People around the NBA believe there’s a good chance the Pelicans will move the No. 10 overall pick in this year’s draft in a deal that would bring back veteran help, says Zach Harper of The Athletic.
New Orleans already has a young roster and is expected to shop veterans like Eric Bledsoe and Steven Adams this offseason in order to create more cap flexibility. Moving Bledsoe and/or Adams would make the roster even younger, perhaps making the Pelicans even less inclined to add another rookie to the mix.
Here’s more from around the Southwest:
- Within his latest mock draft, Harper also says there’s a belief the Rockets have been “fixated” on Cade Cunningham, but are likely unwilling to pay Detroit what it would take to move up to No. 1. Additionally, sources tell Harper that people around the league believe Spurs guards Dejounte Murray and Derrick White could be “gettable” in trades.
- Mavericks guard Tyrell Terry was away from the team for nearly two months during his rookie season for personal reasons. Asked this week about that situation, Terry declined to offer any details, as Brad Townsend of The Dallas Morning News writes. “I had something to deal with personally that I needed to take care of in order for me to come back and be the best version of myself,” Terry said. “The Mavericks were very helpful and supportive in that time.”
- The Grizzlies could have between $20-25MM in cap room this offseason. With that in mind, Evan Barnes of The Memphis Commercial Appeal considers which veteran free agents might make sense as targets for the team.
I much rather the mavericks going after d.murray from the spurs vs dinwiddie. Mavs can offer brunson and some other asset for him. Spurs would then create like 10ish mil in cap space and that can help them maybe get dinwiddie if they want him
I like Murray more than Dinwiddie but for the Mavs in particular ……. I kind of like Dinwiddie’s skillset. Mavs desperately need another shot creator, not sure Murray is that.
I’d rather have THJ than Dinwiddie and their price will be similar
“There’s a belief the Rockets have been “fixated” on Cade Cunningham, but are likely unwilling to pay Detroit what it would take to move up to No. 1.”
Just pick Jalen Green… Don’t complicate too much in a situation like this.
The Pistons would probably miss out on both Cade and Green if they move down to #3 (or lower), so if they do end up trading down it would have to be a huge return from anyone besides Houston. The Rockets have at least 7 first round picks in the next 3 drafts, so moving up one spot shouldn’t be that difficult if they really want Cade that badly.
Kevin Porter showed last season how much more effective he is at PG, so Green might be a better fit anyway. And they still have Wall at PG for the next couple of seasons so taking a SG works better.
Wall is a non-factor. At best he’s going to mentor the young ones while he collects his pay-check and at worst he’s getting bought out.
Unless the Pistons are interested in unblocking their own 1st rounder that they owe the Rockets and one of the lower picks besides the #2, it’s an overpay.
But what do I know what’ll get in Stone’s head. After all, he did go and swing for the fences with Oladipo of all people. And that when he just got rid of Russ as well.
Ppl said the same thing about D Rose last year?
Wall just averaged 20 points and 7 assists a game last year in 40 games. That is hardly a non-factor.
Yes the man is paid more than he produces, but people talk about him as if he is some bum. John Wall is still one of the better PGs in the NBA. At the very least he is above average. You don’t buy that out.
He is a non-factor as far as Houston’s future is concerned. The team is rebuilding, the guy’s timeline doesn’t fit with the direction the Rockets are taking.
I can see him being a very valuable acquisition for a contender or a play-off team if he gets bought out.
Kinda like Rose on the KNICKS to answer Lil D.
Yeah I realize that. I just meant that he is not a useless enough to be a buyout candidate for Houston. He probably will not be there next year, but I don’t see Houston just giving him away either.
It’s encouraging to see someone else here who realizes how underrated John Wall is right now. Is he overpaid? Of course, but so are most players. Houston was extremely cautious with him last season and we will see a much better version of him in 2022 than people are expecting. He will only be 31, much younger than a lot of other star players who have missed a lot of time due to injuries. Klay Thompson is even older, he’ll be 32 in February.
In a scenario where you draft Jalen Green and you’ve got KPJ who needs minutes, playing John Wall big minutes is well and truly counterproductive.
But then again, we don’t agree on draft targets either anyway.
I have been on the John Wall bandwagon since UK. He has never had a real opportunity to play on a stacked team. He took a lot of mediocre Wizards teams to the playoffs basically as a one man show. People forget just how unimpressive Bradley Beal was for his first 4-5 years. And Otto Porter was always paid like a third star, but never played like one.
Houston is not going to good for at least 2-3 more years. Wall needs to get sent to some team that has a chance. I outlined a Clippers deal that I think would work, but are several other locales (Knicks? Celtics? Lakers?) he would be interesting in.
Not smart to count on Porter. Another head case in Houston. Why is it you don’t talk about the Wood rumors. Pistons don’t need to trade down. Why is it you don’t get that . Why do you ALL keep discussing this. They take Cade. They see who got player they want. Green or Mobley then wait on offers for Cade. It’s that Simple. OKC is the team that should give it all up for Cade. Not only is he for real. But he’s a local hero. It would put them back on map and on course fo success.
Ultimately I think this is what happens Det- Cade Hou-Green … Think it gets weird at 3 (Cle), strong gut feeling Orl comes with a hard push (5 and 8 + future pick(s)) to get Mobley….the Luka tax just might make that future pick sexy enough …(Maybe only Orl top 4 protected?) Just 5 and 8 isnt enough if Im Cle….need that extra juice w small protections
Moving pick #10 for value is a good idea. The pick retails better than it plays. It’s a deep draft (top 5 and top 25), but #10 isn’t a particularly sweet spot in it. Plus, Griffin isn’t much of a deal maker. Maybe if he stopped playing to the cameras and figured out what he wants for the pick, he could move quickly and advance his roster. Veteran help? Sounds great, but don’t just throw pieces against the wall and hope something sticks. Jettisoning bad contracts? That’s a little different.
I like the Peli’s swapping with Knicks for value then getting Garuba @19
Houston also might wanna take a big swing w 21 and 22 for 10 – Ofc, this pick, along w Bledsoe, probably ends up with OKC when all said and done; sigh
Totally agree, not the sweet spot
Pels could do well in that case. #10 vs #19 might be the same guy, or at least same level of guy. Still, if the goal is to add a vet, vs another rookie, then maybe its a trade out, vs trade up. In which event, the Knicks might not be the best trade partner, without some other teams involved. Assuming Griffin remembers what he wants. I too see OKC as the alpha dog in all trade ups in the middle of this draft (and I think there will be a bunch of them).
Somebody might want to theoretically jump Cha on Giddey here as well –
I do admit until the Ball/Hart calls are made it’s hard for me to make predictions – This free agency is not going to be kind finding “vet” deals …but who knows maybe they got something Really big up their sleeves in the end or at least intentions. That would sort of make more sense to me than thinking they are going to play the market like its the DOW
The #10 pick and moving Bledsoe/Adams most likely aren’t independent decisions. I think they’ll need to attach that pick to move off one or both of those contracts.
Yea couldn’t tell if they were related or not …was an odd transition …id {assume} so
I just read a proposed trade on inquisitor
Clippers get
John Wall
Bucks 2023 1st round pick
Rockets get
Marcus Morris
Luke Kennard
Rajon Rondo
Patrick Beverley
I like it a lot for both teams. The Rockets can probably recoup that draft pick by moving Morris and/or Beverley somewhere else. Rondo would be a much better vet to keep around to back up the young backcourt. Kennard could be flipped or kept. Who knows?
For the Clippers, it gets them a potentially motivated John Wall playing on a good team for the first time in years. Plus it recoups them a first and doesn’t cost that much.
If I could be convinced that Wall’s issue is motivation, then I’d like the deal for LAC. I doubt I can be.
Either way, it’s good for HOU, because worst case they can flip Rondo or Beverley and their expiring deals at the TD for (incoming) picks. The only picks that would be involved in a Wall deal at the TD would be HOU’s picks (and they’d be 1st’s). Kennard was given an extension too early for no reason, and Morris’ deal is home team frothy, but both these guys can easily end up playing to those deals. Wall can’t even dream of that any longer. Kennard could be a keeper, if he can trip over a real HC someday.
Intriguing bc Rondo Beverley and Kennard are all kind of deadweight in my opinion.
I doubt LAC does it just because if Wall ends up on the IL it’s basically a disaster for them depth-wise, which seems almost 50/50 given his age and injury history.
Is the 1st worth it for the expirings of Bev and Rondo for Houston? Eh. Probably depends on how antsy they are to get off Wall. I think I’d be cool with riding out Wall’s contract. Not like they’re going anywhere in the next 2-3 seasons.
Hmm, fun 1 ….. does 4 bad contracts = 1 Mega Bad one!
It does make sense for both teams but ultimately I think Rockets just stand pat and ride out Wall till the end, which is shorter than Kennard and Morris actually –
IMO there’s NO value in any of those 4 current Clips contracts to even wanna mess with –
Take the 25% chance Wall pops and make a Real profit later (most likely 23 TD if his health holds up next 1.5 yrs)
I dont even see why the Bucks pick would need to be in that deal tbh, even w/out it inc I think Hou passes
DeRozan (s&t) + Murray + 1 more Spurs asset for Ben Simmons
No one is taking Bledsoe unless you attach a pick to it. Not many teams want that now. Celtics need a PG
Gordon to Pacers ?????
link to rocketswire.usatoday.com
This is actually a good move for Pacers. Makes them deep. Plus he’s from area is just a plus. Pacers have not had this team 100% healthy and together yet. Gordon is a good fit.
It would be ideal fit for the Rockets if Pacers want to trade down 10 positions. I’d feel more comfortable if the Rockets would trade off at least 1 first round draft pick. Deal with Pacers for 13th overall pick and flip it with Rockets 2 pick to Pistons for their number one pick? That would be something of the ages