that we can send out, without losing a key contributor. Kessler is the easiest fit, which would still put us into the tax (but at this point anyone will). We're pretty much going to be in the tax unless we send out BI.

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His salary could fit into the MLE, but we can't do that because we're capped at the first apron which is about 8 million over the tax line.

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You also can't trade for someone using the MLE like you would a trade exception.
He's not a FA. You can't just fit him into the MLE. you have to send out equal trade value.

JV's TE is only $9M, Kira's is $5.7M. You can't combine them, and i think you can take back the value +$500k.


WCJ makes $12.3M.
If we are getting WCJ, that means BI is being traded somewhere else and they are eating salary, and the only teams that can do that are the Jazz and Pistons as they are the only two teams left with cap space to absorb salary.

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You also can't trade for someone using the MLE like you would a trade exception.

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Haven’t been able to do so traditionally. No fricking telling under the new CBA.

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and like i said before, i'm not asking to run this lineup for 20 minutes a game

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That's the lineup in the playoffs I want. If Trey is playing better than CJ in the playoffs then a finishing five of

Murray
Ingram
Herb
Trey
Z

Length for days. 5 out. 4 shooters with Z. It is the promise we've been looking for.

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Length for days. 5 out. 4 shooters with Z. It is the promise we've been looking for.

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same here. That's the lineup of a championship team built around Zion. Still need a big body 5 on the roster who's good, but the small ball lineup is what will win a championship with him. But it also requires Zion to get in super shape and give the effort needed defensively. If Jokic can get in shape and play defense and run the floor, Zion can.


and you can substitute CJ for Herb offense and defense, but honestly if that lineup proves to work really well, then it's really simply, you have a conversation with CJ about his new role going forward and if he wants a trade, then you trade him.
CJ is the odd man out here b/c of his terrible defense. That 5 man small ball lineup doesn't work if the other team is just hunting CJ and scoring on him at will.

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That's the lineup in the playoffs I want. If Trey is playing better than CJ in the playoffs then a finishing five of

Murray
Ingram
Herb
Trey
Z

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Sounds great. But that would require Ingram to play off ball, commit to defense and rebounding, and do all the little things that he has refused to do his entire career. Willie Green is more likely to eclipse Phil Jackson as a coach than Ingram is to do the dirty work, especially in a contract year.

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Sounds great. But that would require Ingram to play off ball, commit to defense and rebounding, and do all the little things that he has refused to do his entire career.

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Know how i know you didn't watch a lot of Pelicans basketball this year? b/c you say things like BI didn't commit to playing defense and rebounding, when that was probably the biggest bright spot of the year for him. Towards the end of the year, you saw the effort defensively from BI and Zion, and it was making a huge huge huge difference. We literally won a game b/c of BI's defensive/rebounding effort blocking Wemby's putback.

Just the simple act of jumping behind the guy JV is blocking out to challenge the rebound so JV can get it is that little thing you talk about. That's something BI and Trey did a lot this year, and why i think this small ball lineup can work.

and he played off ball primarily his first 2 years here, and every year in LA.

Next time just say i hate BI and want him gone instead of making shite up.

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I really prefer Kessler to WCJ. He's a much better rim protector, younger and healthier. Not to mention, cheaper.

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I would 100% prefer WCJ if there weren't injury concerns. His ability to shoot from 3 while still being a pretty good defender would be a great fit on this team. 25 years old, 35% from 3 over the last 3 seasons on 3.5 attempts, and has progressively shot better over those 3 years (32.7%, 35.6%, and last season 37.4%).

Kessler is definitely a better rim protector, but IMO WCJ is a better overall player. The injuries are a major concern though.