08-27-2023, 12:04 AM
(08-26-2023, 10:18 PM)surfpuckmd Wrote: I'm a Pelicans fan as well. Valanciunas isn't the answer for the Mavericks. He declined significantly this past season. He can't guard the perimeter nor defend at the rim. He is an excellent defensive rebounder which would help us but he's otherwise very poor at defense. He's strong and physical and can score but I don't think our starting lineup needs what he has to offer on offense.
I think Nurkic would be a better fit but I've proposed that idea before and everyone seemed to hate it. I think Portland would love to get off his contract and would accept a Richaun Holmes and JaVale McGee package for him. Nurkic has 3-years left on his contract so we'd be stuck with that for an extra year. I think he's still a pretty good defensive player though and also a strong rebounder. He'd be a problem for us on offense though. I think he and Powell would make a good center platoon for the regular season. I also like that we could get him without trading any assets- we might even be able to get a couple 2nd-rounders out the deal.
That's the deal I would make personally. McGee and Holmes for Nurkic. Portland is tanking anyway and trading Nurkic only improves their tank.
McGee can't be traded now that he's S/W. Nurkic isn't a bad idea. Valanciunas for a year is a great move. He's super efficient on offense and and you said is a good rebounder, We NEED rebounding.
No one is going to take Holmes in a trade for anything of value. Dude is worth a negative #24 pick, just to take his contract. At best he's worth a vet min, putting his contract at -$10m.
THJ for Valanciunas straight up works. IMO, that's equal value, but I think NOP is looking to shed salary, not add to it. Thoughts?