The Pelicans are expected to explore the trade market for high-scoring forward Brandon Ingram this offseason and might find a trading partner in the Hawks. New Orleans had discussions with Atlanta prior to the February trade deadline and could reengage this summer, with the Hawks reportedly considering breaking up their backcourt.
If the two sides do talk, the Pelicans will likely be focusing on one guard more than the other. New Orleans seems to have more interest in Dejounte Murray than Trae Young, according to Christian Clark of the New Orleans Times-Picayune. That’s because the taller Murray is considered a stronger defender and he’s on a cheaper contract. Murray’s four-year, $114MM extension kicks in next season, whereas Young still has three years left on his five-year, maximum-salary extension.
The Pelicans could also be involved with the Cavaliers’ Darius Garland, who could return to his previous status as lead guard on a team like New Orleans after playing alongside Donovan Mitchell for two seasons.
We have more from the Western Conference:
- With his team facing elimination on Tuesday, Timberwolves guard Mike Conley is listed as questionable with a right soleus strain, the team’s PR department tweets. Conley had 16 points and four assists in 31 minutes in Game 3 on Sunday.
- LeBron James is very likely to re-sign with the Lakers, Brian Windhorst said on ESPN’s Get Up program (video link). “The Sixers are a threat, but I don’t think a serious threat,” Windhorst said of the contender with the most money to spend this summer. Windhorst added he expects Philadelphia to make a run at James, who can opt out of his contract this summer.
- The Spurs should be open to doing pretty much anything to build around Victor Wembanyama, according to The Athletic Mike Monroe, who doesn’t view any other player on the roster as an untouchable. In Monroe’s estimation, nobody should be surprised if the number of new players on San Antonio’s roster on opening night outnumbers the returning players from the 2023/24 roster.
“New Orleans seems to have more interest in Dejounte Murray than Trae Young,”
Shocking.
The entire league has more interest in Murray…
Aside from Hawks fans only a crazy GM looking to get fired would trade for Trae…
You all have apparently paid no attention to the Spurs for the last 25 years. They won’t chase a championship as described above. They know Wemby needs another two year to be ready to be ready to compete for a championship and they will build accordingly.
The goal for next year is to get close to 500 and get some playoff experience.
“You all”
Who you talking to?
Sinister Jim, not you.
Since You got his name wrong, you’re probably correct.
.500 doesn’t get you in the playoffs ….
Not in the West it doesn’t
What prevents the Spurs from drafting a player in the next few drafts that could turn out as good or better than Murray?
I really do wonder who Sixers will sign. Definitely can sign a top FA next yr.
Mike Monroe is drunk or just looking for clicks…
The Spurs aren’t going to see that much roster turnover… Most of those who had minutes this season will be back and most of those who didn’t but have youth on their side as well…
I can see them adding a guiding vet… But no star trades… Even a trade for Murray would be a bit of a shock to me…
As the Spurs don’t really know what Wemby is yet… He still has the room to grow and they don’t want to tie him to an idea of who he is if it is incorrect…
Murray stated that he doesn’t want to return to San Antonio since they gave up on him.
Only players with a no trade clause in their contract get to make their feelings matter if the 2 teams want to trade…
Spurs would never trade for a player that didn’t want to be in San Antonio. No team in their right mind would.
“Only players with a no trade clause in their contract get to make their feelings matter if the 2 teams want to trade”
I haven’t heard this theory much in the nba since the early 90’s.
If I’m a GM, I don’t want to acquire a player that doesn’t want to be there.
It seldom happens, unless the intent is immediately releasing or flipping the acquired player that would rather not.
The same reason these players are paid so much, is the same reason that their feelings are accounted for.
There are very few comparisons of pro athletes to a regular job that most people have.
Why would LeBron go play with Joel Crybaby who needs to shoot 30+ attempts per game?
Original and insightful
It Is indeed
If you actually watched this sport instead of just typing up words about it, you would know it is actually the opposite. The Sixers spent years trying to get Embiid to be more aggressive and take more shots instead of always deferring to shooters around him. In fact 2022-2023 season was his first time ever even reaching 20 shot attempts per game, and his career average is still below 20 FGA per game.
Ask yourself why any established star player. 1- fails miserably when playing in PHI rn 2- the ones who go, ask to be traded.
Maxey Is not an.established Star player. He Is a really good player and an ascending Star, but he’s not Yet established full Time as a Star.
If I’m Pop, I’m not trading Sochan. We already dedicated a full year to play him as a PG; we can’t lose More Time. Bring an already developed starting PG (CP3! CP3! CP3!), or we pull the plug on another Sochan PG Season
CP3 would probably go there if they offered the MLE. I think he would go elsewhere on a vet min deal tho to chase a ring first.
Cap teams don’t get a MLE
DeJounte is such a good fit for New Orleans.
Back in his Spurs days he was a really solid defender and playmaker, whereas now he’s definitely got more of an ego and looks to play more aggressive and score first.
If he can find a middle ground and be a tidy defender, good playmaker while still possessing a shooting threat and playing aggressive, he’d be insane.
All of a sudden you’d have a backcourt of Murray and CJ who last year both averaged over 20 points per game, both solid playmakers and both can shoot the ball and space the floor.
Then with Ingram gone you’ve got more minutes for Herb and Trey at the SF spot next to Zion.
Been saying it for a while but in order to salary match, try get Clint Capela aswell to replace Jonas and you’ve then got a solid defensive minded centre on an expiring contract aswell.
All of that and you don’t have to bother with an Ingram extension you’ll end up regretting
That lineup would actually be a force.
Dejounte CJ Jones/Murphy Zion Capela
I feel for Valanciunas, guy’s always responded when called upon, Yet Is kept aside un the long playoff runs, because of His old school, perímeter defensing issue. Guy’s a beast, grabbed like 12 offensive rebounds and 20 overall last Pelícans’ game (playoffs).
A real gladiator.
JoVal is a beast & a gladiator but Embiid is an inefficient crybaby
Hahaha
Yeah, I never saw Valanciunas whine
Yeah I think it would be a terrific line up for them. Murray is solid enough defender on the perimeter, Herb is a beast and Capela gives them more rim protection.
You’ve also got better shooting in Murray than Ingram and allows you to also have Trey or Herb on the floor more which also provides more spacing for Zion.
I think if everyone really applies themselves they could have a Minnesota TWolves jump next season, from fringe playoff side to playoff dark horse teams don’t want to see.
Western conference is experiencing abit of a changing of the guard with older teams like GSW, the clippers and Lakers maybe being done and younger teams like the TWolves and OKC on the rise. NO would be well set to follow that wave of ascendancy
Only way NO is getting Dejounte & Clint is if they’re giving up Zion. It would be hard to turn down Zion & Jose for DJ & Clint
Hahahahahahahahahaha
It’s going to be Murray and Capela for Ingram, Daniel’s and one of the first round picks I think.
Hawks look set to trade either Murray or Trae and for now Murray looks a lot more likely.
As for Capela he’s been shopped around a couple times and looks as if the Hawks will take either Sarr or Clinghan with the first overall pick and having already secured Okungwu to a long term extension, it’s not going to be a surprise when Clint leaves.
Hawks are interested in Ingram, Nance would be a solid back up big man and vet for the younger guys. Then on top of that you get another first.
As for NO, like I said Murray is a great fit, Jonas looks set to leave and for salary matching purposes someone else also has to leave and Capela looks very likely to be that guy and NO need a new centre.
They also don’t need 2 firsts as they have a good amount of young talent they need to build a better roster around Zion.
It just makes so much sense for both sides.
But your a ATL and value both guys way to much and the bias is very obvious.
You vastly overvalue Murray, kind of like Atlanta’s brass. They overpaid for Murray. They won’t get that same value, bc teams can see it’s either Murray or Trae, one has to go. That’s the perception.
Ingram for Murray straight up is a fair trade.
Murray is way better than Trae and cheaper. That means a lot in today’s NBA with the new rules on salary cap violations and the Aprons 1&2
I think you might be vastly overvaluing Ingram who will undoubtedly test free agency rather than rotting in Atlanta. Murray and Capela seems like an overpay. Can’t overpay teams in trades and expect the rebuild to go smoothly
Trae Young teamed up with Ant Man would be fire. Or Murray.
That is true, but the Spurs have been irrelevant for 10 years. Things change and Wemby wants to win now.
Next year, the Sixers are going to be this year’s Suns-very top heavy. They will me able to sign one big name forward, the MLE at $13 mill, and the bi-annual at $5 mill. And then the rest all minimum players.
The way you get a championship contender is being able to keep most of your team and adding one or two pieces by trades.