Pelicans need to blow it up...Fears is the future. Reed/Capela/filler/1st Rounder for Trey Murphy III.
The thing is they can’t blow it because of the Queen trade. If anything, I think they may be dumb enough to make a “win now” move.
I feel like I don't know what we need right now, and the answer might very well be "nothing, as long as KD stays healthy". We are in the top 5 of the power rankings with the other four of our starters being age 22, 22, 23, and 27 respectively, and a very deep bench (especially once DFS returns). That diagnosis might change by the time December 15th rolls around, or it might not. You might think "point guard play", but I don't want to take the ball out of Amen's and Sengun's hands unless things take a bad turn in terms of winning/point differential. What I'd mostly be thinking about right now if I were Stone is stability, how can we afford to keep as much of this group together as for as long as possible. Longer-term, you start thinking about who's going to replace KD, but that's not this season as long as he, again, stays healthy.
Who the hell could possibly replace Durant. We haven't had anyone with his scoring ability since Harden left and he is another rare get. Shame Durant is so old already. Going to be REALLY hard to fill his shoes when he is gone. We need him to stay healthy and at the top of his game until he's like 42.
He's one of the all-time greats for sure. But there are players who fill a roughly similar role. Jayson Tatum and Laurie Markkanen jump to mind; they're not, and will never be (especially the latter) considered as good as KD for their career as a whole. But remember we're currently getting 37-year-old KD, not the version from 10-15 years ago. Can, say, Tatum, compete with this KD? Absolutely.
Simmons proposed this trade, which is a bit absurd given he's asking for the Suns pick, but the one aspect that is interesting is I bet FVV would agree to be traded to the Celtics. He'd likely start at point for them next season and be on a contender. So, ignoring draft capital, does a White for FVV/Eason framework intrigue you at all? White / Amen / Durant / Smith / Sengun with Okogie / DFS / Sheppard / Adams / Capela off the bench. That's a pretty interesting team.
It is hard to see the Rockets trading Tari the way he has been playing lately and if he keeps it up. After the first two games he was as good as gone already.
They're not trading Trey Murphy...they're shopping Zion...dont be surprised if the Celtics make a run for him. They had success during their championship run when they had a big man like Porzingis who could take some pressure from their perimeter scorers in Tatum/Brown.
I like this but I think you would have to give up another 1st. I think the 2027 BKN pick is untouchable.
Hopefully he keeps up playing great and improving further. I'd love for us to keep Tari long term and was really worried he was blowing it for himself at the beginning of the season.
