Update (5:40 CST)
New Orleans is shopping forward Ryan Anderson and guard Austin Rivers, league sources tell Yahoo Sports.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) June 26, 2014
Again, makes sense. Anderson, Rivers, or Gordon got to go and Gordon is probably impossible to move.
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Update (9:50 CST)
More dominos will fall in Asik-to-Pelicans deal. N.O. may move Austin Rivers to create cap space. One option: dad Doc owns trade exception — Brian Windhorst (@WindhorstESPN) June 26, 2014
This passes the smell test. In fact, if Pels involve a few more pieces like Ely, Babbit, and Ajinca, they can make this a three way deal that would allow them to keep Bird Rights on their free agents, allow them to keep Withey, and allow them to use both the MLE and the BAE – something that would not be possible if they just dumped Rivers and absorbed Asik into cap space.
Stay tuned.
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Today is draft day, and even though the Pelicans don’t have a pick currently, another shoe will drop following last nights Asik trade. As I wrote here, the Pelicans can not absorb Asik’s deal without sending out one of their six big contracts. Logically, either Austin Rivers, Eric Gordon, or Ryan Anderson will be on their way out to clear some space, and today would be the most likely day to see one of them moved, as the Pelicans have to clad some space before the NBA moratorium ends on July 8th. We will keep you updated throughout the day here with any breaking news and rumors. For now, feel free to take a look at some pieces that we have done in preparation for this day.
Late 1st Rounders and Early Second Rounders that Dell Could Target
Players Who Could Go Undrafted That Might Have Some Value
The Curious Case of Pierre Jackson
Stay Tuned Throughout the Day for more, and of course, expect full breakdowns on anything and everything the Pelicans do tonight as soon as humanly possible.
12 responses to “New Orleans Pelicans Draft Day Live”
Thank God there’s the USA-Ger game today to distract for a few hours before everything goes down tonight…
Incase anyone is agonizing over us trading away picks left and right, check out this older article to put you to ease. Don’t get me wrong, I love picks and believe in building through the draft as much as trades/FA, but AD, Rivers, Miller, Jackson and Withey are our young guys and we need to surround them with veterans or young veterans.
http://www.bourbonstreetshots.com/2012/06/22/the-value-of-a-draft-pick-and-the-hornets-picks/
Get a draft pick
jmbell7 The huge variable here that national guys don’t know, because they don’t follow the Pels closely, is that Dell finds ways to get similar production as mid 1st rounders and 2nd rounders give you in different ways. See: Ayon, Roberts, Ajinca, and Babbitt. Didn’t spend a pick on any of those guys – brought them over and got production and/or trade chips.
If he can manufacture similar production, then he can utilize the perceived valuable asset to get something that isn’t usually available on the market.
Well, Austin going to the Clippers isn’t going to happen. Doc has said he wouldn’t be comfortable coaching his son. That makes sense, father-son is forever, coach-player isn’t. Doc would be in situation where he would be conflicted, having to make decisions where choices would be between what is best for the team vs. what is best for his son’s career. That is a choice no father should have to face at that level. Maybe when the son is younger, it’s not so difficult. But at the professional level, it’s a lot more serious and can have profound affects on Austin’s life and future. That isn’t a situation that would be fair for Doc or Austin, so there will be no trade of Austin to the Clippers.
I don’t why but i love the Daniels kid from uconn i think he can be a very good player in the leauge especially with the push and work ethic this team has together and monty coaching him up and hope Dell makes another move to keep Rivers i think he is at the brink of finally breaking out being the player everyone expected him to be when he got drafted
ljoseph242001 Hard to say anyone really expected Austin to be anything. It was more hope that he would a true NBA player. He was given a lot of benefit of doubt because of his name I think, but he has come along enough to perhaps live up to that hope one day.
Michael McNamara jmbell7 Exactly. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.
Galinari, Wilson Chandler, or Doug McDermott have to be on the move. Come on Dealer Dell!
And now he’s gone to the Bulls. Welp.
So, without a 1st round pick next year to throw in as a sweetener to possible move Gordon. Can we just send cash with Gordon and receive a smaller salary coming back to us ?
Please not Anderson… Such a unique player, and such a great guy to have in the locker room. He is the kind of guy any franchise would love to have.