re: Pelican interested in trading for Kevin Love

Last I checked, Love was still decent offensively but was total arse on defense.

Not a good combo when Zion’s defense is not what we were expecting.

Nobody knows what Klay will be after an ACL and Achilles injury back to back, that deal could QUICKLY become the worst in the NBA.

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Adams is playable, Bledsoe is not. I don't consider them in the same category of "must get off the team." That is a lot of money to tie up in Kevin Love. Maybe if they throw in a first, maybe.

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I don't think either one is unplayable, but they're almost equal to me because of their contracts. I would rather see Bledsoe moved, but he is essentially an expiring contract. Adams just reupped for two years.

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I think we too often look at moves in a vacuum. Is a healthy Love a better fit than Bledsoe/Adams? Yes, but what other things can you get for Bled/Adams? If you end up trading those 2 for Love it better be plan E or F or lower.

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Agree completely.

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Not really. He has tried to play through injury sure, but he still played at a higher level than Adams.

And the last thing you can do is say he doesn't give a shite, he literally gets pissed on the floor when the young guys there are just standing around dribbling the ball.

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While i agree that he has played at a higher level than adams the part about him being mad over someone dribbling the ball is false.

I also believe that he hated being left in cleveland. I think it's a risky move and I'd rather not make it.

Don't know what to make of Love. Is he really hurt, sandbagging, does the team not care at all if he plays so he just takes weeks/months off?

LINK

I’m really starting to think that no big moves will happen this offseason. However, I don’t think we run things back with the same cast that we had. Also, listening to Jake’s podcast recently, he mentions the players being brought in for workouts and interviews. None of them are expected to be picked anywhere near the lottery, and most are considered late first or second round picks.

I think we might see a scenario where the Pels trade back and attach the 10th pick to Bledsoe/Adams for 2 firsts. I just did this trade and it isn’t sexy at all, but it moves us on from both Bledsoe and Adams. We get back the 2 Knicks first round picks and a future second from the Cavs. We could even manage to get a future Protected First from the Cavs, but I didn’t want to push it too far.

I’ve heard mentioned that Cavs are willing to move Sexton, Allen, and maybe Nance Jr. So bringing in Adams would still give them some flexibility to get assets for Allen.

Also, Bledsoe could actually end up working ok in New York. A team that is playoff ready, and needs a more veteran presence at Gaurd.

The Pels can use the extra picks to move around in the draft or trade out for more future picks, and then use Loves Salary to bring in a big fish next year while hopefully making some progress this year. Also in this scenario, we bring back Hart, Ball, and Hernangomez.

Knicks - Bledsoe, Iwundu, ‘21 #10
Cavs - Adams, Knox
Pels - Love, ‘21 #19, ‘21 #21, ‘22 2nd

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Knicks - Bledsoe, Iwundu, ‘21 #10
Cavs - Adams, Knox
Pels - Love, ‘21 #19, ‘21 #21, ‘22 2nd

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I still don't like that. Giving up #10 just so you can unload Adams and Bledsoe and take back Love just seems dumb to me.
I don't mind moving back in the draft if it means we dump Bledsoe and don't take back salary.



Here's my trade ideas for the offseason that look to go a different route. I think they are all realistic except for one part.

Orlando gets Bledsoe/#35/2022 2nd
Pels S&T Otto Porter to a 3/$30 like deal, 3rd year option

Knicks S&T swap Lonzo for Alec Burks. Give him a similar 3/$30M. Basically just over MLE for both Porter and Burks to easily ensure they would sign here.

Send Adams/#10 back to OCK for 16 and 18. Draft Bouknight/Mitchell/Duarte ideally (someone NBA ready), then take Zaire Williams at 18 as your project.

At this point, you'd have 13 on the roster, (resign Billy, dump Iwundu somewhere for a better minimum contract (Khem Birch), let Hart/Wenyen go) and you have just under $30M in cap space.

Sign Lowry or Conley for something like 3/$80 (might not be so realistic, but it's the reason i made all the other decisions)

Conley/Kira
NAW/Burks/Duarte/Didi
BI/Naji
Zion/Porter/Zaire
Jax/Billy/Birch


Hopefully we make a 2nd round pick, they outperform Wenyen from the get go, and we give them a contract and cut Wenyen, or you go sign Garrett Temple to replace Wenyen for more veteran leadership.
I think that gives you a very solid starting lineup and second unit, some intensity on defense (Birch is a good rim protector), as well as shooting. We should be able to win 48 games with that healthy lineup, while still working on the future with NAW/Jax having expanded roles, Kira learning from Conley, while Duarte and Naji should be solid young role players learning from Burks and Otto Porter, and your project in Zaire (your MPJ, hopefully).
If Conley works out, great, and he can be moved in 2 years to make the big trade to push us over the top, and Burks and Porters contracts should be easy to move as well if needed, and we'd be no where near the tax over the next 3 years.

Lol we don’t even have a coach