That's ok, we know you don't have anything to add, so just keep posting faces.

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Z and Drew Gooden were both better than anyone on the Pelicans this year. Especially with all the injuries and three of their top 6 players missing over half the season.

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Yeah no. Gordon, Anderson, and Tyreke are a way better core. Also Jrue has played some this year.

Jure and Anderson's games combined are like 50 games - barely more than half a season.

Grantland has done several pieces about how turrible Tyreke has been this year.

http://grantland.com/the-triangle/courtvision-the-worst-shooters-so-far-2/


Simmons:

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Door A: 2013’s no. 6 pick (Nerlens Noel, Ben McLemore, Burke and Carter-Williams all on the table); their 2014 first-rounder (top-five protected); the Greivis Vasquez/Robin Lopez expirings ($7.2 million combined); more than $10 million in cap space. I like it!

Door B: Jrue Holiday; $44 million of Tyreke Evans; no cap space; no 2014 first-rounder unless it falls in the top five. BEWARE: DO NOT OPEN! I AM SERIOUS! DO NOT OPEN THIS DOOR!

Did the Pellies pick Door B? Of course they did! At least when Detroit spent $54 million on Josh Smith, they were getting one of the NBA’s 10 best forwards … even if every Hawks fan within a 125-mile radius would have happily driven Josh to the airport. But wasting picks AND assets to lock down the NBA’s most expensive non-Lakers three-guard rotation (Holiday, Evans and Eric Gordon), then eschewing better protection on that 2014 pick when you’re in the fiercely competitive West? Amazing. Truly amazing. It’s been eight years since I wrote the Atrocious GM Summit column — I could throw another summit right now. And next year. And every year. Don’t ever stop being you, NBA GMs.

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Explains Grantland’s Kirk Goldsberry, “Out of 203 players who attempted at least 75 midrange shots, Evans ranks dead last in FG% at 22 percent. The next lowest guy is Cody Zeller at 27 percent — that’s a big gap. He’s also making 14 percent of his 3s.” Other than that, he’s been on fire.

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So other than all that, you are absolutely right.

Jrue is out for the season. Anderson has a herniated disc in his back and should be out for the season.

We are arguing a fine line. I think uni is great but needs more seasoning. You think uni is great and can win championships now.

Trade Uni and Duncan and I think the Spurs win it all.

That's a major upgrade to the team with the best record in basketball.

What if the Heat traded Bron for Uni. Would they be the favorite to win it all?

Generally when you take the best player in the league off a team that is not the best in the league, they downgrade and aren't as good. Dumb question.

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Generally when you take the best player in the league off a team that is not the best in the league, they downgrade and aren't as good. Dumb question.

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I didn't say they wouldn't be as good.

When you add a better player to a great team they generally get better. Dumb comment.

Don't think so in light of all the ignorant comments about him being too young to win and all that. If he was in the right position, he would win right now. Unfortunately, he is stuck on one of the most inept teams in the NBA surrounded by injured players, guys that openly want to leave (Gordon) and a distinct lack of talent.

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Don't think so in light of all the ignorant comments about him being too young to win and all that. If he was in the right position, he would win right now. Unfortunately, he is stuck on one of the most inept teams in the NBA surrounded by injured players, guys that openly want to leave (Gordon) and a distinct lack of talent.

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Let me quote myself.

"Just think learning how to win comes with time if you're not already surrounded by talent."

He's not surrounded by talent. If talent remains similar over the next few years I fully expect them to win more than they already are. I don't think he's maxed out and understands the ins and outs of winning in the NBA. If he's surrounded by good role players and another stud then he'll probably contend this year. I never disbursed that.

I agree he is not maxed out in terms of ability. I am sure his run to a title at Kentucky goes a long way towards teaching him how to win. Much like Melo looked really clutch his first few years before he went to NYC.

I don't think he really makes a run in NOLA unless they can find a way to get rid of Gordon+Tyreke. He is quickly getting them into the "Houston Rockets No-Man's Land". Too good to get a good pick, too bad to contend.

If you are going to use PER as a decision metric consider that Serge Ibaka has a PER of 19.51 and Tyreke Evans is at 18.59.

Reggie Jackson is at 15.30 and Gordon is at 15.08.

According to PER NO is like a Westbrook-less OKC in terms of talent...

If you flipped Durant for Davis, I think Durant gets them into the 8 spot. Davis has only scored 35+ twice this season and Durant hit that 13 times in the 31 westbrook-less games he played this season. The reason Davis cant elevate NO is because PFs are dependent on guards to initiate the game, whereas someone like Durant can create all of his own offense. You have to score a bunch of points to elevate a crappy team. That being said, Davis is the best PF in the game...

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According to PER NO is like a Westbrook-less OKC in terms of talent...

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Might have more weight if the players for NOLA had actually PLAYED this seasons. NOLA has ONE player that has played over 35 games that has a PER over 15.0. 15.0 is supposed to be the baseline of average. OKC has three plus Durant, who is better than Davis.

They are more like a team like Philly plus one star.

Uhhh Evans with 61 games played and 18.59 PER.

Funny you set the limit at 35. Jrue Holiday's 17.35 has played 34 games.

And Gordan is the one you are referencing at 15. He's an above average player regardless what you think about PER.

What was NO's record when these guys where healthy? They were right in the playoff mix right?

Gordon has openly wanted to be anywhere but NOLA for a couple years now. He is nothing like what he was his last two years in LA. Eric Gordon and his terrible albatross contract is a millstone around the neck of the Pelicans. The Pelicans would dump him in a heart beat if they could. No one wants him. That's how great a player he is. He offers absolutely nothing but shooting. Gives no effort on defense other than to leave his man to stab for a steal. He gives you nice shooting (still a 43% shooter from the field, though 39% from three) and pretty much nothing else at this point.

And Jrue is done for the season. So you are getting about 40% of a season from him. Since about 70 games have been played, 35 is 1/2 of the current season. Pretty simple metric. Get less than a half of a season from a player, and he probably won't have a ton of impact.

[This message has been edited by Guitarsoup (edited 3/25/2014 11:11a).]