NBA Season 2026-27

[Vermont Green]

Dejounte Murray with the trade demand. Is he still capable of playing good basketball or is he on the Starbury trajectory?

Hard to know (if he is capably of playing good basketball), only played 45 games over the last two seasons, but probably not at this point.  He is at $33M this season with a player option for $31M next.  I don't see there being much interest in taking on that contract by anyone, BOS included.

[Goldstar88]

Cade with (first ever) 50 point, 10 assist, 0 turnover game.

Wouldn't trade White for him though...

Since Cade makes $50M and White $30M, it is a moot point, but I think Cade is better than Derrick White by a fair margin.  Brown and picks for Cunningham would at least have been a possibility, but no way DET does even that trade.  Cunningham carried that team last season.  I don't see them trading Cade and definitely not for White and any number of picks.

Cade Cunningham IS the Detroit Pistons. They were obviously never trading him for White or Brown or picks or anything.

I?m fairly certain he was being facetious about not wanting to trade white for Cunningham.

[Goldstar88]

Tim Hardaway Sr: I didn?t like that. I thought it was bush league. I thought it was terrible. When I first heard it, I was like, oh, you can?t say that. You(Doc) can?t say he (Giannis) doesn?t have basketball IQ. If he didn?t have basketball IQ, he wouldn?t be a professional basketball player. He wouldn?t be an MVP, he wouldn?t have won a championship. He wouldn?t have figured out a lot of things out there on the court that needed to be figured out when they won a championship.

[Ilikesports17]

Cade with (first ever) 50 point, 10 assist, 0 turnover game.

Wouldn't trade White for him though...

Since Cade makes $50M and White $30M, it is a moot point, but I think Cade is better than Derrick White by a fair margin.  Brown and picks for Cunningham would at least have been a possibility, but no way DET does even that trade.  Cunningham carried that team last season.  I don't see them trading Cade and definitely not for White and any number of picks.

Cade Cunningham IS the Detroit Pistons. They were obviously never trading him for White or Brown or picks or anything.

I?m fairly certain he was being facetious about not wanting to trade white for Cunningham.

I misread this lol. I could tell he was facetious about not wanting white for Cunningham. But I read it as making fun of Celtics fans that had actually said that rather than just making a joke.

[Who]

"Today, Dejounte Murray's representatives informed us of his request to be traded," the Pelicans said in a statement Friday. "We will evaluate potential trade opportunities that are in the best interest of our organization."

Murray has made it clear to the organization that he is ready to play a key role in meaningful basketball elsewhere, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania.

Stats so far this year - 9gms 31mpg

13.4ppg 4.4apg 4.6rpg 1.6spg 0.6bpg
43.1% FG 11.6 FGA 29.6% 3PT 3.0 3PTA
92.6% FT 3.0 FTA with 2.3 turnovers per game
53.1% TS

I don't know how much demand he expects there to be for him out there. PG who needs the ball in his hands and cannot play off the ball. Bad shooter. Inefficient. Teams aren't exactly queuing up for PGs with that profile.

Ideas

(1) I Quickley for D Murray

Quickley is injury prone. Toronto has not been able to rely on him. Maybe Toronto would be interested on gambling on Dejounte Murray instead. NOP gets a replacement guard who can start or be a 6th man behind Jeremiah Fears. A good outside shooter.

(2) Is there something CLE could do?

Is Harden kaput? Is it time to move on? D Murray is too bad a shooter to work with P Watson, E Mobley, and J Allen. So J Allen or P Watson would likely have to get moved as well as Harden to add another shooter to the lineup. Move Mobley to center. Try to play quicker basketball.

(3) Jalen Green for D Murray

Jalen Green would be the best singular young talent NOP could hope to get for Murray. He is not working out in PHX and has issues in his game but also has genuine talent.

PHX would get to rebalance their lineup. D Murray and D Booker at guards with Miles Bridges and Dillon Brooks at forward alongside Mark Williams at center. Give PHX a true PG.

(4) Suggs for D Murray

I don't think this is worth doing for ORL but I could see them trying to add a playmaking guard in Murray in the hopes that he could better open up their offense. ORL do desperately need more dribble penetration and passing / playmaking. However, I think it would be more of a lateral move for them given their collective lack of shooting with Murray would add to.

Suggs is the best proven player who could be a long term fixture for NOP that I can think of so far.

[SparzWizard]

"Today, Dejounte Murray's representatives informed us of his request to be traded," the Pelicans said in a statement Friday. "We will evaluate potential trade opportunities that are in the best interest of our organization."

Murray has made it clear to the organization that he is ready to play a key role in meaningful basketball elsewhere, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania.

Stats so far this year - 9gms 31mpg

13.4ppg 4.4apg 4.6rpg 1.6spg 0.6bpg
43.1% FG 11.6 FGA 29.6% 3PT 3.0 3PTA
92.6% FT 3.0 FTA with 2.3 turnovers per game
53.1% TS

I don't know how much demand he expects there to be for him out there. PG who needs the ball in his hands and cannot play off the ball. Bad shooter. Inefficient. Teams aren't exactly queuing up for PGs with that profile.

Ideas

(1) I Quickley for D Murray

Quickley is injury prone. Toronto has not been able to rely on him. Maybe Toronto would be interested on gambling on Dejounte Murray instead. NOP gets a replacement guard who can start or be a 6th man behind Jeremiah Fears. A good outside shooter.

(2) Is there something CLE could do?

Is Harden kaput? Is it time to move on? D Murray is too bad a shooter to work with P Watson, E Mobley, and J Allen. So J Allen or P Watson would likely have to get moved as well as Harden to add another shooter to the lineup. Move Mobley to center. Try to play quicker basketball.

(3) Jalen Green for D Murray

Jalen Green would be the best singular young talent NOP could hope to get for Murray. He is not working out in PHX and has issues in his game but also has genuine talent.

PHX would get to rebalance their lineup. D Murray and D Booker at guards with Miles Bridges and Dillon Brooks at forward alongside Mark Williams at center. Give PHX a true PG.

(4) Suggs for D Murray

I don't think this is worth doing for ORL but I could see them trying to add a playmaking guard in Murray in the hopes that he could better open up their offense. ORL do desperately need more dribble penetration and passing / playmaking. However, I think it would be more of a lateral move for them given their collective lack of shooting with Murray would add to.

Suggs is the best proven player who could be a long term fixture for NOP that I can think of so far.

I heard we needed a true point guard to help facilitate the ball. Let's send Derrick White out while he's still playing well the past two games. Pretty sure he'll revert back to his usual sluggish ways again, unfortunately

[DefenseWinsChamps]

"Today, Dejounte Murray's representatives informed us of his request to be traded," the Pelicans said in a statement Friday. "We will evaluate potential trade opportunities that are in the best interest of our organization."

Murray has made it clear to the organization that he is ready to play a key role in meaningful basketball elsewhere, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania.

Stats so far this year - 9gms 31mpg

13.4ppg 4.4apg 4.6rpg 1.6spg 0.6bpg
43.1% FG 11.6 FGA 29.6% 3PT 3.0 3PTA
92.6% FT 3.0 FTA with 2.3 turnovers per game
53.1% TS

I don't know how much demand he expects there to be for him out there. PG who needs the ball in his hands and cannot play off the ball. Bad shooter. Inefficient. Teams aren't exactly queuing up for PGs with that profile.

Ideas

(1) I Quickley for D Murray

Quickley is injury prone. Toronto has not been able to rely on him. Maybe Toronto would be interested on gambling on Dejounte Murray instead. NOP gets a replacement guard who can start or be a 6th man behind Jeremiah Fears. A good outside shooter.

(2) Is there something CLE could do?

Is Harden kaput? Is it time to move on? D Murray is too bad a shooter to work with P Watson, E Mobley, and J Allen. So J Allen or P Watson would likely have to get moved as well as Harden to add another shooter to the lineup. Move Mobley to center. Try to play quicker basketball.

(3) Jalen Green for D Murray

Jalen Green would be the best singular young talent NOP could hope to get for Murray. He is not working out in PHX and has issues in his game but also has genuine talent.

PHX would get to rebalance their lineup. D Murray and D Booker at guards with Miles Bridges and Dillon Brooks at forward alongside Mark Williams at center. Give PHX a true PG.

(4) Suggs for D Murray

I don't think this is worth doing for ORL but I could see them trying to add a playmaking guard in Murray in the hopes that he could better open up their offense. ORL do desperately need more dribble penetration and passing / playmaking. However, I think it would be more of a lateral move for them given their collective lack of shooting with Murray would add to.

Suggs is the best proven player who could be a long term fixture for NOP that I can think of so far.

I heard we needed a true point guard to help facilitate the ball. Let's send Derrick White out while he's still playing well the past two games. Pretty sure he'll revert back to his usual sluggish ways again, unfortunately

I'm pretty sure there isn't a team in the league that would take Murray over White. All-defensive first team, better shooter, and similar creating ability.

[Who]

"Today, Dejounte Murray's representatives informed us of his request to be traded," the Pelicans said in a statement Friday. "We will evaluate potential trade opportunities that are in the best interest of our organization."

Murray has made it clear to the organization that he is ready to play a key role in meaningful basketball elsewhere, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania.

Stats so far this year - 9gms 31mpg

13.4ppg 4.4apg 4.6rpg 1.6spg 0.6bpg
43.1% FG 11.6 FGA 29.6% 3PT 3.0 3PTA
92.6% FT 3.0 FTA with 2.3 turnovers per game
53.1% TS

I don't know how much demand he expects there to be for him out there. PG who needs the ball in his hands and cannot play off the ball. Bad shooter. Inefficient. Teams aren't exactly queuing up for PGs with that profile.

Ideas

(1) I Quickley for D Murray

Quickley is injury prone. Toronto has not been able to rely on him. Maybe Toronto would be interested on gambling on Dejounte Murray instead. NOP gets a replacement guard who can start or be a 6th man behind Jeremiah Fears. A good outside shooter.

(2) Is there something CLE could do?

Is Harden kaput? Is it time to move on? D Murray is too bad a shooter to work with P Watson, E Mobley, and J Allen. So J Allen or P Watson would likely have to get moved as well as Harden to add another shooter to the lineup. Move Mobley to center. Try to play quicker basketball.

(3) Jalen Green for D Murray

Jalen Green would be the best singular young talent NOP could hope to get for Murray. He is not working out in PHX and has issues in his game but also has genuine talent.

PHX would get to rebalance their lineup. D Murray and D Booker at guards with Miles Bridges and Dillon Brooks at forward alongside Mark Williams at center. Give PHX a true PG.

(4) Suggs for D Murray

I don't think this is worth doing for ORL but I could see them trying to add a playmaking guard in Murray in the hopes that he could better open up their offense. ORL do desperately need more dribble penetration and passing / playmaking. However, I think it would be more of a lateral move for them given their collective lack of shooting with Murray would add to.

Suggs is the best proven player who could be a long term fixture for NOP that I can think of so far.

I heard we needed a true point guard to help facilitate the ball. Let's send Derrick White out while he's still playing well the past two games. Pretty sure he'll revert back to his usual sluggish ways again, unfortunately

I'm pretty sure there isn't a team in the league that would take Murray over White. All-defensive first team, better shooter, and similar creating ability.

They would be an interesting backcourt combination though. If there is some other type of trade package that could work.

M-Rob and throw ins. Does that get close enough to the money?

Although I am not sure if you want D Murray taking the ball out of Tatum's hands as much as he will do.

I think the package would need Hauser. So M-Rob and Hauser gets you to about $25mil against D Murray's $32mil. Might need to throw in Jordan Walsh to make the money work.

Oh, the Celtics have some cap issues / tax issues as well, don't they? They probably can't take about that extra few million in salary.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

"Today, Dejounte Murray's representatives informed us of his request to be traded," the Pelicans said in a statement Friday. "We will evaluate potential trade opportunities that are in the best interest of our organization."

Murray has made it clear to the organization that he is ready to play a key role in meaningful basketball elsewhere, sources told ESPN's Shams Charania.

Stats so far this year - 9gms 31mpg

13.4ppg 4.4apg 4.6rpg 1.6spg 0.6bpg
43.1% FG 11.6 FGA 29.6% 3PT 3.0 3PTA
92.6% FT 3.0 FTA with 2.3 turnovers per game
53.1% TS

I don't know how much demand he expects there to be for him out there. PG who needs the ball in his hands and cannot play off the ball. Bad shooter. Inefficient. Teams aren't exactly queuing up for PGs with that profile.

Ideas

(1) I Quickley for D Murray

Quickley is injury prone. Toronto has not been able to rely on him. Maybe Toronto would be interested on gambling on Dejounte Murray instead. NOP gets a replacement guard who can start or be a 6th man behind Jeremiah Fears. A good outside shooter.

(2) Is there something CLE could do?

Is Harden kaput? Is it time to move on? D Murray is too bad a shooter to work with P Watson, E Mobley, and J Allen. So J Allen or P Watson would likely have to get moved as well as Harden to add another shooter to the lineup. Move Mobley to center. Try to play quicker basketball.

(3) Jalen Green for D Murray

Jalen Green would be the best singular young talent NOP could hope to get for Murray. He is not working out in PHX and has issues in his game but also has genuine talent.

PHX would get to rebalance their lineup. D Murray and D Booker at guards with Miles Bridges and Dillon Brooks at forward alongside Mark Williams at center. Give PHX a true PG.

(4) Suggs for D Murray

I don't think this is worth doing for ORL but I could see them trying to add a playmaking guard in Murray in the hopes that he could better open up their offense. ORL do desperately need more dribble penetration and passing / playmaking. However, I think it would be more of a lateral move for them given their collective lack of shooting with Murray would add to.

Suggs is the best proven player who could be a long term fixture for NOP that I can think of so far.

I heard we needed a true point guard to help facilitate the ball. Let's send Derrick White out while he's still playing well the past two games. Pretty sure he'll revert back to his usual sluggish ways again, unfortunately

I'm pretty sure there isn't a team in the league that would take Murray over White. All-defensive first team, better shooter, and similar creating ability.

They would be an interesting backcourt combination though. If there is some other type of trade package that could work.

M-Rob and throw ins. Does that get close enough to the money?

Although I am not sure if you want D Murray taking the ball out of Tatum's hands as much as he will do.

I think the package would need Hauser. So M-Rob and Hauser gets you to about $25mil against D Murray's $32mil. Might need to throw in Jordan Walsh to make the money work.

Oh, the Celtics have some cap issues / tax issues as well, don't they? They probably can't take about that extra few million in salary.

I'm all for getting a 5th starter, but trading multiple rotation players for a guy that is arguably a neutral value with his contract is not a good fit.

The guy I think could reasonably be available, is on a good contract, and would be a productive player getting us different shots but still fitting into an unselfish/ball movement offense would be Jaime Jaquez Jr.

[Who]

Thuc Nhi Nguyen

"We know we want to be a top-10 defense. We know we are not going to be able to do that unless we become better than a bottom-10 transition team and better than a bottom 10-defensive rebounding team." JJ Redick on the importance of rebounding and transition defense.

Bottom 10 in transition D and defensive rebounding?

Not a good sign for LAL.

[Phantom255x]

Zion could be made available.

Would you guys consider trading White, another salary piece like Garza/Walsh and 2 future non-Clippers first round picks for him?

[Who]

Zion could be made available.

Would you guys consider trading White, another salary piece like Garza/Walsh and 2 future non-Clippers first round picks for him?

Zion confuses me. I don't know what to make of him.

Is he an All-Star? Is he a top 10 PF? A top 15 PF?
Should he play SF instead PF?

Only 5.2rpg in 32.7mpg is lousy for a PF. That is what you expect from your SF. From someone like Jaylen Brown. How can a guy that athletic get so few rebounds?

Zion's assists are down this year too. Only 2.6apg in 32.7mpg. 2.6apg against 1.9 turnovers. Maybe that is because NOP are playing two PGs in the backcourt (D Murray, J Fears) and neither of them can shoot. Zion can't shoot either. 3 non-shooters.

How good is his defense nowadays? He used to be a well below average defender. He keeps talking about putting more effort on defense. Is he an average defender now? Above average? Below average?

Even his scoring is strange. He can't shoot at all. 123 out of 135 FGA this season have been within 10 feet of the hoop. That is 90% of his offense.

[Who]

Trying to make some sense of NOP ...

Negative scoring efficiency

Almost all their guards & wings

Fears = 52.6% TS
D Murray = 53.1% TS
J Poole = 51.5% TS

Mathurin = 47.1% TS
Herbert Jones = 44.0% TS

Positive Scoring Efficiency

Trey Murphy their only wing. Rest are centers and PFs.

Zion = 69.1% TS
Trey Murphy = 61.1% TS

S Bey = 59.9% TS
D Queen = 60.1% TS
Matkovic = 70.8% TS

So their top 2 scorers are high efficiency players. Matkovic a low volume role player. Bey and Queen high usage role players.

Team Ranks

28th in defensive efficiency
17th in offensive efficiency
23rd in net efficiency

Defense

* Strong defensive wings in Trey Murphy and Herb Jones. As well as a strong defensive guard in Dejounte Murray.

* Bad defensive guards in Fears & Poole. Bad defensive forward in S Bey. Bad defensive big in D Queen.

* Mathurin solid man defense at SG with subpar team defense. Bad defender at SF. Not sure about Matkovic.

Should they really be 28th in defense? How much is Zion to blame for that? If he was a good defender, shouldn't they be better defensively? If he is a bad defender, is their 28th rank understandable?