Not sure New Orleans will want a ton of picks in return, especially in this draft. They have their own lottery pick so I think they would ask for no more than 2 this year, especially if the miracle happens that is the Memphis pick. N.O. will like ask for both the Memphis and Sacramento picks but no more than those two this year. We would likely have to trade about 3-4 players as well to match salaries.
This likely belongs in a different thread but I was just replying to a couple of above posts.
This is the piece that’s hardest for me to see - what will/can NOP accept?
If the Mem and LAC picks convey this year (increasingly likely) it’s possible to match salaries w/out sending Smart or Brown. Tatum, Yabu, Time Lord, four picks. Possibly we’d need a few more bucks, like a 2d rounder.
My guess is the NOPs would see the value in that deal as the best they can get (Tatum, Williams, pick 9 and 14) and not insist on Smart or Brown. Another question I have, assuming that Ian right - are they able to trade for all those players? Hard to believe they have six open roster spots they want to fill with these guys. Can they just cut anybody they don’t want, maybe involve a 3d team?
(Final observation: this is all contingent on who wins the Zion sweepstakes... if a high lottery team gets lucky and can pair ZW with a decent player I can see NOP preferring that. Zion will put butts in the seats.)