re: What if the pelicans don’t make a trade?

I keep seeing comments about how bad the 2024 draft is.

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Keith Smith @KeithSmithNBA

In conversations with folks around the NBA this week, it's starting to feel like we're going to get role player trades at the deadline.

Stars aren't available. First-round picks aren't getting moved at the moment/no one wants more 2024 firsts.

Look for rebalancing trades: "We have an extra big and need a guard. You have guards, but need a big. Deal?"

And we're going to get some cap/tax focused moves too. Those always happen, but some teams are chasing cap space and some are trying to clean up their books moving forward.

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I trust the team's scouting, so if they want to trade out of the 2024 draft to get future picks or even swaps/2nds, I'd be ok with that.

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No matter how bad the 24 draft is, trading a 1st for 2nds and a theoretical asset in a swap is stupid.

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what the Bucks and Sixers are wanting to do is give away future pick swaps and 2nd rounders, just so they can get a 1st. They want a first so they can trade it, and trade multiple 1sts.

The Bucks have a '24 1st (swap), a '26 first (swap), '28 first (swap), and '30 first (swap).
They can only trade the '24 first right now, and the only 2nd they have to trade is a '24 Portland 2nd, which does have some value. I'm not sure what they are trying to do though, as they have nothign really to offer. No one's trading a 1st for the Portland 2nd, and they have nothing else to offer.

The Sixers don't have their '25 and '27 firsts, but have all the rest, and have a bunch of likely worthless 2nds.
Sounds like they are wanting to move multiple 1sts to make a move at the deadline, but they can't b/c of those two outgoing firsts. The only 1st they can trade is their '29 or '30 first right now. If they can throw two pick swaps out there and some 2nds, they could possibly get back a '24 or '25 first and then they can trade it as well as on of the future 1st.

seems silly but for rosters like ourselves and OKC, we aren't clamoring for more rookies.
If they offered the '24 NY 2nd, '24 Toronto 2nd, '26 pick swap and '28 pick swap, for our lottery protected '24 1st, i'd be willing to do that. You could use those 2 2nds to move up into the early 30's pick, so you essentially traded down from say 20 to 35, and you picked up the opportunity to pick swap with a team that likely won't have Embiid anymore, and if they do he'll be 34, when we should be contending.
We are already complaining about Hawkins playing time. You think next years' rookie is going to see the court much?




I would ask for this.

Mo Bamba, '24 & 26' pick swap, NY & Toronto '24 2nds for EJ and our '25 1st (whichever is worst between ourselves and Lakers)

I think it’s reasonable to see how far this roster can go.