Could you imagine hearing that there was a trade between us and New Orleans this summer and then seeing that AD or Jrue weren't a part of it? I'd be so pissed.
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I'd assume the worst so I wouldn't get my hopes up. I would definitely be down for something for Jrue at the draft. But I also want to keep open the possibility of a sign-and-trade for a free agent this summer. Then again, Jrue's contract barely matches a 30%-MAX contract ($32.7M), and could actually entice teams to sign-and-trade a player to us. Looking specifically as Philadelphia with Butler or Harris. Hell, that might be the way to go. Try and land Jrue at the draft for something like this: - Evan Turner - Moe Harkless or Meyers Leonard - Gary Trent Jr. - Two Firsts (#25 and 2021 1st?) - Two 2nds (2020 and 2022) - 5M Cash Then hopefully we could sign-and-trade for Tobias Harris by sending Philadelphia Jrue Holiday. Because they'd be losing Tobias for nothing, we might be able to recoup a pick from Philadelphia if they want Holiday bad enough (he started there). Faced with losing Tobias and the opportunity to get Jrue Holiday for a pick in the 20s, I think they'd jump at it. PHI Gets: Jrue Holiday POR Gets: Tobias Harris, 2020 OKC 1st At that point, we're hard-capped and close to it, so then we go to Atlanta and work out that Taurean Prince trade. ATL Gets: Moe Harkless or Meyers Leonard (whichever is left) POR Gets: Taurean Prince. Portland's payroll would be apx. $119.5M. At that point, resign Hood for $8.5M with the MLE, Layman for $4M (two years, PO for 2nd?), sign Kyle O'Quinn to the minimum. Brings it up to apx. $133.9M with 3 roster spots to fill with the remaining ~$4.4M under the hard cap. Lillard (36) / Simons (12) McCollum (36) / Hood (12) Hood (20) / Prince (28) Harris (34) / Layman (14) / Labissiere Collins (27) / O'Quinn (21) / Nurkic* When Nurkic gets back: Lillard (36) / Simons (12) McCollum (36) / Hood (12) Hood (20) / Prince (28) / Layman Harris (33) / Collins (15) / Labissiere Nurkic (26) / O'Quinn (15) / Collins (7) If we couldn't do that Prince trade, then you try shedding Leonard's or Harkless' contract with that pick so we could make space for Hood. Layman would play SF off the bench and you'd have Labissiere getting minutes at backup PF instead.
Jrue to Portland! 3 guard rotation along with ending the game with Lillard/CJ/Jrue on the court. Fuck getting a forward who can score. Jrue is a good enough defender. Will never happen but I can dream.
One reading hoopshype the owner for the pelicans said over her dead body that she approved a trade that send Davis to the Lakers.
My scenario above brings up and interesting question though. Who would people rather have? Jrue Holiday playing 30min a game off the bench as a 3rd guard for $26M? Or Tobias Harris playing 35min a game as the starting PF for $32.7M? I'd rather have Harris, but it's close.
I respect the hell out of that. I still think he gets sent to Boston. Tatum, Brown, #14, #20, #22, and Memphis' 2020 1st. That's a great hall. Brown, Tatum, and Williamson is a great start to that rebuild. If they keep Jrue, then I could see that team making a push for the playoffs. I mean, this lineup isn't bad! Jrue / Jackson Brown / Moore Tatum / ? Zion / ? Okafor? / Diallo I think they'd have a little bit of cap space too.
And if we couldn't do a sign-and-trade than we'd have a huge upgrade off the bench. If we were able to keep Hood too, then we'd have the best 6th/7th man combo in the league outside of Lou Williams and Montrezl Harrell. Thing is, Lou and Harrell are probably the top 2 players on their team, and Holiday and Hood would arguably be the 4th and 5th best.
If we're talking about keeping CJ I'd rather have Harris because he fills a need. If CJ was gone I'd rather have Jrue. I don't think Harris is worth the max.
Just looking throw some combine measurements. Some interesting measurements: Jarrett Culver - 6'7 w/ 6'10 wingspan. He has the size to play SF. Brandon Clark - 6'8 w/ 6'8 wingspan. Could that make him fall in the draft? Talen Horten-Tucker - 6'4 w/ 7'1 wingspan. 8'7 standing reach. KZ Okpala - 6'10 w/ 7'2 wingspan. Much bigger than I thought. This dude has some serious potential and could be available around our pick. Admiral Schofield - 6'5 w/ 6'10 wingspan. Would be an undersized SF and doesn't have the skills to play SG. I think he'll fall to the mid-2nd round. Moses Brown - 7'3 w/ 7'5 wingspan. Must've grown in the past year or two. I don't see him in mock drafts... Is that because people expect him to go back to school? I have to imagine he'd be a borderline 1st round pick.
I think it's a slight over-pay but worth it because we wouldn't have to give up a ton for him in a trade and he fills a very clear need and would be a huge upgrade over Aminu.
What's he worth then? $25M? That $5M is likely what lands him, and probably not a difference maker long-term, especially for a guy who would make us a legitimate contender.
A guy who shoots as efficiently as he does and being a borderline 40% 3pt shooting at PF who also gets 20ppg and plays solid defense... That's worth more than $20M these days. Obviously not worth $32.7M but some team is going to pay him that (Utah...?) and we have as much of a reason as anyone. We have to find a way to contend over the next 4 years, and with Stotts being extended, we have to upgrade our forwards. There's not many paths to that, so it comes down to this: - Do we settle for mediocrity at those positions again and probably take a step back next year, possibly back into a 1st round exit? or - Do we take a risk on a guy like Blake Griffin or giving the max to a guy like Tobias Harris, with the upside being a championship? I choose #2.
