AD wants out in NOLA

[zephyr]

They have a chance to field a competitive team by making a wise trade. Even with their support issues, there are a few teams with even less attendance. NBA does have a problem with some markets basically being farm teams for the glamour franchises.

Mike, they are in the top half of the league in attendance. Support issues?

[CajunAmos]

I'm just going by statements made by the Celts over recent months, however, he is one player I'd feel good about getting. The Celtics are a nice team of guys that play their role but there are not many players I'd want to rebuild my franchise around. Tatum is one of those players I would.

I'd like Tatum, maybe a support player, and four #1's.

[CajunEXPRESS]

I disagree. I think we have to do it like the Warriors did. They are a small market team that had little attractiveness before Steph and Klay got there. They were smart in the draft and they obviously hit it big with those guys. You are right that the Pels have been inept in getting good free agents to come to town and they've failed in the draft outside of Davis. Solomon Hill is getting paid roughly $15 million to be a situational player. Bad move. They kept Asik way too long with a big price tag before  ing him for nothing. They have still not been able to fill the void at the wing position which they've lacked big time since Trevor Ariza left. They've drafted guys like Diallo, Frank Jackson, Hield ( Not bad but gave him up for a one year player in Cousins) when they could have made better choices. I agree that the front office has been a joke and they are cap heavy at the top of their roster and have not made the moves for younger players who could make an impact but the bottomline is that you are seeing it firsthand that the bigger free agents just don't want to come to NO, even with Davis around. I think the draft is where we need to make an impact but the problem is that we don't have a lot of great pics right now due to previous trades. Its a tough situation.

If you’re looking for success and model in small markets it’s the Thunder, and San Antonio. Golden state is a team based in Oakland, but is the Bay Area team hardly a small market.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_State_Warriors

[cajun4life]

I'd like Tatum, maybe a support player, and four #1's.

Tatum and three number 1’s would be enough for me. 2 unprotected #1 picks this year and 1 for next year. First we have to   Demps.

[zephyr]

If you’re looking for success and model in small markets it’s the Thunder, and San Antonio. Golden state is a team based in Oakland, but is the Bay Area team hardly a small market.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_State_Warriors

No, it would be the Warriors first IMO. While they may be a big market team now due to their success and popularity, they were not a big market team 10-12 years ago. They may have had a bigger media market than NOLA but their product was worse and there was little interest in the franchise. Brooklyn is a big market team but its just as hard for them to attract top quality players due to the same reasons. The the article below explaining markets. It's fluid when dealing with teams outside of NY and LA. They were amongst the worst teams in revenue, attendance and Television deals.

https://www.quora.com/Which-NBA-team...g-Market-teams

The warriors built it off of the draft and a new style of play.... Period. Their style has transformed the NBA as we know it. The Warriors have made it an art of fitting pieces together with blend of veterans and draft picks that come in and serve a certain role unselfishly. I would not argue that the Spurs have done the same thing, especially when they don't spend the type of money that the Warriors have but the Spurs core players for years were older players that they filled pieces around. I'd just prefer to build through young exciting players with a brand of ball that brings people to watch.

[zephyr]

Tatum and three number 1’s would be enough for me. 2 unprotected #1 picks this year and 1 for next year. First we have to   Demps.

Throw in Rozier in that mix and I'm sold.

[CajunEXPRESS]

You're never getting anywhere close to what he's worth unless Davis blesses the trade. I'm not sure how many teams he's winning to play for but I'd think most have little chance of getting a lottery number. So then you'd have to do some creative trades.   Demps now.

[CajunEXPRESS]

No, it would be the Warriors first IMO. While they may be a big market team now due to their success and popularity, they were not a big market team 10-12 years ago. They may have had a bigger media market than NOLA but their product was worse and there was little interest in the franchise. Brooklyn is a big market team but its just as hard for them to attract top quality players due to the same reasons. The the article below explaining markets. It's fluid when dealing with teams outside of NY and LA. They were amongst the worst teams in revenue, attendance and Television deals.

https://www.quora.com/Which-NBA-team...g-Market-teams

The warriors built it off of the draft and a new style of play.... Period. Their style has transformed the NBA as we know it. The Warriors have made it an art of fitting pieces together with blend of veterans and draft picks that come in and serve a certain role unselfishly. I would not argue that the Spurs have done the same thing, especially when they don't spend the type of money that the Warriors have but the Spurs core players for years were older players that they filled pieces around. I'd just prefer to build through young exciting players with a brand of ball that brings people to watch.

Now you’re really reaching. Bay Area is a huge market. Yes they sucked forever. Thunder and Spurs truly small market. Yes small market teams build by draft. They rarely can hit the players often enough to build championship teams. Even big market need to hit it right. Mostly you’ve got strike while the iron is hot, and supplement with buying big time players. Warriors bought two to stay good.

[CajunEXPRESS]

I think you are wrong about the attendance. I attend games fairly frequently and the stadium is much more filled than you think. The pelicans are 12th leaguewide in attendance this year and average 93% occupancy in those games.

Not close to top half. Been in the mid twenties for years.

http://proxy.espn.com/nba/attendance?year=2017

Just pick a year and get rank.

[CajunEXPRESS]

So we have no factual knowledge of the profit they are making or not. But you know that the previous owner was losing double digit millions?

This report from espn says the Pels lost money before revenue sharing, but are in the black after receiving their share.

http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/2...eason-now-what

The NBA took them over because they didn't want them in receivership. Around all that fancy accounting they had become illiquid.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/article...y_george_s.amp

http://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=5892227

[CajunAmos]

You're never getting anywhere close to what he's worth unless Davis blesses the trade. I'm not sure how many teams he's winning to play for but I'd think most have little chance of getting a lottery number. So then you'd have to do some creative trades.   Demps now.

He has another year on the contract so if I were N.O. I don't care what he blesses. I trade away all the high priced players on this years team I can with the possible exception of Jrue Holiday for players I can   at the end of the year with little to no CAP impact when I cut them. I wait for the lottery to determine where my position comes up (if really lucky I might even pick first), and then I open the bargaining table. I'm looking for as many #1 unprotected draft picks over the next couple of years as I can get with a very solid starter.

Obviously, this means you're replacing everyone in the basketball side of the business (GM, Coaches, training staff, including Lomis) as I don't trust any of the current folks (due to 7 years of failing in putting together a competitive team) and putting an organization together that understands modern basketball, is capable of evaluating talent, and an administration who understands when and how much to pay for any young talent you want to grow with and any veterans you may want to add.

Is it easy, no, but considering where we're starting I think blowing it up is the best option. What I don't know is if Rita Benson is strong willed enough to do so. Tom Benson did it when he hired Jim Finks years back after understanding that what follies Mecom perpetrated on the Saints organization and fans for years had to change, so I'm hoping Rita remembers that and makes the change.

Rant done.

[CajunEXPRESS]

If he don't bless it then he's worth nothing. I'm thinking I'm the team you're asking a Kings ransom for, but the kings dead if I get him and he doesn't resign. Pels gave away a number pick one player for Boogie Cousins. Boogie is at Golden State now. At least we knew he might sign. If Davis nixes any deal he's a rental. You're not getting top dollar for a rental. I'm intrigued by the rest of your plan.