re: Non-Pels NBA January Thread

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you think we'd beat the Nuggets

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We match up very very well with them and I would not be surprised if we beat them in a 7 game series.

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or Celtics or Bucks in a playoff series, I'd agree.

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We would be in the finals and I wouldn't give a shite about the outcome.

Ok that's not true but its not worth thinking about right now.

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It also might be possible to go get Claxton with Cody and filler.

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I don't think Claxton would be happy as a 3rd big and he's not beating Larry out for #2 if Larry is healthy. The only center move I see is some sort of JV for Jarrett Allen swap assuming Allen is cheap enough. Everything else would be too expensive for the difference you get at center.

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Our upgrade options are for an elite creator at PG or at center.

As many have pointed out, upgrading JV is tricky, but I do believe that it's possible. It also might be possible to go get Claxton with Cody and filler.

Upgrading the PG position is an even bigger challenge, and there doesn't seem to be anyone currently worth trading for.

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The more i watch claxton the less i like him. He gets his blocks sure but everything seems like empty calories with him. He gets abused by bigger centers like JV. AD, sabonis and Jokic would eat his lunch.

If we are going to upgrade JV it almost has to be Allen

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Our upgrade options are for an elite creator at PG or at center.

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I would agree, and both positions will need to be replaced soon b/c of age.
CJ is shooting 44% from 3 this year, 50% in the last 12 games.
BI is really more of the PG than CJ, and that's how it should be. It's really hard to say you'd want to move a guy who's shooting that well, and is also capable of getting his own shot off when needed as the 3rd banana. I mean give an example of an upgrade at this position, remembering that they have to take the role as the 3rd best player behind Zion/BI, meaning they are going to average under 20ppg more than likely, and they need to be ok with that.
Do you want BI off the ball more if you go get more of a traditional PG?

I'll still say JV is the 3rd best offensive center in the league, behind the obvious 2. When the main guys are healthy though, his offense really isnt' needed, and we would benefit more having a more defensive minded center.
And for that reason is why i think having JV and Larry is perfect b/c you play who the matchup dictates. What we need is a young player to develop behind them.


In a perfect world, Dyson learns how to shoot and can knockdown open 3's at a 38% clip, and he takes CJ's place. Trey develops more into that 3rd banana and takes over Herbs starting spot, although really just taking CJ's spot as Dyson is really taking Herb's spot b/c BI is the PG, and you have Dyson/BI/Trey/Zion/draft pick at the 5. And that assumes Zion and BI are capable of leading a championship contender together.

we are so used to always wanting to make a trade to improve the team, but honestly there really isn't much out there to improve the team at the moment.

I would not object to upgrading JV, even though he's the most reliable player we've ever had and he's still a damn good 5 in the league. But it's hard to want to pay more money for a 5 and expect better production than what JV gives you.
If you lose JV, you have to find a 5 that is phsycially capable of guarding Jokic. Larry is not, and Nic Claxton sure as shite isn't either. Jokic isn't going anywhere anytime soon. I'm not asking to find someone to shut him down, but you at least need to have a guy that can make it difficult for him. He's going to get 30/12/10 regardless, but you can't let him get 45/18/3 which is what he would do if you stick some 230lb center on him.

Don’t disagree, Nance has been great recently and a perfect small ball pivot, but you certainly don't want to give him more than 24 minutes (Don’t think he’d hold up).

Val is a great rebounder, provides good offensive production, and can manage the paint but provides little resistance to penetrating points and wings because of his slow feet. I’m looking particularly at post season matchups. Id entertain Allen as a swap or Gafford as a third big.

Shams said Kings are emerging as a serious suitor for Siakam

Good move for them.
Send out Barnes and Huerter.

They were always going to look to add that 3rd guy. They have the extra assets to easily do it.

Murray would have to be involved. Neither Huerter or Barnes fit Scottie Barnes timeline.

Lakers lose again. What’s your over/under on how many days until LeBron has Ham fired?