This is what I would do. Keep Simons. Keep Nas. Trade Dame for the biggest haul possible and start over. Let Billups build his team.
Getting Josh Hart....Justice Winslow......Keon Johnson....Didi.... Getting rid of CJ McCollum, Robert Covington and Norm Powell. That's why. Plus, working there, the vibe in the building, with the players is terrific, and Joe & Chauncey are a "glove/hand" team. That's why.
They're gutless. There's a very very small chance we're able to actually build a contender around Dame at this point. It's not impossible, but it's highly improbable. Meanwhile, Simons looks like he could be the real deal and if we have two lottery picks this summer (fingers crossed) we could really build towards a bright future.
Those players suck except for Josh Hart. CJ, Norm, Roco were better (except Hart is better than Roco) even if Hart is a better fit. I don't care if they are a glove/hand fit if they don't have success. If we lose the Pelicans pick the deals go from not great to absolutely awful.
I'm all for trading Dame and tanking. Start the process. I love Dame. Just don't see us putting a contender around him before his time is up. Might as well get some picks and young talent for him and just start with a fresh team and payroll. It took me years to get here, but that's where I'm at.
The Clippers trade was amateur hour. Plain and simple. The Pelicans trade is going to look like a major stinker if we don't get that pick. CJ averaged 24 ppg, 6 assists, 4.5 rebounds, 1.3 steals and shot 49% from the field and 39% from three with the Pels. Those are star numbers. If we end up with Josh Hart and the Bucks pick in 2025, that's NOT a good trade. Period.
I didn't say you were wrong. Just that nobody would do that and doing it would more than likely be a bad move. Yes the chance is there that it could pay off big.
"Those players suck"..... NBA players do not suck. None of them. They are the best players in the world.Even the dudes at the end of the bench. Except Covington, he sucked.
So I said I would stop watching if drafted the next great white hope, but if we trade a high lottery pick for Jeremi Grant, that might do it as well
Cool. So they can beat you or me 1 vs. 1. Can they lead us to the playoffs? To being contenders? In regards to the league, Keon and Didi are fringe players. People have them on rosters because they are cheap and have "potential." There is a very good chance they never reach their potential. Roco scored 43 points the other night. Probably more than Winslow, didi or Keon will ever score in their careers. And roco isn't a scorer.
In that 43 game..... The amazing Amir Coffey also paced the Clippers with 32 pts, while constant all star type Jordan Nwora led Milwaukie with 28. That was a summer league pickup game. You or I coulda gone for 20 in that one. I wouldn't hang a hat on rocos 43.
If pretty much anyone from this board could drop 20 in any NBA game, those players on the other team should be cut immediately.
