ThePistol

We have had the worst center rotation in the NBA for the last two years. If we aren’t going to try to upgrade the center position, then we need to trade Zion, Herb, and Trey. We have no chance to be competitive with the worst center rotation in the league. So yes, I think a real NBA center would make a significant impact on this team.

quote:

---

Everyone is approaching this with kid gloves because Queen is a likeable guy who showed some promise, but you keep acting like he is special. I hope you're right, but we've seen rookies put up good stats on shitty teams only to plateau before. Acting like his performance somehow justifies the trade parameters is kind of goofy.

---

I think you misunderstood or maybe you didn't mean to respond to me.

Do you actually believe the nonsense that you just posted? Let's take it one by one shall we?

quote:

---

Dumars wasn't even with the organization when we traded the "#5" pick.

---

Joe Dumars was hired by the Pelicans on April 16, 2025. The Pelicans traded picks with the Pacers on June 17, 2025. Haliburton initially injured his calf in game 5 of the Finals, the same day that the Pelicans executed the trade. It was absolutely Dumars and Weaver who executed the trade. They did this to have the ammo to go after Queen. So yes, the Pacers pick (which ironically ended up being a crown jewel from the BI trade) ended up being #5 in a loaded draft. We got the 23rd pick the previous year to bundle with our UNPROTECTED 1st for Queen. It is the very definition of awful asset management. We are a worse basketball team because of it.

quote:

---

Then we wouldn't have Bey and lose $34mil in cap space.

---

You do realize that trading for Poole wasn't the only option? For example, they could have held onto CJ until the deadline. Could they have gotten Myles Turner and Bobby Portis for CJ and filler at the deadline? Could they have found any other player last summer that would have been a contributor? You are acting like they had to take on two years and 68 million of an unplayable player to keep CJ's salary. It was an awful trade, even with Bey having a career year. I guess you feel that they had to pick up Hawkins' option (another awful decision) to not lose the 7 million too?

quote:

---

You are literally blaming Dumars for a coach who was already here and then ignoring the fact that he was the one who got rid of that same coach in his first year.

---

Joe said at least 10x publicly that it was his decision to keep Willie to evaluate him. Everyone knew that it was going to be a disaster. You don't get credit for firing someone after giving them the entire summer and training camp when everyone knew it wasn't going to work. It ended up being a wasted year because of this.

quote:

---

Are you saying this while imagining a fake scenario where the picks we traded turn into Luka?

---

No, I am saying that I would have much rather had the fifth pick and our pick in this year's drafts over Queen. I am saying that the Pels would have had a more successful season with a new coach from day one last year. I am saying that the Poole trade was awful and could have been handled much better. I am saying that CJ, the Indiana pick, or our own pick this year would have been much better used on an actual NBA center and depth pieces. We currently have 41 million dollars of payroll right now that are unplayable. Joe and Troy are the direct reason for all 41 million of it. We still don't have a starting center. Defending Joe and Troy and what they have done in the last year and a half is quite the stance.

The two week period from 1/27/27-2/10/27 includes 9 games. 8 are on the road, including 7 in a row. From 1/27/27-3/10/27 they play 21 games, 15 of those on the road. Also, 7 of the last 10 games of the season on the road. What the hell kind of nonsense is that?

I agree. Normally, I would give them the benefit of the doubt, but this front office hasn’t earned it. I won’t lose my mind on this reporting but competence can’t be assumed at this point.

I really am fine with this as long as they get a starting center. If they don’t address the center position and the lack of shooting there is no point.

If we can turn Poole and Hawk into a starting NBA center, Joe better not think twice.

Missi can’t score unless it is assisted near the rim. He really struggles with guarding bigger centers. He is also a below average defensive rebounder. That is just simply too much to expect him to improve in one offseason. Missi needs to be the 15 minute a game guy if they actually want to compete.

Bagley does nothing to address our huge, gaping hole at center. He just continues our NBA worst center rotation.

Hey Joe, you do realize that you could have had Nate Ament this year with the #8 pick, correct? I hope that no one even answers his calls. Please, please ignore the phone call. We need to catch a break.

The lack of shooting on this team is inexcusable.

DQ’s defense tonight has also been inexcusable. I mean that inbounds defense was comical.