Marvin Bagley is playing great right now, making, I suggest, Jerami Grant far more expendable all of a sudden.
Isn't this whole issue about to become moot? I can't see the Blazers spending a first round pick in the 5-7 range on Grant and it looks pretty unlikely that we're going to get the Pelican's pick this year.
I would still bet on Minnesota and the Clippers to make the playoffs over the Pelicans. Yes, the Clips are depleted, but it does sound like George and NP are close to coming back. They need about 2 games to get back in form. That would be April 9th.
Without bias, I would put money down on it being the Wolves and Clippers that end up in the 7 and 8 seed for the playoffs. If Paul George is shooting with that elbow injury that means he's pretty much back and reports are that he might be back in the next couple of games which would give him 5 games to get in a rhythm. Norm seems a little further out but like you said if he's back by the end of next week that might give him enough time to get his legs under him. With those two guys added to what the Clippers already have despite there recent slump, I would think the odds would be pretty close in their game against the Wolves and whoever lost that game would be a huge favorite against the winner of the 9/10 game.
I hope you're right. I think that Ingram and CJ are a pretty good combo and that team is playing with more confidence than ever. That comeback against the Lakers was pretty impressive. Before CJ, that team would have just folded.
True but maybe that says more about the Lakers than the Pelicans. I mean we beat the Lakers as well starting a CJ.... and that was Elleby
It was a pretty impressive comeback but it's got to be troubling for a Pelicans fan that they were even down like that to a team they have to face again who will probably have AD back next time.
Looking through the numbers and skillset, I'd much rather give up the NO pick to Phoenix for Cam Johnson rather than use it for Jerami Grant. I think CJ (heh) rates out higher than JG by pretty much every metric except for raw points scored. And he's 3 yrs younger. He's gonna be due for an extension next year and I don't see Sarver paying everyone.
So does the perception change if you look at the deal as essentially CJ for Grant and Hart? Just curious...
I think if it ends up being that, then we got a deal that still benefited them but the biggest problem I have with the deal is that this pick still isn't guaranteed to be ours. That's essentially what makes this a terrible trade otherwise the only thing I'd be complaining about would be that we got next to nothing for Norm and RoCo.
that's a good deal for Portland. Two players that fit better with Dame than CJ does. Two players that fit better with Simons too
yeah...and the Pels were not going to send an unprotected pick for CJ I do kind of think the Blazers could have (maybe) got something like the Pels pick (protected 1-4) or the Lakers pick (protected 1-4), whichever was higher; and if neither than the Lakers 2024 pick (protected 1-4). If none of the three convey, then the Bucks 2025 pick (protected 1-4) maybe that's too much but Portland should have got better draft assets than they did got CJ and Nance
I’d say the Clippers are the most likely win, depending on how George’s elbow holds up. But point taken, the Pels still have an uphill battle.
even the first game at home assuming they are 9th will be a challenge. It could either be the Spurs, and Popovich is a pretty good coach; or the Lakers, with Lebron and AD
