Welpee wrote:

newyorknewyork wrote:

Welpee wrote:Pelicans have to take on JR Smith and give up a 1st round pick just to unload Asik? No way they do this no matter how many protections you have to that pick. And remember, JR Smith on a championship caliber team is a lot different than JR Smith on a non-playoff team. We should know that more than anyone.

Asik isn't going to play yet collect 22mil total over the next 2 years. Smith would immediately be their starting SG. With Davis, Boogie the resigning of Holiday and other role players like Asik eating up cap. They are capped out and have no way of improving their team at the moment. Even if they traded a draft pick to a team to dump Asik out right they don't have the cap space to use that savings to improve. And teams are going to want more than 1 first since Asik has 2 years left.

By giving up a heavy protected pick to swap Asik for Smith. They turn dead weight into a starter and if it fails and they miss the playoffs they maintain their pick. If it works and they make the playoffs swapping Asik for Smith was a contributing piece.

Asik is scheduled to make $10.6m (age 31), $11.3m (age 32), and $12m (age 33) over the next three years. Smith is going to make $13.5m (age 32), $14.7m (age 33), $15.7m (age 34). So not only are they taking on more money for the privilege of acquiring a knucklehead like JR Smith, they will eventually have to give up a 1st round pick, likely to be a lottery pick at some point (because Smith is not putting them over the hump as a playoff team in the west).

If they are capped up with Asik they will be more capped out with Smith. Basically you're trading a 1st round pick for JR Smith, a guy nobody wanted in free agency and only got the deal he has because of Lebron. You can find a 8 ppg shooting guard off the NBA scrape heap.

This doesn't even factor in Smith's affect on locker room if they aren't contending. Knuckleheads like Smith or Nick Young can be effective in veteran/winning environments like GSW, San Antonio or Cleveland. Look at their track records in losing environments.

Both Asik and Smith have team options for their 3rd years. They would both be 2 year commitments. Pelicans also would dump Pondexter at 3.8mil. Total salary would be 25.7mil going out with 28.2mil coming in. Smith immediately brings more to the table then Asik does given the makeup of the Pelicans and NBA. Smith while a knuckle head he is a strong catch and shoot player, who can put the ball on the floor. Has guarded SGs to small ball PFs for the Cavs due to his strength. They aren't going to be able to move Asik & Pondexter and get a better player then Smith without giving up multiple first round picks with less protection. They can sit tight let and Asik come off the books or buy him out next off season. And strictly rely on hitting on their draft picks to hopefully push them over the top. But with this trade if they are a lottery team they keep their pick regardless and keep it for multiple years after that if they continue to be a lottery team. If they are a playoff team they give up their pick but have all their picks going forward after that. Again though Pelicans will probably fight for the pick to turn into 2nd rounders instead of an unprotected pick. Most likely would be the things worked out at a negotiation table.

newyorknewyork wrote:

Welpee wrote:

newyorknewyork wrote:

Welpee wrote:Pelicans have to take on JR Smith and give up a 1st round pick just to unload Asik? No way they do this no matter how many protections you have to that pick. And remember, JR Smith on a championship caliber team is a lot different than JR Smith on a non-playoff team. We should know that more than anyone.

Asik isn't going to play yet collect 22mil total over the next 2 years. Smith would immediately be their starting SG. With Davis, Boogie the resigning of Holiday and other role players like Asik eating up cap. They are capped out and have no way of improving their team at the moment. Even if they traded a draft pick to a team to dump Asik out right they don't have the cap space to use that savings to improve. And teams are going to want more than 1 first since Asik has 2 years left.

By giving up a heavy protected pick to swap Asik for Smith. They turn dead weight into a starter and if it fails and they miss the playoffs they maintain their pick. If it works and they make the playoffs swapping Asik for Smith was a contributing piece.

Asik is scheduled to make $10.6m (age 31), $11.3m (age 32), and $12m (age 33) over the next three years. Smith is going to make $13.5m (age 32), $14.7m (age 33), $15.7m (age 34). So not only are they taking on more money for the privilege of acquiring a knucklehead like JR Smith, they will eventually have to give up a 1st round pick, likely to be a lottery pick at some point (because Smith is not putting them over the hump as a playoff team in the west).

If they are capped up with Asik they will be more capped out with Smith. Basically you're trading a 1st round pick for JR Smith, a guy nobody wanted in free agency and only got the deal he has because of Lebron. You can find a 8 ppg shooting guard off the NBA scrape heap.

This doesn't even factor in Smith's affect on locker room if they aren't contending. Knuckleheads like Smith or Nick Young can be effective in veteran/winning environments like GSW, San Antonio or Cleveland. Look at their track records in losing environments.

Both Asik and Smith have team options for their 3rd years. They would both be 2 year commitments. Pelicans also would dump Pondexter at 3.8mil. Total salary would be 25.7mil going out with 28.2mil coming in. Smith immediately brings more to the table then Asik does given the makeup of the Pelicans and NBA. Smith while a knuckle head he is a strong catch and shoot player, who can put the ball on the floor. Has guarded SGs to small ball PFs for the Cavs due to his strength. They aren't going to be able to move Asik & Pondexter and get a better player then Smith without giving up multiple first round picks with less protection. They can sit tight let and Asik come off the books or buy him out next off season. And strictly rely on hitting on their draft picks to hopefully push them over the top. But with this trade if they are a lottery team they keep their pick regardless and keep it for multiple years after that if they continue to be a lottery team. If they are a playoff team they give up their pick but have all their picks going forward after that. Again though Pelicans will probably fight for the pick to turn into 2nd rounders instead of an unprotected pick. Most likely would be the things worked out at a negotiation table.

Here is the part that doesn't make sense, you mention the Pelicans relying on draft picks to get them over the top. We know 100% Smith is not getting them over the top. Remember, the Pelican are in the west.
Not to mention, JR Smith and Boogie Cousins on the same roster? If you're a coach do you really want that?

You can't count on what JR did in Cleveland and apply that to another team. Championship contender, veteran squad and Lebron James. Did you forget about the JR Smith who played here tying opponent's shoe laces, hanging out at the clubs (I believe there are a couple of clubs in New Orleans), taking pics with chicks in his hotel room. The Pelicans want that guy AND have to give up a 1st round pick which will most likely be a lottery pick at some point? Don't forget, they are the team that drafted JR when they were the Hornets.

Like someone else said, even without the pick I don't see the Pelicans doing this deal. There's no doubt in my mind if the Pelicans wanted to trade Asik for a 30+ year old 8 ppg scorer on a bad contract without the head issues they could find a deal out there. Besides, it's my understanding that they have their mid-level and bi-annual exceptions to find a shooter. Like I said before, they can find a guy in the scrapheap who's a better option than giving up a 1st round pick for JR Smith.

newyorknewyork wrote:

Welpee wrote:

newyorknewyork wrote:

Welpee wrote:

newyorknewyork wrote:

Welpee wrote:Pelicans have to take on JR Smith and give up a 1st round pick just to unload Asik? No way they do this no matter how many protections you have to that pick. And remember, JR Smith on a championship caliber team is a lot different than JR Smith on a non-playoff team. We should know that more than anyone.

Asik isn't going to play yet collect 22mil total over the next 2 years. Smith would immediately be their starting SG. With Davis, Boogie the resigning of Holiday and other role players like Asik eating up cap. They are capped out and have no way of improving their team at the moment. Even if they traded a draft pick to a team to dump Asik out right they don't have the cap space to use that savings to improve. And teams are going to want more than 1 first since Asik has 2 years left.

By giving up a heavy protected pick to swap Asik for Smith. They turn dead weight into a starter and if it fails and they miss the playoffs they maintain their pick. If it works and they make the playoffs swapping Asik for Smith was a contributing piece.

Asik is scheduled to make $10.6m (age 31), $11.3m (age 32), and $12m (age 33) over the next three years. Smith is going to make $13.5m (age 32), $14.7m (age 33), $15.7m (age 34). So not only are they taking on more money for the privilege of acquiring a knucklehead like JR Smith, they will eventually have to give up a 1st round pick, likely to be a lottery pick at some point (because Smith is not putting them over the hump as a playoff team in the west).

If they are capped up with Asik they will be more capped out with Smith. Basically you're trading a 1st round pick for JR Smith, a guy nobody wanted in free agency and only got the deal he has because of Lebron. You can find a 8 ppg shooting guard off the NBA scrape heap.

This doesn't even factor in Smith's affect on locker room if they aren't contending. Knuckleheads like Smith or Nick Young can be effective in veteran/winning environments like GSW, San Antonio or Cleveland. Look at their track records in losing environments.

Both Asik and Smith have team options for their 3rd years. They would both be 2 year commitments. Pelicans also would dump Pondexter at 3.8mil. Total salary would be 25.7mil going out with 28.2mil coming in. Smith immediately brings more to the table then Asik does given the makeup of the Pelicans and NBA. Smith while a knuckle head he is a strong catch and shoot player, who can put the ball on the floor. Has guarded SGs to small ball PFs for the Cavs due to his strength. They aren't going to be able to move Asik & Pondexter and get a better player then Smith without giving up multiple first round picks with less protection. They can sit tight let and Asik come off the books or buy him out next off season. And strictly rely on hitting on their draft picks to hopefully push them over the top. But with this trade if they are a lottery team they keep their pick regardless and keep it for multiple years after that if they continue to be a lottery team. If they are a playoff team they give up their pick but have all their picks going forward after that. Again though Pelicans will probably fight for the pick to turn into 2nd rounders instead of an unprotected pick. Most likely would be the things worked out at a negotiation table.

Not sure what source you're using for the contract info, but two sources I referenced says Smith's contract has no opt outs. One source says Asik also has no opt outs, another says the last year is a player option. Maybe your info is better than mine.

Here is the part that doesn't make sense, you mention the Pelicans relying on draft picks to get them over the top. We know 100% Smith is not getting them over the top. Remember, the Pelican are in the west.
Not to mention, JR Smith and Boogie Cousins on the same roster? If you're a coach do you really want that?

You can't count on what JR did in Cleveland and apply that to another team. Championship contender, veteran squad and Lebron James. Did you forget about the JR Smith who played here tying opponent's shoe laces, hanging out at the clubs (I believe there are a couple of clubs in New Orleans), taking pics with chicks in his hotel room. The Pelicans want that guy AND have to give up a 1st round pick which will most likely be a lottery pick at some point? Don't forget, they are the team that drafted JR when they were the Hornets.

Like someone else said, even without the pick I don't see the Pelicans doing this deal. There's no doubt in my mind if the Pelicans wanted to trade Asik for a 30+ year old 8 ppg scorer on a bad contract without the head issues they could find a deal out there. Besides, it's my understanding that they have their mid-level and bi-annual exceptions to find a shooter. Like I said before, they can find a guy in the scrapheap who's a better option than giving up a 1st round pick for JR Smith.

Even if we were to assume Jr would be this level of a head case. All the things you mentioned are the reason why it would only cost 1 protected draft pick to unload Asiks contract. If Jr Smith was a 14pt scorer in his prime making 13mil NOP would have to give up multiple picks back in return. One for taking on a contract a team won't care for and another for giving up a player in his prime or younger who can produce at a solid level. Any contract that they add from the mid level pool they are paying heavy luxuary tax on. Smith may be the cheapest option they have. They can do things to add more protection on the pick in order to lessen the loss. Like top 20 protected for a few yrs.

NOP traded for Boogie and just gave Holiday 25mil. They didn't do these things to be a lotto team. I believe their mind set would be that swapping Asik for Jr would give them a starter over dead weight which would improve their chances to be a playoff team. And there is no player that they can add to move their needle that won't cost them multiple draft picks. A mid level player most likely won't move their needle yet cost them double in price due to lux. With Jr they are swapping Asik who gave them 15.5mins over 31 games with a player that will start for them and give 28 mins a night. If it works out they were able to turn Asik into something that helped them. If it doesn't work out they can add enough protection on the pick to protect themselves on the back end. For a better player there way less protection on he back end.

You are also are approaching this as if this would be the only move the Pelican made the entire off-season and where ever they ended up cap-wise that would be it for the year. They would be able to make other deals.

Bottom line, if the Pelican gave up a 1st round draft pick to get JR Smith their GM would be fired.