The Pelicans‘ decision on whether to trade Lonzo Ball before the deadline will largely impact their chemistry for the rest of the season, Scott Kushner of Nola.com examines.
New Orleans has accrued just an 18-24 record this season, struggling to give a consistent effort on the defensive end. The team is only 2.5 games behind the Grizzlies for the No. 10 seed, which is needed to make the play-in tournament under the league’s new format.
“We’re not where we want to be,” coach Stan Van Gundy said. “Certainly on some nights, we look like we’re better than that. On other nights, we don’t. Everybody plays good games, though. When you’re good, it’s when you can do it consistently, night after night after night.
“It’s not what you do on your best night. We have 30 teams who will look great for a game. It’s who can do it night after night. And who can do it when it doesn’t have to be their best game and when they’re not lighting it up shooting the ball and can still find a way to win?”
There’s more from the Western Conference tonight:
- Rockets guard Victor Oladipo is being increasingly regarded as one of the top names that could be moved ahead of the trade deadline, Marc Stein of the New York Times tweets. Houston, losers of 20 straight games, acquired Oladipo in the multi-team deal featuring James Harden earlier this season.
- Warriors guard Jordan Poole continued to emerge in the team’s three-game trip, Anthony Slater of The Athletic writes. Poole, a talented 21-year-old player in his second NBA season, finished with 26 points, four rebounds and five assists in the team’s loss to Memphis on Saturday.
- Tim Cato and John Hollinger of The Athletic examine the Mavericks‘ situation as the trade deadline nears. Dallas currently owns the eighth-best record in the West at 21-19 and could express interest in multiple players — including Cleveland’s Andre Drummond.
Jordan Poole, a product of how good the Santa Cruz Warriors can develop a player. Strange the actual head coach of the NBA team has never once developed any player ever, almost all coaches do that – Popovich does it multiple times a season.
I wonder if Sillivan and Walladipo Wood would still argue that Omari Spellman is better than Poole?
I’m convinced those two don’t actually watch any games and only exist on the info they get from this site, lol smh
To be fair, last year Spellman out played Poole in the short time he was with us. So many people want instant gratification. They don’t want to wait for prospects to develop.
Yes the guys he led to recordbreaking seasons were always a higher priority. Funny how important winning is.
“He led” Draymond, Steph, Klay, Iggy, Livingston and then KD don’t need to be led anywhere, genius.
Way to mention Durant, who had nothing to do with the GSW rise. The others were not winning previously.
You’re using regular fan-type reactions to the HC being in charge not you and think if the idea is sitting in your head, there must be a logical reason. But that would involve there being logical reasons.
It is possible Kerr is applying title-winning methods to a mediocre team with mediocre results like you have said, but that is likely what his bosses or fans want and most people expect.
Actually many think the FO is opting to semi-tank, holding the team to Kerr’s high standard/style (keeping Kerr) until the talent arrives to execute it right. I don’t think you think they have the talent to go all the way either.
Does anyone advocate a reset? Would any adjustment to Oubre/Poole/Wiggins/rookieWiseman/olderGreen get it done?
No two teams dominated the NBA for 5 years like GSW & CLE !
Also Kerr hasn’t been winning since KD left.
Klay, Dray and Steph injuries and the state of the team as the aftermath of signing KD surely has had nothing to do with the W’s ability to win games
Your unjustified hatred for Kerr makes you look very silly
The head coach’s job is to win games. Head coaches job is to manage substitutions and motivate the team to win and oversee the defensive scheme and offensive scheme.
There’s other coaches for developing Talent working with players and developing skill sets. That’s not the head coach. The Spurs have the tremendous shooting coach that has developed many many guys over the years Chip Engelland. He’s known throughout the league for that one thing.
Each team has development guys and it’s not the head coach. He doesn’t have time for Player Development, he’s got the next game on his mind and how to beat them.
@Gary that’s lunacy and not even remotely true. It’s the coaches job to work with the players they get. Poole goes to Steph, not Kerr after a TO. That’s because he’s lost his team by showing everyone he has no clue how to use Wiseman, who is an elite talent.
Last year was the first year Kerr needed to try out young talent. Before that they had no place for young players to play. The young talent level was never there for Kerr. Jacob Evans had no talent. Jordan Bell left for more minutes. McCaw was injured to much. Pascal is the first player Kerr has had. Poole was not good last year he needed to learn this off season. Manion is new but showing more talent than previous drafted players.
I remember when I thought Billy Mummy and Danny Bonaduce were underused by Hollywood. But I was a kid then like them.
Utilize Wiseman ha. He’s for the future when he finds a game. Probably he should be sent to Santa Cruz to attach to whatever they’re doing there, as the system was designed (but generally ignored for reasons of vanity and too much obsession with youth. Teams feel they must showcase quick progress for the fans).
What has Wiseman gained from this year?— A year of clock-punching?— well he did make Mom proud I’m sure.
Two very similar NBA players: Keldon Johnson and Nassir Little. Two pathways & outcomes: Johnson, one year in the GL, is getting it done for Popovich; Little, in theory smarter, is still stalled on the bench.
Why was that scrub Wanamaker playing over him all season? Made no sense.
@Ironmonger835 – finally someone who actually watches the games and isnt some online reply guy. I don’t know, no one does, Wanaturnover has entered the game with the lead and left it without it every single game he’s played (it feels like).
Or we watch the games and go by stats and facts and not what we “feel” is happening
I can think of several reasons for the rise and fall of Wanamaker. I don’t know why you keep bringing his name up. Maybe you never saw him at Boston. He was a purposeful add but you want to dismiss Kerr.
Wow. Can’t believe VO is being regarded as possibly the top player available at the deadline. The internet has told me that he’s worth hardly more than a large expiring contract and a 2nd round pick..
I think Houston trades him. Doesn’t seem to fit in their long-term future. The Aaron Gordon rumor is interesting. Don’t know how realistic it is, though.
I mean just because a player is regarded as “a top player available” doesn’t mean they hold a lot of trade value. Could make the argument that Andre Drummond is one of the top players available as well, but it doesn’t seem like any team is rushing to trade for him. And on the chance he gets traded, I’d be surprised if he got more than what Cleveland gave up for him originally which was just salary filler and a second rounder.
Assuming Oladipo is involved in a relatively straightforward deal (i.e. 2 teams and no lengthy, bad contract going back to the Rockets), I don’t think the haul going back should be too significant/complicated considering Oladipo doesn’t look anything close to his pre-injury self. Best case scenario is probably a protected first and salary filler.
Oladipo has actually been playing substantially better than people think, he has been averaging 25.6 PPG in his last eight games. The Rockets got a pretty decent return for Tucker last week and should also get a pretty good trade for Dipo sometime next week. At least more than some are saying.
Top name that could be moved at the deadline can be moved for little in compensation and he will surely have a salary match player goin back, but oladipo can’t play both games in back to backs, the return should be fine but nothing franchise altering alone, Houston can’t miss on their continually growing draft capital
Rockets should be hunting teenagers, not Gordon.
Ask the age before Rockets make trades.
Rockets are very far from playoffs.
Just a year or two from returning to the playoffs, not seven.
Do you really think Wall will still be on the Rockets next year? He won’t. They are rebuilding and he’s old, he will be flipped to a team in a better position to win this offseason, 100%.
If the Rockets can find ANYONE to take Wall, they should take it. He’s been decent this year and to get that multiyear contract off their books would be huge.
These days the Rox are gathering talent for flipping more than winning. Can’t count on cohesion. Not bad to watch though! Wood, Porter, Tate. Even vets. The NBA might have the best worst teams right now.
Here’s my diagnosis of the Pelicans struggles: Van Gundy sucks! Every quote I read is nonsense. “We’re not where we want to be”. Oh really? Too bad there isn’t someone who’s job it is to get them there.
The team struggles defensively, and the fix is trading Holiday and now Ball? That falls on the GM, but Van Gundy speak up! It’s your team!
What a moron. I hope he’s out before the end of this year. I’d give him the benefit of the doubt with teams not being able to practice consistently and the situation being what it is, but every quote is seriously dumber than the last. Disappointing.
Van Gundy and Kerr are part of this old guard who are losing their teams games by refusing to change how they coach to adapt to the rosters they have. Worst fan experiences ever, just give the good players the ball and stop f-ing everyone over because your ego refuses to acknowledge you are wrong.
The Red Rockets are hard up for a value return on Oladipo
If the Knicks are serious about this push for the playoffs this year…
I think you could build a 4-team trade that works for all teams:
NYK gets Ball & Redick
ATL gets Beasley, Knox, Rivers
MINN gets Collins, Snell, Ntilikina
NOP gets Rondo, Culver, Okogie
Sprinkle some draft compensation going to New Orleans and everyone gets something they’re looking for.
Knicks get a veteran shooter for this year and Ball is an RFA they can match. Atlanta gets Beasley, Knox for frontcourt depth, and Rivers as a reserve guard. Minnesota gets Collins and sheds some money. New Orleans won’t match Ball, they add PG depth and cheap Wing depth beyond this season and I would say they get a 1st from NYK (worse of Dal/NYK).
You could flip flop Knox/Rivers/Okogie/Culver though.
Even as a rental, a 2 way player that basically averages 20/5/5 should net a solid return. I think fair value for VO would be a young, former lottery pick that hasn’t quite figured it out yet and a protected 1st rounder.
The issue with VO is that most don’t see him as 100% healthy yet. So why give up much for a player who could get worse real quick. Best to see him play rest of yr then make a decision on him. He’s also looking for a big payday. No one is paying him until he shows he’s 100%. So I doubt Rockets get a #1 pick. Best they get is young players back. Or a salary dump for VO since his contract expires this yr.
Not every team is in a position to wait until next year Maybe their championship window is closing or they are performing below expectations and are looking for somebody that could spark a turn around and a healthy Oladipo could definitely be that guy. Is he all the way back? Were he and the Rockets being overly cautious with him? Is there a real chance that a team potentially trading for him has for resigning him? These are the questions contenders will have to ask themselves and see if the gamble is worth it. I’m guessing by Friday VO is wearing a new jersey and Houston is happy with the surprisingly solid return they get.
Agree. Obviously the only teams that should be interested in Oladipo are teams that think that they can make a deep run in this season’s playoffs. Houston is doing a good job of unwinding from the Harden era.
According To NBA the Knicks were not supposed to win tonight vs 76ers, so they asked the referees to call a foul on Randle and make the 76ers shoot free throws to win the game.
Well it was a foul. Wasn’t a good game by either team. Both tried to lose this one from the start.
Only two refs didn’t help. That foul should not have been called to decide gm. But I get the ball doesn’t always bounce your way. Randle did get a shot at it.
Oladipo pre injury was arguably a top 5 SG in the league and this year he’s been alright, coming back from injury on a terrible team.
The hold back on his value is that it’s an expiring deal and he’s already stated he kinda like Miami and would like to go there in FA. I’m pretty sure the only other real team that could change his mind is LA (clippers or lakers) but both those teams probably don’t want to give up much for a half a season rental.
With that in mind I can’t see a team dealing for him knowing he will leave and knowing he also isn’t cheap to trade for.
Miami should offer Andre Iguodala and Duncan Robinson for Oladipo and a second round pick.
(Robinson also will need a new deal and is expected to land 18mil which I don’t think he’s worth)
Lakers could offer KCP and THT. Not sure that enough for salary matching purposes but unless they want KCP and Caruso I can’t see them giving up anything else. However with LBJ and ADs injuries, Oladipo would be a great addition and when they both return they would have an insane team.
Can’t see much happening from other teams unless they are very desperate. Hawks should try offer Bogi and one of their young players for Oladipo. Gets them out of a bad deal and Oladipos defence and experience would be a great fit next to Trae Young
Dipo to nuggets, if Denver has the guts. Heat should just outright make an offer too, seeing as Oladipo wants to be there.
Trading Jrue was bad ,trading Ball will be even worse
And still ,Bledsoe starting games and doing nothing
While coaching has been bad ,you cant deny that the veterans don’t have shown any leadership ,it’s a 20 years old Zion who have to show the way to victory ,not Adams ,Redick or Bledsoe
But a young Zion …
So coaching have been average but some players have been playing really bad too
PS : Clippers don’t have anything to trade for Ball and i’d rather trade him for Beal ,who wanted to come here that giving Lonzo for “free”
I hope Oladipo gets back to some kind of productive player. He’s just not. If you watch him play he is not healthy yet. I would wait him out. Rockets want too much and Oladipo wants a big contract. Right now he is not worth it. I watch him play rest of year. Why should I invest in someone who is not 100% back and wants a big payday. I wait
This is for the Rocket Fanatic who has no sense of reality. Here he praises A man obviously on a comeback. And tries to destroy a player cause he hurt his feelings. Apologize to CP3 ….. NOW
Rockets ……… suck
Suns … are fighting for best record in NBA (28 – 13)
Chris Paul 6th pkayer to 10, 000 assists, and counting. CP3 is (500 points) from becoming the
—— First Player EVER in the History of NBA ——
With (20,000 points) and (10,000 assists)