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Conspiracy Theory Corner

KqWIN said:
I think a BI trade aligns with both teams (attempted at least) strategy. I’m not in love with it, but I think I would do the BI for Kessler/Collins swap. It’s the riskier path imo. There’s higher downside risk with paying Ingram or Kessler improving dramatically…but I think median outcomes actually play out better for us. That swap doesn’t hurt our Lauri+tank. I think Kessler+Collins win us more regular season games. The more talent you have condensed in less players the better…but I also wonder if the FO would try to scramble to fill out the roster and try for the play in (I’m not a fan of that).

Kessler could be in for a big year and maybe even big career…I’m still not sure if it happens here. Just doesn’t seem to be the type of big Hardy wants. I think Hardy wants versatility and skill out of his big instead of a traditional roll/cut + drop big. But he was still very good in his rookie year so idk.

One way or another I think something happens with NOP. The “it just makes sense meter” is really high on this one.
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Our true tanking strategy is that its going to be the year of discovery for Walker. We will give him 40 games as a pick and pop high volume 3 point shooter and 40 as a post up primary option. Tell him he needs to get up 20 shots every night.

I think NO is kinda stuck so I am guessing if we offered it they deal would get done without picks.
 
Handlogten's Heros said:
Our true tanking strategy is that its going to be the year of discovery for Walker. We will give him 40 games as a pick and pop high volume 3 point shooter and 40 as a post up primary option. Tell him he needs to get up 20 shots every night.

I think NO is kinda stuck so I am guessing if we offered it they deal would get done without picks.
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His dream could come true!

On a serious note, I do think Kessler is the anti tank commander. Elevating the defense is the lowest hang fruit for improvement and he’s better than most at doing so.

I think I might even say that Kessler > Ingram for winning regular season games with this roster.
 
KqWIN said:
His dream could come true!

On a serious note, I do think Kessler is the anti tank commander. Elevating the defense is the lowest hang fruit for improvement and he’s better than most at doing so.

I think I might even say that Kessler > Ingram for winning regular season games with this roster.
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I tried to make this case (that Kessler is the anti-tank) and a few people got really huffy.
 
Unless Keyonte or Sexton have taken big leaps as pick n roll PGs, I just don't see any big leap for Kessler. Both of them have shown to have negative chemistry with Walker. Both seem to require a more skilled big to be effective as facilitators.

I expect Walker to be more consistent with his mindset and not take as many 3s. Fingers crossed he learns to get to the FT line. His biggest improvement point will just be setting good screens despite 80% of the time he won't be personally rewarded for it.
 
If you don’t mention defense, I can see how you would overlook Kessler as an anti-tank commander. Defense is the lowest hanging fruit. Simply playing Kessler improves that greatly. It’s wayyy easier to win that defense/offense tradeoff when you’re dead last in defense.

As a counter point, Hardy is unlikely to utilize Kessler in an optimal way. The easiest way to win games would be to play Kessler lots of minutes and play a strict drop system. But Hardy has been very open about not caring about defense and I wouldn’t put it past him to continue to play in a way that does not maximize the current players.

In other Kessler discussions in the past, one of the reasons why I stated that trading Kessler could be a good idea is that if he was ever going to pop….it probably won’t be here because Hardy does not value the skillset Kessler has nor does he want to utilize it.

Still, if he turns in his rookie year level of performance and plays 30 mpg that will lead to a big improvement to our defense.
 
Even if the Pelicans are not trading Ingram, we know two things. They need a C and they need to get under the tax.

One route could be trading Missi/Hawkins+JRE+picks for Kessler. That would put them just under the tax. How do we feel about Hawkins or Missi?

The other route would be trading CJ. I had thought about a three way trade with LAL. CJ to LAL. Collins or Kessler+Clarkson to NOP and salary+stuff back to UTA.
 
KqWIN said:
Even if the Pelicans are not trading Ingram, we know two things. They need a C and they need to get under the tax.

One route could be trading Missi/Hawkins+JRE+picks for Kessler. That would put them just under the tax. How do we feel about Hawkins or Missi?

The other route would be trading CJ. I had thought about a three way trade with LAL. CJ to LAL. Collins or Kessler+Clarkson to NOP and salary+stuff back to UTA.
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So... I have gotten the impression that we aren't trading Walker... and TJ seemed to say we will focus on youth (which would mean no BI in my interpretation).

Sorry to throw cold water on the conspiracy corner. I think we are headed for a completely boring use of space.

To answer the question. I loved Hawkins last year. When I watched him in summer league up close I kinda changed my opinion. Not just makes and misses but can't get any separation on or off ball.
 
Handlogten's Heros said:
So... I have gotten the impression that we aren't trading Walker... and TJ seemed to say we will focus on youth (which would mean no BI in my interpretation).

Sorry to throw cold water on the conspiracy corner. I think we are headed for a completely boring use of space.

To answer the question. I loved Hawkins last year. When I watched him in summer league up close I kinda changed my opinion. Not just makes and misses but can't get any separation on or off ball.
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Hawkins I think is just ok....I think he will improve as a shooter, but he really only has one way to help a team. Shooting is valuable, he doesn't do much else. I have no opinions on Missi other than that his numbers in college were pretty underwhelming. NOP could trade their 25 this year or the more favorable of MIL/NOP in 2027. One of those picks and Missi/Hawkins could be ok value for Walker.

I think a Collins/McCollum (to LAL) swap could still happen. It would probably result in us bringing back Rui and DLO....I'm not really sure if that improves our situation much, but in theory we could waive DLO and have alittle less money on the books next season. We could probably get some kind of stuff out of that deal, but most likely crappy stuff.

Ingram reported to not be going anywhere, so not thinking about that possibility anymore. But one way or another NOP will get another C and get under the tax.
 
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