Does NO want Tatum now?

[jambr380]

The original rumored offer was that the Lakers would send Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Kyle Kuzma, Ivica Zubac and a first-round draft pick to the Pelicans.

If that is still the offer and Ingram is ok, as the Lakers are reporting,  then the Pelicans would be foolish not to take that deal....especially since the Lakers pick is #4.

Except, Ingram would need to be medically cleared by NO, which is no guarantee. Zubac is now a Clipper. Ball and his dad are, well, Ball and his dad and would be disgruntled in NO and already said they want Phoenix.. with an implied "or else". Ball is also coming off a major injury and has yet to prove he can remain healthy enough to play even 53 games in an 82 game season. And the #4 pick is in a 2 1/2 player draft. That #4 pick is only marginally better than a late lotto pick in this draft.

The offer now might be worse than it was in February.

Yeah, it's great that people in the NO organization liked the previous deal, but that deal is much much different than it was back then. Ingram would have been the clear prize and now his future is up in the air. Imagine NO makes this deal and Ingram is forced to retire? That would be an absolute disaster. The Ball injury/family issues and the Zubac trade certainly don't help the matter. The #4 pick is nice, but this isn't last year's draft.

I imagine the Lakers will be willing to go all-in with #4, Ingram, Ball, and Kuzma and then attempt to sign another big FA. They really don't have any choice. I just wonder what Danny will do - is keeping AD away from the Lakers (and possibly re-signing Kyrie) important enough to trade ALL of our best assets? I guess we'll find out in the next couple of weeks.

[jpotter33]

3 hours ago – via CBSSports.com
According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, a lot of people inside of New Orleans’ organization wouldn’t have to reconsider anything. They were high on the Lakers’ offer from the start. Speaking on The Sedano Show, here’s what’s McMenamin had to say: I spoke to several people within the Pelicans’ organization in the past several months that have a really high opinion of Brandon Ingram, and beyond just Brandon Ingram, have a really high opinion of the trade package that was on the table that was ultimately rejected.

Of course this would be floated as they try and squeeze Brown and Tatum and maybe Smart from the Celtics. Call that bluff....go ahead and take Ingram and his clot and best of luck facing that Lakers team many years going forward. That play was probably taken right out of Danny Ainge's trading playbook.

Let’s also not forget that Dave McMenamin has Lebron connections from when he was in Cleveland.

[Moranis]

3 hours ago – via CBSSports.com
According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, a lot of people inside of New Orleans’ organization wouldn’t have to reconsider anything. They were high on the Lakers’ offer from the start. Speaking on The Sedano Show, here’s what’s McMenamin had to say: I spoke to several people within the Pelicans’ organization in the past several months that have a really high opinion of Brandon Ingram, and beyond just Brandon Ingram, have a really high opinion of the trade package that was on the table that was ultimately rejected.

Of course this would be floated as they try and squeeze Brown and Tatum and maybe Smart from the Celtics. Call that bluff....go ahead and take Ingram and his clot and best of luck facing that Lakers team many years going forward. That play was probably taken right out of Danny Ainge's trading playbook.

Let’s also not forget that Dave McMenamin has Lebron connections from when he was in Cleveland.

This was all over foxsports radio a couple of days ago.  In other words, this isn't new. 

[Bobshot]

Anything about AD is fake news these days, since most of it comes out of either NY or LA.

As I see it, the main target continues to be Tatum. But AD will be dealt for the best deal. It will have nothing to do with Ainge or James or anybody else. I wouldn't be surprised if some unknown team "swoops" in --not NY or LA-- and offers a better deal. But Ainge has so many trade weapons, it's hard to see any team topping him--provided he wants to use them.

[boscel33]

Idk but Brown needs to be untouchable. Protect Jaylen under all cost.

I agree, but then again, I've been on the JB bandwagon since college.

[Sophomore]

Find it very hard to believe Ainge would trade all three of Smart, Brown, and Tatum for Davis. Too much compared to what others can offer.

[blink]

Find it very hard to believe Ainge would trade all three of Smart, Brown, and Tatum for Davis. Too much compared to what others can offer.

Yeah I agree.  If we trade all 3 then I am not sure I even want to do the trade.  It leaves us with complete rebuild if Davis doesn't resign.

[Ilikesports17]

If anything Tatums stock has gone up.

Tatum at best is a floor spacing sf who can go 1 on 1.

Zion is a bruiser pf in the mold of barkley or larry johnson.

Its a match made in heaven for the 2 of them to be on the same team.

I'd certainly watch a lot of them on League Pass. 

As someone who doesn't follow College ball, I'm still super skeptical about Zion, though.  People talk about him like he's the best prospect since LeBron.  Really, though?

Wouldn't surprise me to see Tatum averaging 25+ for the Pelicans next season.

Id expect 20+ honestly, but 25?

Only 11 players scored that much last year

[Moranis]

If anything Tatums stock has gone up.

Tatum at best is a floor spacing sf who can go 1 on 1.

Zion is a bruiser pf in the mold of barkley or larry johnson.

Its a match made in heaven for the 2 of them to be on the same team.

I'd certainly watch a lot of them on League Pass. 

As someone who doesn't follow College ball, I'm still super skeptical about Zion, though.  People talk about him like he's the best prospect since LeBron.  Really, though?

Wouldn't surprise me to see Tatum averaging 25+ for the Pelicans next season.

Id expect 20+ honestly, but 25?

Only 11 players scored that much last year

13 if you count Lebron and Davis, but yeah it is hard to score 25 a game anymore, especially with the lack of minutes so many guys play these days.