Elfrid Payton

[CajunT]

Pelicans just signed Julius Randle, who the Lakers renounced to have money to sign Rondo, and both players are making $9 million this year, so it was basically an even trade salary-wise. I'm in the opposite boat; after this move, I'd be surprised if Cousins went anywhere other than LA, because it looks like the Pelicans are moving on and I don't know that there's a ton of market for him anywhere else. He could be waiting to see if Golden State is interested, but word is they're waiting for New Jersey to reach a buyout with Dwight Howard. So we'll see.

Also, can we talk about how crazy the NBA's salary cap is? Because he's our own free agent, we can afford to pay Cousins almost a max deal, but if he leaves, we get no extra cap room. Then there are bird rights, options, hard caps, soft caps, luxury tax, and a whole bunch of other stuff.

Well, my comment was pre-Randle sign. LA just signed McGee and have Brooke Lopez on the roster as well. If they sign Boogie, Lopez would have to be traded or cut, they don't need three centers capable of playing with the first two units.

My guess NO is slightly still in play for Boogie, but he told them he's going to LA to talk with them and the Pelicans front office didn't want to be left with no options at center.

[CajunJeaux]

Boogie isn’t going to LA or staying in NOLA...GS bound...

[Million$Mullet]

Boogie isn’t going to LA or staying in NOLA...GS bound...

1 year 5.3 mill
Ridiculous

[CajunT]

1 year 5.3 mill
Ridiculous

Yep, slap in the face of Davis after he wore his jersey in the all-star game!

[CajunEXPRESS]

Boggie playing for a ring. Nobody knows about his recovery, that’s a very iffy rehab I hear.

[jllanclos]

Boggie playing for a ring. Nobody knows about his recovery, that’s a very iffy rehab I hear.

His rehab was going awesome yesterday. Today, it sucks. Dude probably will never play again LOL

[Cajunsmike]

Boggie playing for a ring. Nobody knows about his recovery, that’s a very iffy rehab I hear.

Some say Boogie won’t be at full strength until almost Christmas. GS is OK with that as they focus on late May and June. I heard a little earlier that Boston was his 2nd choice. Obviously chasing a ring this year and hoping to get a big contract next summer. Davis actually lobbied to bring Randle on board which tells me he was OK with Boogie moving on. Randle is a better fit for the Pelicans if they continue to try to play at the pace they did last year. He won’t shoot threes like Boogie did and won’t take the ball away from the guArds to bring the ball upcourt. As Far as Elfrid’s defense is concerned, many analysts have said he does fine when guarding the ball but struggles when forced to switch or has to guard guys who move well without the ball.

[Cajunsmike]

Some say Boogie won’t be at full strength until almost Christmas. GS is OK with that as they focus on late May and June. I heard a little earlier that Boston was his 2nd choice. Obviously chasing a ring this year and hoping to get a big contract next summer. Davis actually lobbied to bring Randle on board which tells me he was OK with Boogie moving on. Randle is a better fit for the Pelicans if they continue to try to play at the pace they did last year. He won’t shoot threes like Boogie did and won’t take the ball away from the guArds to bring the ball upcourt. As Far as Elfrid’s defense is concerned, many analysts have said he does fine when guarding the ball but struggles when forced to switch or has to guard guys who move well without the ball.

Also, my understanding is that EP is the projected starter at point now. They hope to bring in a competent backup to him so as Holiday can play off the ball as much as possible. They also hope to bring in a wing player with more size than E twan Moore for defensive purposes. Right now they probably are not as good at guard as they were at the end of last season due to Payton replacing Rondo. However they are much better inside as they now have a competent third big to compliment Davis and Mirotic. In my eyes EP has lots of pressure to perform if they expect to have another successful season.

[jaxmc1023]

Cousins doesn't give a crap about a ring.. he's chasing a team that he knows will be playing at the very end of the season, because that's probably his best chance of playing this year

[CajunT]

Some say Boogie won’t be at full strength until almost Christmas. GS is OK with that as they focus on late May and June. I heard a little earlier that Boston was his 2nd choice. Obviously chasing a ring this year and hoping to get a big contract next summer. Davis actually lobbied to bring Randle on board which tells me he was OK with Boogie moving on. Randle is a better fit for the Pelicans if they continue to try to play at the pace they did last year. He won’t shoot threes like Boogie did and won’t take the ball away from the guArds to bring the ball upcourt. As Far as Elfrid’s defense is concerned, many analysts have said he does fine when guarding the ball but struggles when forced to switch or has to guard guys who move well without the ball.

Mike, I'm not certain how many analysts have spoken on Elfrid's defense, but he had problems with screens because of his lack of strength coming into the league. He has gotten stronger, but he is no match for quick guards off the dribble, I've seen enough of his games.

[cjr3888]

Payton
Holiday
Randle
Mirotic
Davis

Not a bad starting five. Just need some quality depth on the bench with a shooter and veteran point guard to mentor Elfrid.

[MetryCajun]

The Pels will have a good competitive team, but elfrid for Rondo and Randall for Boogie does not make them better. What Boogie signed for is ridiculous and shows the NBA has a major problem on its hands. It is hard to make fans sit through a 82 game schedule and 4 playoff rounds when you already know who will be the last 4 teams standing.
As for Elfrid, this is now his make or break year. If he can consistently link up with Davis and improve his defense he can reestablish himself as a starting NBA point guard. If not, he will become a journeyman.