Elfrid Payton

[raginsaints]

That's bull____. The Pelicans and Boogie definitely had discussions on an offer. Just because they didn't sit down and lay down an offer doesn't mean there wasn't an offer. He got his feelings hurt because he didn't get a max contract offer and made an emotional decision to cut ties with the Pelicans. That's on him.

[cajun_lannister]

Lost in all of this is Anthony Davis’ role in free agency.

Source w/ team said if AD wanted Cousins back, GM Demps would have listened.

Davis liked the style the Pels started to play without Cousins, and he also liked the environment in the locker room more with Boogie absent.

— Andrew Doak (@AndrewDoak_WWL) July 3, 2018

[cajun_lannister]

Also love the R/Pels sidebar

[Cajunsmike]

Not really. According to Boogie, the Pels didn't even offer him and I somewhat believe him since he had to make contact with GS just to talk to them. I would have hoped the Pels offered mid level exception or sign and trade but apparently, we didn't do anything once we got Randle who fits our system better.

. Pelicans initially offered a lot more than that though it may have been informal. He changed his story from they never made an offer to they never made a serious offer. Apparently to him, anything less than the max was not a "serious" offer. Not enough attention has been paid to what Randle can bring in my view. Last year he 16 and 8 while playing in all 82 games. Right now they are better inside than the team that swept the Blazers. Point guard is a different matter. For the first time in his career, EP will have true pressure to perform. He never has played on a playoff team and was just playing out the year by late February. Elevation of his performance compared to past may be the key to another successful season.

[CajunT]

He has one of the elite defenders in the league with him in the backcourt now in Jrue Holiday. He will also have two pretty good defenders down low to help him out in Randle and Davis. Randle was the one guy on last year's Lakers team who played defense well. Elfrid will have lots of pressure on him to perform as the other four starters return and they added Randle.

Sure, I think he has the opportunity to improve as he is just 24 years old. But I've never heard of Elfrid being considered an elite defender in the NBA, that may the opinion of over enthusiastic fans ,he has never been mentioned in the Top 3 All-Defensive NBA teams.

Regardless, I look forward to him playing in New Orleans and having the opportunity to attend a few games this season.

[CajunEXPRESS]

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.

No doubt that the Pelicans improved after Boogie went down, both in quality of wins and percentage. No doubt losing Rondo is a negative.

The way the team is structured I’m thinking we’re better off with Randel vs Boogie. Still a healthy Boogie is the better player in a vacuum. I just think Davis deferred too much to Boogie.

[Cajunsmike]

Sure, I think he has the opportunity to improve as he is just 24 years old. But I've never heard of Elfrid being considered an elite defender in the NBA, that may the opinion of over enthusiastic fans ,he has never been mentioned in the Top 3 All-Defensive NBA teams.

Regardless, I look forward to him playing in New Orleans and having the opportunity to attend a few games this season.

When I said the Pels had an elite defender at guard, I meant Holiday. Payton is nowhere near him as a player on either offense or defense and likely never will be.

[zephyr]

That's bull____. The Pelicans and Boogie definitely had discussions on an offer. Just because they didn't sit down and lay down an offer doesn't mean there wasn't an offer. He got his feelings hurt because he didn't get a max contract offer and made an emotional decision to cut ties with the Pelicans. That's on him.

There were talks but that doesn't mean there was an offer. The Pelicans offered him a 2 year - $40 million dollar deal before the end of last season between when he ruptured his tendon but before the end of the season. He declined and they took it off the table. I truly don't know if anything was offered as the Pels knew that he had no real interest on the market and it may have ____ed him off that they weren't willing to come to the table again. Don't know. We won't know until the front office is able to discuss it when there is no moratorium.

[zephyr]

Lost in all of this is Anthony Davis’ role in free agency.

Source w/ team said if AD wanted Cousins back, GM Demps would have listened.

Davis liked the style the Pels started to play without Cousins, and he also liked the environment in the locker room more with Boogie absent.

— Andrew Doak (@AndrewDoak_WWL) July 3, 2018

I agree with that. They moved the ball around much better once Rondo was on the point as the sole handler. Remember, before Cousins' injury, he would often take the ball up the floor and hold it in the half court. Guys like Rondo are almost useless in that situation as they are not great shooters. Rondo was playing about 20 minutes a game and was not a factor. Once Boogie got hurt, he ran the point and was the catalyst.

[zephyr]

. Pelicans initially offered a lot more than that though it may have been informal. He changed his story from they never made an offer to they never made a serious offer. Apparently to him, anything less than the max was not a "serious" offer. Not enough attention has been paid to what Randle can bring in my view. Last year he 16 and 8 while playing in all 82 games. Right now they are better inside than the team that swept the Blazers. Point guard is a different matter. For the first time in his career, EP will have true pressure to perform. He never has played on a playoff team and was just playing out the year by late February. Elevation of his performance compared to past may be the key to another successful season.

As I stated above, the Pelicans offered him a 2 year, $40 million deal after the injury last year but before the end of the season. They wanted to commit and lock him up. He didn't take that offer and they pulled it off the table. This is fact. Over the past week, the Pelicans were not as willing to commit when they saw he had few real options and Julius Randle was going to be available as he fits the system better and is younger, although we may only have him one year again as his second year of his contract is a player option. Losing Rondo sucks, it would have been nice to have him start with Jrue and bring Payton off the bench.