Does 14+ppg/6apg/4rpg/42 fg%/38 3p%/75 ft%/1.5spg sound like max material? He may not be "worth" that now, but you figure in order to get him, one, but perhaps two things need to happen:
1) you need to overpay him to make the Pelicans nervous about signing him at that price.
2) you can make the Pelicans feel even more nervous by having Ball force the issue. Forcing the sign and trade to the Knicks (his dad has already proven to be a pain in the ass, so this seems possible) saves the Pelicans some face and gets them some return, even if it's mostly a trade exception.

EwingsGlass wrote:Third, in the Bullock/Burks debate, there are also other guys out there, like Cam Reddish that are worth a look. When healthy, Cam takes the toughest defensive assignments for the Hawks. Lonzo does the same for the Pels. Cam has had terrible offensive stats since coming to the NBA but I have a hard time believing this is what he is. In college, we all saw All Star upside and potentially a higher ceiling than RJ in Cam. I think putting them back together would be good for Cam and might pay real dividends for us. Especially when Zion hits FA. So, the question becomes whether there are other players with upside that can fill the same role cheaper - especially if I don't need the scoring punch?

Cams is a no-go. Atlanta really likes him and he's locked in for 2 more years.

martin wrote:

EwingsGlass wrote:Third, in the Bullock/Burks debate, there are also other guys out there, like Cam Reddish that are worth a look. When healthy, Cam takes the toughest defensive assignments for the Hawks. Lonzo does the same for the Pels. Cam has had terrible offensive stats since coming to the NBA but I have a hard time believing this is what he is. In college, we all saw All Star upside and potentially a higher ceiling than RJ in Cam. I think putting them back together would be good for Cam and might pay real dividends for us. Especially when Zion hits FA. So, the question becomes whether there are other players with upside that can fill the same role cheaper - especially if I don't need the scoring punch?

Cams is a no-go. Atlanta really likes him and he's locked in for 2 more years.

I am reading a lot about the Hawks selling low on Reddish. Sounds like Bogdonovic is locked in at SG and since Cam’s injuries, Huerter is preferred at SF. Hawks feel they need to match any offer for Collins on RFA, and they have Lou Williams and Tony Snell up in FA. In a win now mode, they need to keep one of Snell or Lou Williams and may be cap strapped to match a Collins offer sheet. So, they may need to trade Cam. But, he hasn’t done much other than play solid D, so his market value isn’t so high.

TPercy wrote:I don't think I ever recalled Thibs saying something so damning about their own player in public like this?

Tweet was deleted or there was problem with the URL:

https://twitter.com/SBondyNYDN/status/1383878129651912717

SVG is a biatch. Way to pass the blame. High schoolers do that all the time tho. And even some adults, apparently

TPercy wrote:I don't think I ever recalled Thibs saying something so damning about their own player in public like this?

Tweet was deleted or there was problem with the URL:

https://twitter.com/SBondyNYDN/status/1383878129651912717

Wow!!!! SVG is an *******. Terrible way to throw your player under the bus in the media! And for the record, I've been a HS coach for 10 years, and yes they do make these type of mistakes, and worse.

Knixkik wrote:Ball didn’t look great today. But the things he does still would really help this team. Rose looked great today finally.

If Lonzo really wants ny now he needs to except our under pay offer 😅

Knixkik wrote:Ball didn’t look great today. But the things he does still would really help this team. Rose looked great today finally.

Agreed. That said, back from injury and a PG that no longer has the ball in his hands wasn’t easy for him to do much in that lineup where they aren’t using him to initiate offense. That entire Pelicans team has talent but not a lot of teamwork.

Definitely didn’t leave me screaming for Ball, but makes me wonder what Thibs could do with that guy. He has the IQ, size and the skill to be an All Star.

BigDaddyG wrote:

EwingsGlass wrote:

Knixkik wrote:Ball didn’t look great today. But the things he does still would really help this team. Rose looked great today finally.

Agreed. That said, back from injury and a PG that no longer has the ball in his hands wasn’t easy for him to do much in that lineup where they aren’t using him to initiate offense. That entire Pelicans team has talent but not a lot of teamwork.

Definitely didn’t leave me screaming for Ball, but makes me wonder what Thibs could do with that guy. He has the IQ, size and the skill to be an All Star.

Him not having the ball in his hands for stretches isn't an aberration. That's where he is right now. They've found more success with other guys initiating the offense. He's a secondary, tertiary ball handler.

Disagree. Its more about his multi-generational teammate who the coach wants running the team at some point. As well as a wing in Ingram who can also handle the rock. Not sure why this part is so easily dismissed by some.

Besides Lonzo plays too fast for them. He's usually a step faster than his teammates. Some of us see Lonzo on a squad that can push the tempo, with the right PG.

Believe part of it is that Lonzo makes tough passes look deceptively easy. Mitch/Noel/Obi the whole team, would all benefit from Lonzo's pin point accuracy.

Lonzo isnt like the current crop of stud PGs like Morant, with off the charts athleticism. More of a throwback. Some have mentioned Jason Kidd. Doesnt have the all around game, but Ball has the court vision. I'll take that.