Jae Crowder trade request

[Split T]

Really need to stop thinking this team is in a championship window because it's not.

I mostly agree with you, but I think there’s a slight crack open. It would probably take a couple all in moves and all 4 of our tradable 1sts, but I think we could open up a small window if we wanted. The question is whether that’s smart to do. I don’t think the current team has a title chance.

It’s also not just about us. There’s no 2017 Warriors out there. We may not be in the top tier of contenders, but we’re not that far away from it. Honestly, the alternative is too depressing to think about.

You’re not wrong, and I do want us to do something. If anything it’ll give us something to talk about and give us at least a little sense of the unknown which would create the possibility of winning. As currently constituted there doesn’t seem to be a chance.

I do think it’s going to be hard for us to do enough to beat Milwaukee or Boston. We could win the west, but I think GS and NOP are both better than us and positioned to add more to their team. It’s not inconceivable that we could beat them, but I wouldn’t favor us.

[INFORMER]

Bamba barely solves any of our issues. Backup C is the least of our worries right now.

I don't make that move to address some backup center need. I don't think that is a need. I make that move for the player and his skillset. To have a big that is a good 3-point shooter AND rebounds/blocks shots is absolutely gold. Add to that Bamba's youth and very reasonable contract, he becomes a tremendous value-add. Plus, I think we can play him in stretches with Ayton, and he would give us an option to run a 5-out lineup.

I'm familiar with his game, but you're giving me his pre-draft scouting report ("Gold, Jerry! Gold") and ignoring the last 4+ year's of production.

Actually I'm not. Pre-draft, his stretch ability was more potential than it was reality. He is 38% this season. 38% last season.

Also, the Bamba-WCJ lineups, which ostensibly would work better than Bamba-Ayton lineups (WCJ is a better floor-spacer than DA) have struggled badly.

I really wouldn't put much stock on lineup data from a team as bad as the Magic have been. And I trust a Bamba-Ayton pairing more than Ayton-McGee (which we actually tried), Saric-Ayton, Landale-Ayton, or Biyombo-Ayton.

[Mori Chu]

So in terms of the "are we a championship contender?" question, I think the answer is a resounding, "Maybe."

I don't think this team currently looks like a title team, but arguably there's no dominant team in the West right now. The Pelicans look great, the Grizz and Nuggets are frisky, the Mavs are okay, the Warriors have championship pedigree, ... but nobody looks dominant and nobody is invincible. Plenty of these teams are teams we have beaten before and can beat again. I'm actually not that scared of the Warriors this year, given all their struggles. And I think we could beat the Nuggets again, and I think we could beat the Mavs. I'm a bit scared of the Pelicans and Grizzlies given their size, athleticism, and depth. But the Pels have a superstar who's always injured, and we've beaten them before. And the Grizz don't have championship experience. Both of those teams are super young and could wilt in the pressure of the playoffs.

So I guess I'm saying that I could picture us somehow wiggling our way to the Finals again if we had some luck and played our best. Do I think that's the most likely outcome? No, it feels more like we'd get eliminated in the 2nd round right now. But we aren't too far off from getting to the next levels depending on matchups, health, possible trades, etc.

Once we hypothetically got to the Finals, though, we'd have to face either the Celtics or Bucks, and imo either of those teams would smoke us in a series. My best hope would be that the Bucks beat the Celtics and we get a rematch of 2021. We probably wouldn't be favored but it'd be fun to watch.

So I'd put us in maybe the top 3-4 teams in the West with an outside shot at the Finals. To me that's a fringe contender. I would prefer to "go for it" and try to win this year rather than be overcautious and hoard future assets. I don't want to mortgage all our picks for Eric Gordon or whatever, but I think we are close to being an elite team and would like to see 1-2 moves to try to get better this year.

[Wally_West]

So in terms of the "are we a championship contender?" question, I think the answer is a resounding, "Maybe."

I don't think this team currently looks like a title team, but arguably there's no dominant team in the West right now. The Pelicans look great, the Grizz and Nuggets are frisky, the Mavs are okay, the Warriors have championship pedigree, ... but nobody looks dominant and nobody is invincible. Plenty of these teams are teams we have beaten before and can beat again. I'm actually not that scared of the Warriors this year, given all their struggles. And I think we could beat the Nuggets again, and I think we could beat the Mavs. I'm a bit scared of the Pelicans and Grizzlies given their size, athleticism, and depth. But the Pels have a superstar who's always injured, and we've beaten them before. And the Grizz don't have championship experience. Both of those teams are super young and could wilt in the pressure of the playoffs.

So I guess I'm saying that I could picture us somehow wiggling our way to the Finals again if we had some luck and played our best. Do I think that's the most likely outcome? No, it feels more like we'd get eliminated in the 2nd round right now. But we aren't too far off from getting to the next levels depending on matchups, health, possible trades, etc.

Once we hypothetically got to the Finals, though, we'd have to face either the Celtics or Bucks, and imo either of those teams would smoke us in a series. My best hope would be that the Bucks beat the Celtics and we get a rematch of 2021. We probably wouldn't be favored but it'd be fun to watch.

So I'd put us in maybe the top 3-4 teams in the West with an outside shot at the Finals. To me that's a fringe contender. I would prefer to "go for it" and try to win this year rather than be overcautious and horde future assets. I don't want to mortgage all our picks for Eric Gordon or whatever, but I think we are close to being an elite team and would like to see 1-2 moves to try to get better this year.

Agree with all this. I think it’s silly to say our championship window has closed right now…that doesn’t mean its very open tho lol.

As long as we have a healthy Book I feel like the window will always be slightly open.

[ShelC]

So in terms of the "are we a championship contender?" question, I think the answer is a resounding, "Maybe."

I don't think this team currently looks like a title team, but arguably there's no dominant team in the West right now. The Pelicans look great, the Grizz and Nuggets are frisky, the Mavs are okay, the Warriors have championship pedigree, ... but nobody looks dominant and nobody is invincible. Plenty of these teams are teams we have beaten before and can beat again. I'm actually not that scared of the Warriors this year, given all their struggles. And I think we could beat the Nuggets again, and I think we could beat the Mavs. I'm a bit scared of the Pelicans and Grizzlies given their size, athleticism, and depth. But the Pels have a superstar who's always injured, and we've beaten them before. And the Grizz don't have championship experience. Both of those teams are super young and could wilt in the pressure of the playoffs.

So I guess I'm saying that I could picture us somehow wiggling our way to the Finals again if we had some luck and played our best. Do I think that's the most likely outcome? No, it feels more like we'd get eliminated in the 2nd round right now. But we aren't too far off from getting to the next levels depending on matchups, health, possible trades, etc.

Once we hypothetically got to the Finals, though, we'd have to face either the Celtics or Bucks, and imo either of those teams would smoke us in a series. My best hope would be that the Bucks beat the Celtics and we get a rematch of 2021. We probably wouldn't be favored but it'd be fun to watch.

So I'd put us in maybe the top 3-4 teams in the West with an outside shot at the Finals. To me that's a fringe contender. I would prefer to "go for it" and try to win this year rather than be overcautious and horde future assets. I don't want to mortgage all our picks for Eric Gordon or whatever, but I think we are close to being an elite team and would like to see 1-2 moves to try to get better this year.

Well said.

[Split T]

Would you guys trade future assets for Bojan? Do you think we are close enough for that to make sense? I agree the window is slightly open, but I think we need to be careful about ruining the future of the team over a slight chance.

[Shabazz]

As we all know too well, the playoffs are often a war of attrition. You never know what teams you’ll face and how healthy they’ll be when you face them. We have two directions we could conceivably go as a team, but we’re close enough to the top to take the “go for it” path.

Split, I agree. If we’re going to mortgage future assets, it needs to be for a higher level player than EG. If James Jones would rather make Torrey Craig/Aaron Holiday-level moves, we may as well just trade Chris Paul now.

[INFORMER]

Would you guys trade future assets for Bojan?

Nope.

[Shabazz]

Would you guys trade future assets for Bojan? Do you think we are close enough for that to make sense? I agree the window is slightly open, but I think we need to be careful about ruining the future of the team over a slight chance.

It just depends what the move is. I liked Jones’ reported thinking on needing Vanderbilt in that proposed deal with Utah. I would have been up for giving picks to get that package.

[djy2j]

If there isn't a Crowder trade on Thursday we riot. This team is depleted and running on fumes. They shouldered it better than I expected but they need some help. Injuries are piling up.

[Superbone]

If there isn't a Crowder trade on Thursday we riot. This team is depleted and running on fumes. They shouldered it better than I expected but they need some help. Injuries are piling up.

I'm not worried about the short term. This is all a very fine line. We have a very good team and a young core entering their prime. I don't think we should be making any major moves that go for it now while impacting our prime core. I don't know that we should even attempt to win it all this year but continue building for the very near future without Paul.

In other words, I think we missed our window with Paul. Our Finals year was it.

[specialsauce]

Bamba barely solves any of our issues. Backup C is the least of our worries right now.

Thank you. Don't mind saucy and his Landale-colored hatred. He's got to pick somebody every year.

If it wasn’t for Jack we’d be 40-0 right now

Who's Jack? I don't think Jarret Jack is hurting them from the bench.

JACK landale because he just JACKs 3s up with the shooting skill of Iakovos, or if you prefer we can call him JAKE.

[Superbone]

Bamba barely solves any of our issues. Backup C is the least of our worries right now.

Thank you. Don't mind saucy and his Landale-colored hatred. He's got to pick somebody every year.

If it wasn’t for Jack we’d be 40-0 right now

Who's Jack? I don't think Jarret Jack is hurting them from the bench.

JACK landale because he just JACKs 3s up with the shooting skill of Iakovos, or if you prefer we can call him JAKE.

Whatever, hater.

[Wally_West]

Also, I feel like this talk about not giving up any 1st round picks for ownership sale reasons is just mostly us not willing to give one up for Eric Gordon. I feel like we want to make multiple moves and Jones doesn’t want to waste a pick for Gordon so he can use it for a bigger move.

If we can get do something like:

Houston: Bitchson Allen, Shamet and multiple 2nds from us and a 1st from Mil

Mil: Chowder

Suns: Gordon, KMJ


Then turn around and try to use Dario + filler and 1st for something.

Could you get Kuzma for that deal? Idk but maybe you add swap too or if you can give them a pick that’s little down the line and unprotected. I guess we’ll see, I just think Jones wants to use his 1st round picks for something else that isn’t Gordon.

[Split T]

Ya I think it’s pretty clear we aren’t sending a 1st for Gordon, thankfully. Last year would have been the moment to do that. Though not sure it would have helped much. Not with the CP3 we saw the last 5 games.

[Wally_West]

If there isn't a Crowder trade on Thursday we riot. This team is depleted and running on fumes. They shouldered it better than I expected but they need some help. Injuries are piling up.

Perfectly fine waiting to the deadline for a Crowder deal if it means we are getting the best possible deal. I don’t see the rush.

[Split T]

I’m in no rush either. We don’t need to be a 1 seed. Let New Orleans wear themselves out chasing that 1 seed.

[Superbone]

I’m in no rush either. We don’t need to be a 1 seed. Let New Orleans wear themselves out chasing that 1 seed.

Been there, done that.

[djy2j]

If there isn't a Crowder trade on Thursday we riot. This team is depleted and running on fumes. They shouldered it better than I expected but they need some help. Injuries are piling up.

Perfectly fine waiting to the deadline for a Crowder deal if it means we are getting the best possible deal. I don’t see the rush.

I just see injuries piling up and having to rely on guys (Shamet, Saric) to step up. They haven't. And I really don't like how bad CP has looked in both stints this year. Not saying trade for the sake of trading but it seems like there are guys available. Also if we're aiming to be a top 5 seed then that draft pick is not all that valuable seeming how there are like 7 teams that control like 50% of all the picks this year. Suns are 1 of only 7 teams that have their own pick with no swap possibilities. I think picks outside of 10 will be readily available to whoever wants them.

I'd not give any1st rounders for Eric Gordon or any 30+ older players unless they are better than role players.

[specialsauce]

If there isn't a Crowder trade on Thursday we riot. This team is depleted and running on fumes. They shouldered it better than I expected but they need some help. Injuries are piling up.

I'm not worried about the short term. This is all a very fine line. We have a very good team and a young core entering their prime. I don't think we should be making any major moves that go for it now while impacting our prime core. I don't know that we should even attempt to win it all this year but continue building for the very near future without Paul.

In other words, I think we missed our window with Paul. Our Finals year was it.

I’m not interested in trading a first rounder unless it actually moves the needle or is for a player with more than one year remaining on their deal.

No thanks on Eric Gordon unless it’s for marbles.