re: Shams says Pelicans are “aggressively pursuing” a top 2-3 pick for Scoot

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Lol he is not a positive asset. Pretend your a GM what would you trade for CJ?

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If you think he's the missing piece like we did, a 1st... easily.

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Most teams would say give me a protected first to take him.

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zero teams would get that, someone would give up an asset for him, I have no doubts about that.

Lol you think a team would give a first for CJ with his recent play last season on that contract extension. Hahahaha wow

GMs would laugh and hang up. I get you like CJ but this is a horrendous take. You literally are looking at CJ from pelicans fans eyes. The rest of NBA circles would think thats a joke. If he was expiring maybe a heavily protected first. But on that extension you’ll be lucky to get some expensive non productive role players- if your lucky.

First of all we’re talking about the new CBA landscape so referencing old trades is kind of useless. Second these trades dont happen because most teams don’t want to dump a guy they just signed for an extension and attach a first. Im just telling you what teams will ask for not if the pelicans will actually make that trade. Personally, I think Pels value him for the culture but also know they’re stuck with him because they won’t get close to the value back and dont want to attach a first. Hence, why you see Zion and BI name pop up in these Scoot trade rumors and not CJ. Griff would never try to trade CJ for a first because he would be a laughing stock but fine lets keep that statement out of it. What you dont get is just cause your a “good” player currently doesn’t mean your a positive asset. I like CJ and think hes a great culture guy and solid player but on that contract he is not at all a positive asset for nba teams. We overpaid because he was a great culture fit and we need that. That doesn’t equate to him being a positive asset for the rest of the NBA.

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We overpaid because he was a great culture fit and we need that. That doesn’t equate to him being a positive asset for the rest of the NBA.

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Exactly. When we got CJ there were articles that teams considered him a negative asset. He has more value on the Pels than most teams because he’s a leader. No one will pay max contract for his production under this CBA. Teams won’t be making “f’it” all in moves anymore for fringe all star players. It just won’t happen anymore. So you’d need a team who also wants vet leadership without two max contracts. That’s a tall order to find.

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this doesn't happen without giving up one of trey BI or zion along with 14 and probably 1-2 other 1sts

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So we have to give up 3 firsts and one of BI, Zion and Trey? No thanks.

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Zion + a minor player to make the numbers work (kira, temple, etc) 2023 #2, Mark Williams, Gordon Hayward, and a few future picks. Probably like a protected first and/or swaps

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While this is not bad, I’m not trading a guy that has shown he has best player in the league potential for anything less than a KD package.

McNamara is back on Twitter and had an interview one i would love

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Portland gets BI and Jonas, Suns get Nurk and Simons, Pels get Scoot and Ayton

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tankathon has him at 32.4% from 3 in 25 games. They might be including/excluding the showcase games the gleague does

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Unfortunately, when it comes to Scoot(and any prospect really) you are going to have to deal with the masses making judgements from stat sheets and highlights and not really watching him play. And that includes a complete miss on how the g league works and sample size.

For those that are unaware, for no reason at all the G League separates their regular season stats from their showcase stats. You can get the combined stats, but that's not how they are most generally portrayed.

Scoot shot 27.5% from 3 during the regular season on only 2.7 a game and 19 games. For the showcase, he shot 47.1% from three on 2.8 a game, but again in only 6 games. Combined he shot 32.4% from three. And you are talking less than 3 a game and only 25 games. With that small of a sample size, if you heave a full court shot your numbers drop considerably. You need to look much further than trying to read his percentage.

Scoot is basically Zion in a PG's body. 6'2, 200 pounds of muscle, with the quickness and handle to get a step on ANY defender, the strength to hold them off and exceptional finishing ability. But even more than that, he likes to set others up as much as he likes to score. He's an offense and advantage maker all to himself. He was playing against grown men, professional players and he has been shooting from the NBA three point line, not college. He's also been running NBA type offenses and defenses.

Per 36 minutes in the G League, he scored 21 points, 7.8 assists and 6.1 rebounds. Take into account all your g league filters you want to, but that is the type of player we are discussing. He is a Ja Morant level player with a great work ethic and minus all the guns (as far as I know).

And while all rookies have their struggles no doubt, this is a guy that will be as ready to contribute from day one as any rookie can be.

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The writing is on the wall... BI at game 5 with Herb and Willie all but confirms that the trade would be for Zion.

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I don't think this means anything. BI will be looking at a HUGE contract beginning two years from now. I know everyone here loves him, but what has he shown on the court to want to pay him that kind of money? He is a one time all-star and has never been in the All NBA discussion. This is for a few reasons. First is health, he just simply doesn't play in enough games. Second, he doesn't impact games or winning at a high enough level night to night. He has had stretches where he has but he simply hasn't done it enough. Where does a 28 year old BI making over 45 million with a young Scoot get you?

Zion on the other hand is under contract for five years beginning this year. He has impacted winning in his few stretches where he has played, especially last season. He has shown transcendent talent. He is multiple years younger than BI and his game matches up better with Scoot.

BI is a very good player who can be the second option on a very good team. But he is the one that has to be included if the team goes in this direction.