Elfrid Payton

[zephyr]

With a healthy EP the Pels will make the playoffs.

I'm not so sure about that. He alone may not be able to help that much. They have been very inconsistent shooting the ball lately, particularly from the outside. He is better than Tim Frazier so that's a plus. If we were to get Mirotic back, then I'll agree with you but this team is so snakebitten with injuries seemingly yearly that its hard to get my hopes up too much.

[CajunEXPRESS]

Not necessarily. He doesn't have a no trade clause and the pelicans have all rights to trade him. Sort of like Leonard this year. He had no intention of going to Toronto. He didn't get much say so although I think he's a FA after this season.

I like AD and he's been nothing but a model player/citizen here but I'm not going to make the guy look like a Saint because he's been "loyal". He's made a ton of money here after getting a max contract a couple years ago. The Pelicans have committed to him but because they are not willing to go into the luxury tax, his salary hurts their ability to go after other high level targets. We'll see if he's truly loyal when the time comes to make his decision on the supermax deal on the table.

He's got all the cards. No team is trading the Pelicans a kings ransom unless they're sure he's willing to resign with them. So technically yes he can be traded.

I'm staying with loyal. I've never heard peep outta him. I have zero doubt he'd have resigned here but for the total ineptitude to build a championship club around him. He's still not said a single thing bad about management.

[cajun4life]

I'm not so sure about that. He alone may not be able to help that much. They have been very inconsistent shooting the ball lately, particularly from the outside. He is better than Tim Frazier so that's a plus. If we were to get Mirotic back, then I'll agree with you but this team is so snakebitten with injuries seemingly yearly that its hard to get my hopes up too much.

Don’t underestimate EP’s impact with both AD and Jrue Holliday’s game. Allowing Jrue to be a true off ball scorers is best for this team.

[Cajunsmike]

Don’t underestimate EP’s impact with both AD and Jrue Holliday’s game. Allowing Jrue to be a true off ball scorers is best for this team.

Impact of allowing Holiday to play off the ball some was mentioned last night as a key to the victory by Pels announcers. Insightful observation there C4L. Gentry also said they made more threes than recently because they were more open shots vs contested ones they have had to take in some previous games. That is an impact of EP being on the floor as he gives the shooter a pass which is easier to catch and go up with.

[cajun4life]

Impact of allowing Holiday to play off the ball some was mentioned last night as a key to the victory by Pels announcers. Insightful observation there C4L. Gentry also said they made more threes than recently because they were more open shots vs contested ones they have had to take in some previous games. That is an impact of EP being on the floor as he gives the shooter a pass which is easier to catch and go up with.

Jrue is way more effective as an off ball scorer. EP being there changes this team dramatically.

[Cajunsmike]

Jrue is way more effective as an off ball scorer. EP being there changes this team dramatically.

Recall when he was on our team. He was often not the leading scorer. Either Mbamalu or Long was. He impacted the game in ways you don't see in the box score and does the same in the NBA quite often.

[Ragin4U]

We should sign and trade AD to the Celtics. Try to get a few draft picks or Gordon Heyward and Jason Tatum.

I'm not so sure about that. He alone may not be able to help that much. They have been very inconsistent shooting the ball lately, particularly from the outside. He is better than Tim Frazier so that's a plus. If we were to get Mirotic back, then I'll agree with you but this team is so snakebitten with injuries seemingly yearly that its hard to get my hopes up too much.

Injuries dont matter in basketball.

Pels are better with EP but I'm not sold on getting to the playoffs. If we were in the East, maybe.

[Tell The Truth]

EP is horrible...he can't defend or shoot...NBA guards just back off so he can't drive...and if he does just foul him cause he's about a 65% FT shooter

[DieHard1280]

What is left to say? First game back after a long absence. The Pelicans are better with him. What is it you wanted to add?

Well, the name of the thread isn't "Pelicans trade talk" or "Pelicans would be better with _____. I don't follow the NBA, Pelicans or otherwise. No one had said anything about him after the game that I could see. Maybe I missed it. I kept checking thread to see a comment on how he did. I'll just check Google next time. Thanks.

[cajun4life]

Injuries dont matter in basketball.

Pels are better with EP but I'm not sold on getting to the playoffs. If we were in the East, maybe.

EP getting hurt won’t save Gentry or Demps from getting fired.

[Cajunsmike]

Well, the name of the thread isn't "Pelicans trade talk" or "Pelicans would be better with _____. I don't follow the NBA, Pelicans or otherwise. No one had said anything about him after the game that I could see. Maybe I missed it. I kept checking thread to see a comment on how he did. I'll just check Google next time. Thanks.

He had nine points and six assists in 24 minutes. He was also effective defensively. He had a big bucket off the glass and two critical free throws during crunch time. He played with a heavily bandaged finger. Plan is for him to play more minutes going forward as his conditioning is lacking after missing so much time. No way to simulate the intensity you have to play with at that level which is the conditioning part. There were posts in this thread reflecting the Coach's comments that having him on the floor contributed to the victory in ways not apparent from the statistics. I understand many don't have time to read every post in a thread. Hope this summary helps in describing how he performed last night.

[zephyr]

Impact of allowing Holiday to play off the ball some was mentioned last night as a key to the victory by Pels announcers. Insightful observation there C4L. Gentry also said they made more threes than recently because they were more open shots vs contested ones they have had to take in some previous games. That is an impact of EP being on the floor as he gives the shooter a pass which is easier to catch and go up with.

Mike, if you saw our shots we got this weekend, many were open. We just missed a ton. The loss of Mirotic has been more distressful to us than EP's IMO although I will not argue we are a better team with EP on the court and we can use Jrue in better ways.