POLL: NO desperately wants first round pick this year: Crash +#17 for EGordon

[csfansince60s]

Pelicans are aggressively trying to get into first round this year.

 http://www.nola.com/pelicans/index.ssf/2014/06/new_orleans_pelicans_are_aggre.html

They have no first or second rounders for the first time in years.

As a baseline trade (with filler and other possible variations), would you trade Wallace and 17 for Eric Gordon? Gordon's and Crash's contracts are of the same length.

Would the Pelicans do that?

A potential lineup of Rondo/Gordon/Green/Love /Asik or Gortat or Sanders would be pretty exciting for me.

Pel's save $4-5mil per year, get a first rounder this year and a strong veteran presence that they need in Crash.

[jambr380]

I really think a deal like this Could benefit both teams - especially if we make a move for Love and a defensive center.

I don't see why NO wouldn't do this deal. I assume they would like an expiring, but that probably isn't going to happen.

From the Cs side, we get a go-to scoring guard who would really round out our line up. We obviously would need him to stay relatively healthy, which doesn't seem very likely. We definitely can't give up any additional assets.

With all of that being said, I would probably rather just absorb Kevin Martin (if that's all it takes) and keep the pick or use it for any additional trade asset. It's a reasonable idea, though.

[csfansince60s]

I really think a deal like this Could benefit both teams - especially if we make a move for Love and a defensive center.

I don't see why NO wouldn't do this deal. I assume they would like an expiring, but that probably isn't going to happen.

From the Cs side, we get a go-to scoring guard who would really round out our line up. We obviously would need him to stay relatively healthy, which doesn't seem very likely. We definitely can't give up any additional assets.

With all of that being said, I would probably rather just absorb Kevin Martin (if that's all it takes) and keep the pick or use it for any additional trade asset. It's a reasonable idea, though.

I agree that Love and a defensive center are a pre-req to getting Gordon.

The Martin as an alternative is a good one, but we're still stuck with Crash if we don't do the Gordon trade.

I know it would be $20 million tied up in one position, but what about having both Gordon AND Martin at the 2. That would be some serious firepower (but not so much D, I know).

Rondo/pressey
Gordon/Martin
Green/Babb/ MLE
Love/KO
Defensive Center/Fav/Iverson/Hump?

[obnoxiousmime]

I know first rounders are valuable these days, but Gordon at least is a scorer who plays a tough position to fill. Even though he's injury-prone, he's still only 25. Meanwhile Wallace is past his prime and is not giving you better than replacement level production. If it were a pick in the early teens, that would be more realistic from New Orleans' perspective. I suppose it's possible if they really think Gordon just will never be healthy enough to play a full season.

[pearljammer10]

As much as i dislike gordons game and injury concerns... i could see this happenings.

[BigAlTheFuture]

#6 for Anthony Davis... 

[danglertx]

I'm shocked anyone would think it is a good idea to give up the 17th pick in this year's draft to trade Wallace for Gordon.  Baffled.

[hondobird33]

Good idea but think KMart is better overall option.  Here is comparison:

Gordon is 6'4", 25 yrs old, avg. 15.4 ppg last season & 17.5 avg for career.  36.8% 3 pt&80% FT
Kmart is 6'7", 31 yrs old., avg 19.1 ppg last season & 17.9 career, 38.5% 3 pt. & 87% FT

So, KMart is slightly better statistically but 6 years older.  He has 3 yrs left on contract and Gordon has 2 yrs. Gordon is more injury prone.  For the remainder of contract prefer KMart especially if package with KLove since might help get deal done and they have familiarity.

But the biggest reason is value.  KMart's contract is only $6.5m while Gordon is $14m.! We can likely get KMart for S&T with Bradley who plays same position. I think we can use our trade assets to offload Wallace.

Rondo, KMart, Green, Love, Asik

[celticsfan8591]

I love this idea and, unlike most other trade proposals on here, it's not totally ridiculous.  The Pelicans have a logjam in the backcourt and Gordon is the guy it makes the most sense to trade due to his onerous contract and injury/chemistry risks.  They save some money, pick up a first rounder, and get a guy who, for all his faults as a player, is a good character guy whose leadership could be valuable on a team trying to make the jump from young team to contender.  For us, we give up a mid first rounder and some potential cap room that we most likely wouldn't use anyway for a guy who is still young and a very good shooting guard when healthy.  I have no source here so take it with a grain of salt, but given that Gordon's from Indiana he may have more respect and play harder for Stevens than he did for Monty Williams.

[JBcat]

I guess a trade like this would mean Bradley would be gone.  For all of Gordon's reputation as a scorer he averaged 15.4 PPG last year, and Bradley 14.9  PPG.   I'd almost rather hold on to Bradley and use our assets for something else.  Unless if people think we can keep both in a 3 guard rotation? With maybe Bayless the 4th guy, and keep Pressey around.

[Eddie20]

I would do the trade only if we do the Love deal. I think this will pay immediate dividends and  makes our team better next season. However, if we don't grab Love, then I'd rather go forward with the cheap rookie scale contract the #17 pick has to offer.

[Celtics4ever]

I'd rather get Jrue Holiday and Withey for say Wallace and 17.  I wish they had a Second rounder to toss in.

[RyNye]

I'm not a big fan of Gordon's game, even if you ignore his health concerns.

He's not a good passer, has trouble taking care of the ball, and manages to have a below average TS% despite being a slightly above average 3P shooter.

His only real skill is three-point shooting, but he isn't even elite at that, just okay. He is decent at drawing fouls, too, but not at a rate to get excited about. Besides that, he hasn't yet shown he can manage even average production at every other facet of the game.

He would be a minor upgrade over Avery Bradley on offense. And, honestly, I think Avery's defense is fairly overrated anyway. So ... I wouldn't mind getting him, because he has SOME potential being so young ... but I wouldn't give up #17 for him. As long as we are dealing with potential, might as well go the whole way and not pick a player that has been mediocre at the professional level already.

[P stoff]

Do that deal and keep Bradley...since they are both made of glass, each could play a lot when the other is hurt...

[Vermont Green]

Really hard to tell what you are going to get with Eric Gordon.  He had one really good season but that was 4 years ago.  Are you getting that player or the player from the last couple of years?  It is really had to tell I think and probably not worth the 17th pick and to take on his money just to find out.

Who knows, maybe Wallace's surgery will resurrect his game some.