re: Pelicans Trade Ideas...as SELLERS

I don’t think it takes “a lot” in terms of multiple draft picks you’re fearing. Crewz even said it seems like management is against sending out multiple firsts. But the trade he came up with was still costly, Niko/Moore and a 1st. I don’t think of Niko as just a guy. Maybe he’s only a role player but he’s an elite role player that has gravity and can win games on his own every once in a while. That would be hard to replace. They really need to find someone that wants Randle.

To me the problem with Conley is he only fits if AD is staying. He’s too old to fit a younger team with their time horizon being a few years later.

I look at it as not only what the Pels are giving up but also what they are not getting by being sellers with other guys. That would make the cost of Conley even higher than it appears on first glance.

Your Jrue take is as dumb as I’ve seen on this board, and Crewz is right. You’re on an island with that one.

Trading a fringe top 25 player to do him a “solid” is pretty dumb imo at least.

I have no doubt you know the game, Thanos. But I don't think you factor in the off the court elements as much as you should. To be fair, I wouldn't either if I only watched the game and didn't know nearly a half a dozen people who work day in and day out and tell me stories of the day in and day out that factors in so much more than you think. I am trying to share that knowledge, but if you don't need it, then I will stop.

I’ll make this post brief because I’ll know this conversation will continue.

You talk about culture and I agree.
Jrue Holiday is great, but he’s not Tim Duncan, man.

Culture starts at the top(loomis,benson and demps)

Arison and Riley-keep a lot of players around.
So do Holt/RC/Pop.

But those organizations also have great reps with the agents around the league, because they look out for the players. Trading Jrue after a year down is looking out for Jrue and would speak volumes to agents. Hell if you want, you can put his jersey in the rafters(not that I think Jrue deserves that currently).

I’ve got a better idea..:bring David West into the front office.

Off the court stuff is incredibly important, but there are better ways than keeping a guy until he’s too old to trade...
Even worse, when’s a free agent at 31...there would be mandate to give him a fat deal...and thens he’s really lost value. Furthermore, Jrues game likely won’t age well.

We could be looking at 4 firsts between Jrue and AD, if not more.

I just don’t see a situation where you get fair value back for Jrue. He’s not a big enough name, so any trade would automatically have to compete against the optics of the opposing front office making it. It’s easy for us because we watch him guard the other team’s best players and score efficiently.

For instance, I think Washington would get more for Beal than we would for Holiday even though Holiday is the superior player, and they are on almost identical contracts.

Let’s be clear, playing next to AD makes everyone look better.

Removing him and Jrue won’t have the same value.

So I think you're right about the organization.

I also think you could make a perverse argument for trading Holiday even with dysfunction at the top:

The Pels need as much as luck as possible to ever be good because they don't have the proper structure and process in place as an organization. Acquiring more lottery tickets (either picks or young players) maximizes their chances at getting the next Paul or Davis or Oladipo. Sending Holiday out is another bite or two at the apple

Of course, as you have pointed out, it could go horribly wrong because of said incompetence. Same people you're trying to outmaneuver are ultimately still making all those picks/roster decisions.

If we went into next season with a core of Hayward, Divincenzo and Zach Collins, I'd be super excited. Throw in a couple of young prospects and it'd be a fun season..