The Official Dwayne Wade <<<<<< you thread

A clarification on the haul of draft picks heading the Pelicans' way. The 2021 pick goes to New Orleans if it's in the top eight, if not they'll get an unprotected first in 2022. Swap in 2023. Unprotected first in 2024, with a right to defer to 2025.

— Tania Ganguli (@taniaganguli) June 16, 2019

Great Leader Sprucenuce wrote:What people need to understand is the difference between this deal and the one proposed at the deadline is we got the no 4 pick.

That's a pretty big difference, plus if we took that deal then we never would have got Zion and Lakers wouldn't have tanked enough to get the no 4 pick.

That's two sizable assets we wouldn't have had plus the Lakers core, which make it a significantly better deal for us than it was then.

I knew the minute we got Zion and Lakers got the no 4 pick that the likelihood of us dealing with the Lakers increased massively.

I wrote that. I think we’d have done the deal anyways. But we’d have had to take on Hill’s contract and given up Kuzma probably.

Both won this trade compared to other.

I know you understand it, i was making it clear for everyone else.

I'm not sure it would have been done without the #4 pick tbh, i think that was the key to getting the deal done. Plus the extra pick swaps, which is Griffin gambling the Lakers aren't very good post Lebron which is a gamble but a gamble you should take.

I don't think the deal as it was constructed at the deadline was getting it done.

Lonzo Ball's father on the Lakers trading his son: "I guarantee...it will be the worst move the Lakers ever did in their life and they will never win another championship. Guarantee it."

Freeza Lakers cursed now.

And he's all yours Mole.

Not concerned about Lavar, he's hardly said a thing in months before his son got traded.

This still makes me laugh from when the trade rumors first started lol.

"You want to send my boy to N'AWLINS?!" pic.twitter.com/fC6CLijRJa

— Mason Ginsberg (@MasonGinsberg) January 29, 2019

Inter Milan fan talking about relevancy

With Zion there you damn sure the Pelicans are relevant.

El Gunner wrote:With Zion there you damn sure the Pelicans are relevant.

There's that also, the media is obsessed with him. We'll probably get more TV time than we ever did with AD.

Any centers linked with the Pels?
Lonzo, Jrue, Ingram is a decent back-court and Moore, Hart, Payton decent depth. Throw Zion in the mix and build a trade around the 4th pick in which you acquire a decent big guy (or get Brook Lopez from free agency for added shooting?) and that's an interesting team. And if there's any chance of re-signing Randle that would be great.

What do you guys think about Kyrie and the Nets as a match?

Art Morte wrote:Any centers linked with the Pels?
Lonzo, Jrue, Ingram is a decent back-court and Moore, Hart, Payton decent depth. Throw Zion in the mix and build a trade around the 4th pick in which you acquire a decent big guy (or get Brook Lopez from free agency for added shooting?) and that's an interesting team. And if there's any chance of re-signing Randle that would be great.

I don't see the point of resigning Randle, he's basically a less athletic, vastly inferior defensively version of Zion.

It's a waste of cap space, but yes we need a center but i'm sure Griffin knows that.

Randle's still a good player who might still get better and you can totally fit him, Ingram and Zion in the 3 and 4 spots in the same team. Fair enough if you get someone else good, but could do worse than Randle.

El Gunner wrote:What do you guys think about Kyrie and the Nets as a match?

I feel indifferent about it, but I wonder who would Nets fans prefer if it was one or the other, Russell or Irving...

Randle wasn't very good for us last year, his defence was absolutely terrible and on offence if the ball wasn't in his hand he was a complete non factor.

Only people who think he had a good year last year look at box scores and don't watch games.

One of the major reasons Zion is such a win is so we don't have to resign him because quite frankly he's not very good.

I won’t tolerate Randle slander. Come back on a minimum my guy. You too D’angelo. We need someone to score from the bench.

Randle was amazing last year [for me in fantasy].

I agree though, there isn't any point. He's basically Zion without the upside, and this team is devoid of shooting as it is.

I think Pelicans should take a run at Lopez and Mirotic, personally. Both tall shooters that could really complement the team well I think.

Randle still has upside though.

He's younger than Siakam, and the same age as Ibaka.

I can see Lakers going for Lopez again this time around. Magic was the one who didn't want him and he's gone. That's assuming we'll use our remaining cap on role players instead of one max guy, if we can even get a max slot for Butler, Kyrie or Kawhi.

Fully expecting this tweet from last year to come to fruition in two weeks:

CBarca wrote:Randle was amazing last year [for me in fantasy].

I agree though, there isn't any point. He's basically Zion without the upside, and this team is devoid of shooting as it is.

I think Pelicans should take a run at Lopez and Mirotic, personally. Both tall shooters that could really complement the team well I think.

Agree with everything you said

Freeza wrote:I won’t tolerate Randle slander. Come back on a minimum my guy. You too D’angelo. We need someone to score from the bench.

I have nothing against him personally, i think he's a really great guy and when he's on the court i cheer for him.

But his skillset is hard to fit in if i'm being honest, he's at his best as a 6th man running a 2nd unit. He's like a big man version of Crawford/Lou Will.

And i'm not sure the salary he will command is worth it for the role he needs to be in to excel.

Freeza wrote:Randle still has upside though.

He's younger than Siakam, and the same age as Ibaka.

I can see Lakers going for Lopez again this time around. Magic was the one who didn't want him and he's gone. That's assuming we'll use our remaining cap on role players instead of one max guy, if we can even get a max slot for Butler, Kyrie or Kawhi.

Oh I'm not saying he doesn't have upside at all. It was more relative. He's just like Zion (physically, shooting ability, even athletically to some extent) but he just doesn't have the kind of upside Zion has. Because Zion is Zion (and Zion is probably already a better defender).

I have always liked Randle and I think he can be a great, impactful player somewhere, especially if he improves his defense.

However, he doesn't fit on the Pelicans team, and compared to Zion, if you're going to have two similar players, you obviously kick out Randle and focus on Zion.

I wish Randle the best, love the dude

Nah Kawhi is going to the clippers.

Would be amazing. And I want him out of the east at all costs.

Btw, anyone think Kawhi could stay?

I'm still very skeptical of Kawhi going to the Clippers.

And I have no idea why he'd ever do that. I can't see a kid growing up a Lakers fan going to the all time worst NBA franchise and a local "rival".

Paul George I would've believed considering he was a Clippers guy growing up.

I think it's way more likely Kawhi stays than he goes to the Clippers.

Guess the Clippers PR is working though. Ballmer has done a great job in that regard. They've got minimal talent on the roster and a great coach and now they're somehow according to the media the best situation for Kawhi.

Also please take care of my boy, BI.

We should retire his number for this alone:

We will never forget Brandon Ingram as a Los Angeles Laker.pic.twitter.com/YslKLFJ8EI

— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) June 15, 2019

Kawhi is going to be a Cyborg mercenary for the rest of his career and go to teams who've never won a championship before and win them it and then leave and i am here for it.

Can't wait for 2021 Kawhi led Minnesota Timberwolves NBA champions.

I think Kawhi will stay now.