This👆
1 Like
They should also definitely draft Griffin from Duke. They would look stacked with catch and shoot wings with him and TM3. Super complimentary with BI.
Dre could be an interesting situation. As @Tpain mentioned I believe he plays out year four and signs an extension along the way. As much as I want to see Dre sign a $100mil deal, I’m not sure he’s worth it due to his injuries. He’s going to need some outside help from another team showing interest, or the Knicks overspending.
Zion is an interesting discussion as well, I really think the Pels should look at trading him and getting whatever they can for him. I know Nola can offer him the best extension option, but I don’t believe he will stay in Nola and if that’s the case the Pels should get any and everything they can for him. I also don’t believe Zion is a viable option to lead a team, but that’s another discussion.
4 Likes
Also Zion walks like a penguin. And who wants a penguin playing on their basketball team
3 Likes
Totally agree @ Dragon. Injuries aside, anyone have a good comp for Dre? He has shined at times but been super inconsistent
1 Like
Self awareness >>>
Man I love Dre
4 Likes
OG Anunoby maybe?
3 Likes
Zion can’t walk away - he will be a restricted FA after his 1st contract - meaning NO can keep him if they want to, right?
1 Like
Good point he’ll be an RFA, that will help NOLA’s case, but he could poison the water. Some said he’s already working on that. Either way, if I was NOLA I’d try to sell on him and get some picks, and maybe a reliable vet in his place.
Not a bad comparison, OG is a 17/5/2 guy Dre is 13/3/1. The numbers aren’t far off and they fill similar roles. Current Andrew Wiggins, and maybe aspire to become Mikal Bridges? That feels strange to even type
2 Likes
I always compared the two in my head. Philly. Both RS’ed. 6’7"-ish. Shooters. I always thought Dre was the better defender but then I heard Bridges with all-defense team potential, so I guess he’s better now.
Heck, we may be lucky Bridges was on Nova when Dre was deciding…
1 Like
Crazy how many parallels there are between the two. If I was a neutral party, right now I’d take Bridges based on his body of work. Not something I would have said 3 years ago. I do think Dre can become as good or better, but it’s a high bar. Bridges balled out on defense and offense last night and shut down McCollum and Ingram in the process. Both dudes had monster games.
1 Like
That’s who Vecenie compared him to pre-draft.
3 Likes
Interesting context for the Hawks’ end-of-game play last night. If I’m a Hawks fan I’d be super worried if Trae starts to get checked out after one bad playoff run
2 Likes
The Hawks offensive identity needs to move away from the Trae Young show, similar to how the Celtics are no longer the *Jason Tatum show and they actually run an offense, and *if it gets back to Tatum then he has an opportunity to score. But the Hawks need to re-engineer their offense, and actually maybe trade a piece or two for another defensive player to help Hunter, and can play within an offense.
4 Likes
I was thinking earlier that the Hawks and the Celtics had kind of mirror versions of one another’s seasons. Both sub .500 teams heading into the new year, running iso-heavy offense with the ball sticking way too much in one guy’s hands. But then the Celtics figured their stuff out in the locker room and on the court and the Hawks just didn’t
3 Likes
Comes down to team makeup. Celtics have leaders and vocal players Smart Brown led the way on those talks and changes. Hawks don’t have that voice. Hell who’s the No. 2 on that team? Collins? Cappella Heurter? Bogdonavic Hunter? Not sure Ive seen those guys combine for a page worth of quotes
5 Likes
11 Likes
Sam Vecenie has Trey Murphy 10th in his 2021 redraft (up seven spots from where the Pelicans actually selected him). Pretty insightful blurb on how he looks in the NBA so far:
Murphy is the kind of guy you win in the playoffs with, and he’s already shown how valuable he can be in minutes off the bench for the Pelicans as they made their late-season push. He’s not just a good 3-point shooter; he’s going to be an elite one in the NBA. He is long and plays solid defense because of how good he is laterally. In his final 16 games of the season — while the Pelicans needed him as they made their push for the playoffs — he averaged 10 points and three rebounds while shooting 46 percent from the field and 45 percent from 3. More than that, you can feel how much better the Pelicans are when Murphy is on the court. He helps things make sense. You cannot leave him at any point on offense. If he does, the ball is going up, and it’s probably going in for three points.
It’s hard to find genuine 3-and-D guys. Murphy is already that, even if the defense still has room for growth as he gets stronger. He has good feet, but guys can push through him right now. He needs to learn to dribble and be able to make easier reads as a passer. But at 6-foot-9, he has so much room for upside, and it’s extremely easy for him to get his shot off as a floor spacer — much easier than it is for a great 6-foot-5 shooter in the NBA. I’m a total buyer of Murphy’s long-term potential. He’s going to be a critical piece for this fun iteration of the Pelicans, especially once Zion Williamson returns and they need even more shooting around him.
20 Likes
And, interestingly, still one spot ahead of Herb Jones.
3 Likes