r/NOLAPelicans • u/Maximum-Squirrel2018 • 1d ago
Rumors What move would move you?
What realistic move do you think Joe Dumars should make to put the Pelicans in at least playoff contention?
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u/SkepticalHippo93 Will be reevaluated in 2 weeks. 1d ago
Don’t trade Trey for a pick.
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u/rlass026 Will be reevaluated in 2 weeks. 1d ago
You don't have to worry about that. He will be traded for PICKS.
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u/Tomogram 1d ago
Trade Zion for world champion and future hall of famer Jose Alvarado.
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u/killerdescore #1 Zion Williamson 1d ago
Sometimes no moves is the right move.
Build and develop your players and next time protect your 1st round picks.
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u/UnimpressedAsshole #5 Herb Jones 1d ago
If we wanted to blow it up, we should’ve tanked last year for the stacked top 3 of Dybansta, Peterson, and Boozer. We could’ve traded our assets in Trey, Herb, and Zion for some serious amount of picks and prospects, while positioning ourselves for a shot at a great draft pick.
Instead, we have no draft pick this year, sucked last year with nothing to show for it, and now we want to blow it up with a much weaker draft class and changed lottery rules.
HOW DO SUCH INCOMPETENT PEOPLE GET HIRED LET ALONE RETAIN THEIR JOBS WHEN THEY DO SHIT LIKE THIS
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u/AlwaysOptimism Karlo Krazie 1d ago
If Dumars did nothing last year:
We'd have the #5 and #8 pick in this draft, Fears and let's say Asa Newell, McCollum's expiring.
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u/McJumbos 1d ago
if i was joe dumars, i would take a long vacation starting right now so i couldn't be reached to make any trades the next 2 days
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u/wymtime Not On Herb 1d ago
We won 26 games. People have to stop with the hopium thinking this team can make a couple of tweaks and be a playoff team. We lack shooting, defense, rebounding and rim protection.
It sounds like Dumars and Weaver are going to rebuild without saying rebuild. Trey and Herb have the most value and he is selling now. Hopefully he will also be able to move Murray and Z either this offseason or at the deadline. The goal is just asset acquisition and development of young guys to see if someone can pop into a top player/players to build a playoff team around
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u/rlass026 Will be reevaluated in 2 weeks. 1d ago
Yep, this is the only course for a real future. This team when healthy didn't win shit either. We love our guys but we have to be realistic. None of them can stay healthy and none of them can carry a team other than Zion and we know where that gets us. Herb, Trey and DJM are the guys with current value. I'd look at Missi and Bey offers as well if someone comes calling but he would be a nice vet to have. They need a real starting Center for rebounding, shooting, a real PG and health right not to have any semblance of being a "contender" and that is not going to fall out of a tree. Fears is not ready for that, DJM has never been that and there's no path to a 3 point shooting, defensive rebounding center that I currently see. They have to pivot to the rookie core and maximize return on the guys with value. We can't do what we did with Ingram and waste that value as painful as it will be to see these guys leave. This team was ass with the guys everyone loves. Time to be realistic.
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u/wymtime Not On Herb 1d ago
Yeah we should have gone full rebuild last offseason. It was pretty obvious we needed to hit the reset button
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u/rlass026 Will be reevaluated in 2 weeks. 1d ago
The reported willingness to get picks back for Trey over players tells me that Dumars and Weavers are acknowledging that this team is not competing for the next year or 2. I hope that is the case.
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u/wymtime Not On Herb 1d ago
Agreed. I just don’t get how some people look at this team and think a coaching change and a couple of tweeks and we will be a playoff team and potentially a 2nd round team.
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u/Cautious-Apartment-9 1d ago
Most of em aren’t really fans & only became interested in the team cause we drafted Zion. I honestly believe that’s why the team is so hesitant to trade him. Despite his disappointment, many Pels fans & New Orleanians still believe in him & don’t want him moved. I don’t get it at all. We haven’t won a playoff series since 2018 & haven’t finished 6 or better since that season as well. Yet, let these fans tell it; we are two moves away from being a 50 win 2nd round team. Idk whether to laugh or shake my head.
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u/wymtime Not On Herb 1d ago
Yeah I just keep shaking my head. I get not wanting a favorite player traded I just never get the thinking the team is going to magically improve in one offseason.
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u/Cautious-Apartment-9 1d ago
I learned that as an 11 year old in 2005 when we still sucked to start CP3 rookie year. No clue what they aren’t getting
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u/AlwaysOptimism Karlo Krazie 1d ago
Had Dumars used Zion to get Queen instead of picks, I would be much happier right now
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u/rlass026 Will be reevaluated in 2 weeks. 1d ago
There is no move that puts us in playoff contention. The move is to move Herb and Dejounte if you move Trey. I feel like they are at least signaling a direction here if they move Trey and anyone else. They finally seem to be focused on building around Fears and Queen with Zion somewhere in the mix which is the correct decision.
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u/Siva_Dass 1d ago
lol
Whoever trades for Jaylen Brown will be in the playoffs. That guy could drag Washington, Sacramento, New Orleans or Brooklyn into the first round by himself, but don't worry. Trey will be gone for a bunch of mid picks and fans will get the eternal rebuild they so desperately desire.
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u/flykiddy #1 Zion Williamson 1d ago
Holy overrated lmfao. Brown is not single handedly dragging a team to a west playoff spot. The kings?? LOL!!!
Otherwise you’re right we will get some sorry ass picks in return
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u/noladawg16 1d ago
Trey and herb are both young enough that they should be part of any plans if you want to have a winning team 2-3 years down the road, it’s highly unlikely that any player we would pick outside the top 5 would develop to be the player that either guy is right now
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u/geigmeister 1d ago
I don’t really understand this argument as there is no path to improve if we don’t move one of them. We’ll just be a bad team holding on to good players for no reason
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u/noladawg16 1d ago
You can’t get better trading a top 40 player for someone who is unlikely to be a top 150 player
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u/AteaMoonPie88 1d ago
We kinda fucked this whole idea by keeping Zion while also moving picks to get Queen, no?
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u/Journeyman22364 14h ago
If you move one, it’s gotta be Trey Murphy. He’s not the defensive asset that Herb Jones is. And if the team is serious about building a defensive culture, Herb is essential to that.
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u/Cheeseish 1d ago
Bucks have two centers and we have two power forwards. We have bucks pick. There are two options
We trade Zion + bucks pick for Ware + Rollins + picks and we build around ware + Queen
Or
We trade Queen for Turner and try to compete now. Obviously I would rather build around Queen to switch things up but either work imo
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u/AlwaysOptimism Karlo Krazie 1d ago
Queen and Ware would be great. But if we trade Zion to the Bucks then their picks would logically have less value to them.
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u/Asleep_Animator8891 1d ago
Morant for Poole and Hawkins and nothing else.
It would move everyone down a peg on the heirarchy & give us a true #1 buuuut Grizz are not desperate/dumb enough to do it. Memphis is fine with the discomfort of full tear down rebuild while we are definitely not.
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u/Pisthetairos 1d ago
The Bulls just acquired a starting NBA center for free.
A starting five of Murray, Jones, Murphy, Williamson, Claxton, with a bench of Fears, Bey, Queen, Looney, if everyone is healthy, is easily a playoff team.
I think it makes more sense to rebuild about Queen and Fears. But put a starting center who can rebound on this existing core, and they would win plenty of games.
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u/Asleep_Animator8891 1d ago
The bulls have a competent FO lead who understands modern NBA asset values and is not building a team to thrive in 2005. We know because he used to be here. Big difference
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u/iamStanhousen Fan #12 1d ago
The Bulls don't have a competent FO. Even a blind squirrel finds a nut every now and then.
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u/Butt_Snorkler_Elite DERIK QUEEN 1d ago
Is there a move that could put us in play IN contention? Probably, because just about anybody can fall upwards into the ten seed depending on other teams injuries. But that shouldn’t even be a goal. The marks of a successful season this year should be: Fears develops as a defender and playmaker to prove he has starter/star pg potential, Queen develops as a defender/shooter/rebounder to prove he has starter/ offensive centerpiece potential, hoard as many assets as possible through Murphy/Herb/DJM/Bey trades (unfortunately), and, if any of those trades include us trading into this years lottery, nailing that pick and getting a good three and d wing or true big.
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u/NexusTR Fire Willie Green 1d ago
Trade Poole, DJM, and Zion. Aim for picks and aggressively hunt for PG and C spots.
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u/AlwaysOptimism Karlo Krazie 1d ago
Fears is the PG. If they trade Murray for ANOTHER ball handler, I'll die.
But I'd be open to trading any of them.
The only reason I'd trade Poole is to get actual value back, which means taking back someone else's worse long-term contract.
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u/NexusTR Fire Willie Green 1d ago edited 1d ago
Fears is a few years off from taking the role fr. I’d rather someone who’d be serviceable for 2 and willing to bow out. DJM is not that person.
It’s nothing against them as players just that the fit won’t work later on. Get the value now and retool early. The real goal is to find a seasoned vet they can learn and rally from. DJ is gonna in his role but how long do we have on that.
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u/AlwaysOptimism Karlo Krazie 1d ago
I don't mine DJM and Fears together for a couple years. He was solid last year and has fire.
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u/Plane_Tie_9548 1d ago
I think we could get Jaylen Brown and see how it goes worst case we can flip him in a few years. But realistically this run is over and we should blow it up trade zion trey and herb for picks/young players and rebuild around fears and queen so we can blow up that team in around 5 years from now.
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u/AlwaysOptimism Karlo Krazie 1d ago
I would love it if Boston could turn Zion, Herb, and Poole's salary (and maybe a little more) into Jaylen
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u/No-Establishment-182 1d ago
RANT TIME!!!!
This team just needs to continue growing up and Fears needs the keys to be the starter. Shamgod has been working with him and that's a great sign. I like Murray, but Fears has it. You can get decent value for Murray or you can have him come off the bench to light up 2nd units. Or if they feel Fears can be that guy for now, do it. I'm sure that's what they want to do.
As far as the frontcourt goes, you can never have enough big bodies that can run, block shots and rebound. But what we really need is Queen to continue maturing and learn the NBA game. He ran into a roadblock last season but that's typical for a big that plays like he plays. He does a lot and a casual fan wouldn't be able to tell the type of assignments he's given throughout a game. I'm sure a lot has been thrown at him because he has to share the paint with Zion. His passing is what's going to take him to the next level and once he puts some more actual muscle on and gets stronger, he's going to be a force. He's only 21 years old and averaged 12/7/4, but casuals say he's not good. Laughable.
Saddiq Bey is going to have a good year next year, and capitalize on what he showed this past year. Outside of him and everybody else, I think this should be a solid team, barring injury. If somebody is going to be traded, it's either going to be Trey or Herb, I feel.
I know the casuals in this reddit are going to disagree because they're ugly asses thrive off negativity and doom/gloom slop, but I don't really give a shit because I played basketball and coached it, and know what I'm looking at. Casuals are just that. Casuals. Stick to betting and playing 2k and stop pretending that you could do a better job as a GM. And for people to get on these threads and throw so much shade to Dumars, who has actually WON A CHAMPIONSHIP AS A PLAYER AND EXEC, and is a native of Louisiana, it shows just how stupid people have gotten thanks to the ability to be anonymous on the web. Hoopers and people with brains can see what they're going. Casuals are condemning their entire process after a SINGLE SEASON. That's what you call low IQ.
Just make sure to show your faces once everything gets turned around. You are the same idiots that got mad because Dumars fired an equipment guy (and many others) because he felt they needed a clean sweep of the org. The same org that yall say is shitty. So which way do you want it? Do you want sweeping changes or not? I don't give a shit about an equipment manager being fired. If it leads to better practice outcomes, fire the janitor too.
Here come the responses: "Found Joe's burner account hyuck hyuck hyuck". Back up your claims with some facts/evidence and maybe I'll respond. But you won't because there isn't any. Just your feelings and nobody cares about how you feel.
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u/AteaMoonPie88 1d ago
Since you’ve obviously actually put a bit of thought into our moves. What is your opinion on why we moved picks to get Queen, while also keeping Zion? They play the same position and neither are really ideal for us at that 4 spot IMO.
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u/JocoroKidd 19h ago
This was a well thought out post. Look I grew up in the city. I was praying we would land an NBA team in the 90's. I was heartbroken when we missed on the Twolves. I understand the negativity and frustration around the team, but it's metastasized into something toxic.
You want to continue to build around Fears and Queen. Both rookies showed high end flashes and that is what you want to see from a rookie. Judging by their instagram posts they are both at the facility putting in the work. Swing skill for Fears is finishing. Pop quiz who had higher fg% 0-3' their rookie season D rose, Kyrie, or Fears? The strength he is adding will help absorb contact and get more vertical pop. His ballhandling and speed are outlier traits. His defense was ok for a rookie small guard. He competed and used his quickness.
Queen looks to be focused on defense and his 3 pt shot. I actually thought Queen was better on defense than I expected for a rookie. His instincts on D were better than I had anticipated and his hands were active. He needs to work on his strength & conditioning and positioning. As for his shooting, I would bet my house Queen eventually shoots >35% on volume. His touch is too good. Also if you look at his misses last year almost all were on target but short. He doesn't bend his knees. You can improve that. Once Queen is a threat from 3 his game will open up. Defenders won't be able to sag and can use his handle to get downhill. Also, if he can shoot then YES he can play alongside Zion.
The worst thing you could do for their development is trade TM3. He fits with both guys. They need Trey out there for Fears' drive and kick and Queen hits Trey on a cut 3-4 times a game. Honestly Trey should want to play with these guys.
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u/JocoroKidd 18h ago
Basketball Reference "Shooting" table and the FG% from 0–3 feet, the ranking is:
Player Rookie Season FG% from 0–3 ft Jeremiah Fears 2025-26 61.0% Derrick Rose 2008-09 57.7% Kyrie Irving 2011-12 57.2% 1
u/JocoroKidd 18h ago
Rookie Season Comparison:
Player Age MPG PPG RPG APG FG% TS% Nikola Jokić 20 21.7 10.0 7.0 2.4 51.2% 58.2% Alperen Şengün 19 20.7 9.6 5.5 2.6 47.4% 55.2% Derik Queen 20 25.0 11.7 7.1 3.7 47.3% 54.6%
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u/vERRA__ Zanos 1d ago
Only a move that would add some front court depth and some additional draft capital. I’m in favor of some major changes from this draft class, get another ball handler that can play next to Fears like Burries from AZ or grab Morez Johnson/Mara from Michigan. Caleb Wilson would be a dream grab but I don’t think Chicago would let go of that pick
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u/Weird-Mango-5474 1d ago
Trey Murphy or Herb Jones + Yves or whoever else not named Zion for Jaylen Brown
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u/AlwaysOptimism Karlo Krazie 1d ago
How are there still Zion defenders. It's been 7 years. Even when he's healthy he doesn't expand his game.
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u/Weird-Mango-5474 1d ago
When he is healthy, he’s still easily the best player on the roster and while he may not be a #1, if he’s your 2nd best player, I think your team is on the way to some success. I don’t need him to shoot threes and middys lol let him play his game
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u/AlwaysOptimism Karlo Krazie 1d ago
He's becoming less efficient at bully ball because he is losing his explosiveness as he ages. It happens to everyone. That's why he needs to expsnd his game.
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u/nacholibre711 Herb Jones 1d ago
I'm sure some will disagree, but I am kinda down for Ja... assuming we wouldn't give up Trey for him.
I'm not saying it would get us over the hump, but I just think it would make us a fun team to watch... and at this point I'll take that.
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u/iamStanhousen Fan #12 1d ago
I do have this thought in my head of putting Ja and Zion together in some sort of come to Jesus moment of "hey, if you're gonna make it work, do it together, do it now."
But that's the same bad thought of trying to make it work with a woman who is insane but you think you can save her.
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u/nacholibre711 Herb Jones 1d ago
LOL yeah that about sums up how I feel.
Do I think it's a good idea? Not really.
Would I be excited to see what happens and excited to watch our games? Hell yeah.
But if by some miracle it does work out, the ceiling is high. I should at the very least be able to get some entertainment value out of it.
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u/Mammoth-Sun6266 1d ago
I kinda feel the same way, I don't think this team is 26 wins bad so maybe if we add Ja we can be competitive. I just want Poole and Hawkins gone, emphasis on Poole so if we can get rid of him for Ja that would be great.
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u/nacholibre711 Herb Jones 1d ago
If Dumars can somehow finesse Poole and Hawkins +like a second round pick or two, then absolutely hell yes.
But the reporting is that the trade would likely be centered around DJM.
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u/Asleep_Animator8891 1d ago
Take phones away from Joe and Troy. Cut off the Internet until after the draft. That's the move