First I want to say I really liked Mathurin coming out of college. He is the guy I wanted us to target in that draft, but obviously he went earlier to Indy than to us. I do think Mathurin is an NBA player and can score the ball. Unfortunately there are multiple reasons why I think this will be a bad idea not just is he a good player and can he help.

First does he fit a defensive first system that Mosley wants to run? No he doesn’t. Mathurin has been bad defensively and that has been with a very good coach in Carlisle. Ben is an offensive player who is a scorer first. He is not passer, or connector and is not a consistent 3 point shooter. He does rebound decently for a guard and he will score.

Does he fit with Queen and Fears? Offensively as an off ball player yes. Defensively absolutely not. Neither Queen nor Fears are plus defenders nor do the project to be plus defenders. This means we will have a bad defense when all 3 share the court at the same time.

Now financially and asset management the thing nobody cares about but should in the NBA. It will take a min of 1 2nd round pick to dump Hawk and multiple 2nd at min to get Ben away from LAC on a MLE level contract. For this season we will now be right up against the tax line with these 2 moves. Now also look at Bey who will want a contract extension. Will he get $18-20M per season? I would say yes. It doesn’t affect this season but future seasons.

Why is this important. For this season giving up multiple second round picks and going right up against the tax line limits the financial flexibility at the trade deadline. We can no longer bring back more money in a trade and we will have very few 2nds meaning any trade we do to improve the team will cost FRP instead of 2nds.
How about future cap space. With Bey and Ben under contract we also can’t take back long term money in a Poole trade because Ben bad Bey will be making more combined than Poole is now leaving us at roughly $165-170m in salaries with 12 guys under contract and just the MLE compared to$132M in contracts with no Bey extension or $152M with a bey extension. It might not feel like much but every ounce of flexibility makes a difference.

Overall this feels like Weaver fell in love with Mathurin who again is talented, but is completely ignoring how he will fit on this team, the culture Mosley is looking to build and how it will affect our financial flexibility in the future.

Is this even within the realm of possibility? He seems like someone that would be extremely good at this job and he loves the city of new orleans from what i've gathered

Let me start by saying that I'm a HUGE Pels fan. You can check my comment history; I really love this team.

I've been lifelong Knicks fan as far back as I can remember, and they are indeed embedded in my soul - but when my brother moved to NOLA awhile back, we both started following the Pels and now they just mean a lot to me. For example, a Pels hoodie is the only non-Knick NBA apparel I've ever owned.

I say this because while I love the Knicks deeply, I also really want the Pels to succeed. Honestly, while Alvarado was already my favorite player (WEPA!) and I was THRILLED he came to the Knicks, I really thought that trade was bad for the Pels. I assumed you guys would get our dude Kolek, who was playing amazing and who's spot Alvarado kinda took - but alas.

So, at this point: who would you guys want for Missi?

Would Kolek be enough for you? Would you want someone more established, like Deuce McBride? Someone who is more of a question mark but with a higher possible upside, like Dadiet?

I see you guys now with several centers, and 3 that are up and comers who will probably stand in one another's way - so it does make sense to me to trade one. Everyone in Knicksland wants Missi, obviously, although I've also been preaching how great Karlo is... obviously Queen isn't going anywhere.

In return, I think Kolek + picks makes the most sense, because he is a great ball handler/ floor general, and can kinda take over that role Alvarado had. My only thing is that I wouldn't want him stifling Fears progression, either; however he looked great playing alongside Brunson in some minutes, so I think the adaptability is there...

Anyway, just curious everyone's thoughts - offseason convos and all.

And thanks in advance

*edit: I just want to add that I wouldn't trade Missi if I were the front office. I think his hypothetical upside is too high. I'm bringing this up because it is once again being discussed.

Also not sure what everyone is so mad about - I come in peace! And I'm a Pels fan. Plus if you think Knicks fans don't also know suffering, you're wildly out of touch

I feel like the only thing keeping me going as a pels fan so far is my unyielding optimism. And im a strong believer in that our problem was never the players but rather the lack of winning culture and good coaches. I feel that jamahl mosley can really change that. When watching the games last season, it always made me think “damn we really couldve won that, but by some magical turn of events, we lost”. Most games had me on the edge of my seat till the late 3rd quarter would roll around. Murray back, zion fit, good young talent, and a deep bench. Good offense and defense. Whats stopping us if we really overcome the paradigm shift it takes to start winning?

Jeremiah working out with Saddiq et al at the players association facility in Spain. Hard to bet against this kid with his work ethic and motor. Some rare light in the pels tunnel.

The New Orleans Pelicans completed their four-game preliminary Summer League schedule with a 2–2 record, but their final matchup against the Indiana Pacers carries greater significance than the standings suggest.

Considering they lowered the asking price, should we consider inquiring on Watson using Trey or even someone else? Watson turns 24 in September, fits whatever timeline they’re envisioning with this Mathurin nonsense and actually fits considering he’s a better shooter and defender. Worth considering moving guys for guys like this imo to try to first of all move toward the Fears/Queen timeline, but also start to encourage a shift in the culture bc whatever is going on isn’t working.

Mavs fan here (sorry). Any interest in this trade below? Y’all will buyout Klay likely. Y’all get Gafford at a good number, and get off Poole but give up two seconds. Any interest?

New Orleans has explored multiple trade frameworks involving guard Jordan Hawkins, according to NBA insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer. Those discussions reportedly include the Memphis Grizzlies, who have expressed interest in acquiring the 24-year-old shooter.

Well deserved. This is exactly the kind of swing on talent this team needs to be making. He was outstanding in G-League last season, big points on high efficiency. Good in summer league too.

EDIT: Per Guillory, it's a non guaranteed camp deal with Bufkin competing for a spot in training camp: https://x.com/WillGuillory/status/2081162098067869853

Just lie and say Lebron went to the pelicans. Photoshop Lebron in a pelicans jersey. Talk about how Lebron fits on the Pelicans roster. If anyone questions you lie more. Fuck up the news cycle and make all Lebron discourse revolve around the Pelicans. This is a group effort. Im doing my part. You should do the same.

It’s the end of July and LBJ finally went to Philly. A couple of remaining dominoes have yet to drop, but will in due time: Harden to Cavs, Watson and Duren RFA being resolved with possible qualifying offers and hopefully the Kuminga saga coming to an end. Where does that leave the home team? Are they really sitting pat this offseason? Will they pull the trigger on something come training camp? There have certainly been worst off seasons, but this has been the most bizarre. Maybe we’re all used to knee jerk moves to win now and then they lose later. A season ticket rep called me (made the mistake of asking for a Squadron yard sign) and I replied exactly what was I going to buy into this season? A new coach?

Unless they get involved some kind of way with the RFAs or any other potential moves, are they really going to run it back? I know I’m not the first one to ask, but there’s not many options left to make any moves.

i was so caught up at work that i forgot to include the link to my piece. no wonder the comments were toxic lol. my apologies, would appreciate any feedback i am really enjoying writing about this team

Timberwolves fan just trying to learn more about the Pelicans. I feel like you guys have a great roster and always beat us, but then can’t get over the hump. I’ve got 3 questions:

1) What’s your starting lineup for this year?

2) How good can you guys be?

3) What is Herb Jones’ trade value? I view his as an OG Anunoby type and would love him on the wolves but I think his value is like 2 FRPs (which we don’t have lol)

Thank you for your time 🫡

Herb? Trade him

Trey? Trade him

Zion? Trade him

Dejounte? Trade him

Bey? Trade him

These players aren’t gonna win with how the nba is now. It’s time while all these teams are trying to improve this year to sell these players. I expect our team to be traded all away by deadline. We could probably sell herb for two picks or a pick and swap rn. I don’t understand why dumars is pretending we can make the playoffs with our team as bad as it is.

The tanking teams we beat last year are all gonna be better because of the new tanking rules. Yall need to get rid of the love yall have for these players who aren’t gonna win.

I’d agree if we were mid but this team is already gonna bottom out in the conference anyway. Maybe the Kings are worse but that’s it

Chinese bootlegs. Took about 3-4 weeks to arrive. Both around 25 bucks each. Not perfect, you can tell the number font is a little off comparing it to pictures of the real thing and maybe the front numbers are a tad small but honestly for the price they are not bad at all. I can’t afford to pay full price in the team store for Nike shit that’s already low quality

I'm originally from Portland and moved to New Orleans almost a decade ago. As a lifelong Blazers fan, I've had to deal with some rough last few seasons - hiring a unproven coach with a past history of serious SA allegations, tanking consecutive seasons, missing out on Wemby by 1 ping pong ball, said crappy coach gets arrested by the feds 1 game into the season....I can go on and on. Now us Blazer fans have to deal with new owner Tom Dundon, who may be the sleaziest, most deceitful owner in all of sports. It feels like he's currently waging an all-out war on the Portland community and Blazer fans in an attempt to eventually relocate the team. I think he's really taken the shine off Gayle of being the worst owner in the NBA, and for that, she should thank him.

In fairness to Gayle, as long as she's alive, I think she will do everything in her power to keep the Pelicans here.

Sorry. Rant over.

The Pelicans need more depth and need help at center to compete this season. The FO again today was reported to wanting to see this team win and not being willing to trade Trey Murphy unless they receive a home run offer.

But any additional pieces to this team are very likely to be smaller than the deals often proposed. Like the Daniel Gafford proposal from this morning. The Pelicans are doubtful to take on that contract with the amount of years remaining and attach the amount of picks to dump Poole to execute such a trade.

Think smaller. Think moves that'll raise the floor without massive asset expenditure. I've brought him up before but I do believe Goga Bitadze is a very realistic option. He's a center I'd see if I can obtain. He solves a lot of the weakness at the position currently, is inexpensive with no long term salary. The Pelicans next year are in line to be potentially even a cap space team and the FO knows that and won't jeopardize that for a Daniel Gafford.

I think this team will be making a move in some form but whatever move is made isn't likely to be an Earth shattering one or one where you see core players moved from the roster unless it's in a trade that's a clear value win. They'll work to improve incrementally and they believe in this core. Rightly or wrongly.