What star will be available this season?

[JamesNaismith]

In a heartbeat. Love Norm but, OG is the starting forward of the future. DMC is still just 27.

100% I would.

Obviously it's a little risky because Cousins made it clear that he wasn't going to commit to a franchise and would test FA but the upside with OG in place is worth the gamble imo. Not that I think we'd become a "championship contender" but Lowry, DeRozan, Cousins and yes even Ibaka is a helluva lot more than I ever would have expected us being able to assemble just a few years back and would be by far the most talented starting line we'd ever had as a franchise.

With DeMar and DeMarcus both being damn near 27+ppg threats and Kyle and Serge 3pt shooting in between with either guy having the ability (more so Kyle) able to give you 20+ppg there's more than enough scoring that we don't need to even worry what OG would give us offensively as long as he can bring it defensively and DMC is a much improved defender...heck just this last game he put up 7 blocks...

His passing and 3pt shooting have also come a long way and also looks slimmed down. It could post numerous 40+pt explosions or 20 rebounds type of games but that's type of talent he is. It's probably the biggest gamble in the league but if it's even an option than Masai has to take it or stop pretending as if we're actually trying to win if we're not.

All that said I can't see a guy like Masai that puts such a premium on "high character" guys taking a chance on Cousins...

[The Claw Reborn]

Nah.

Cousins for Derozan faster than the speed of sound.

Then Ujiri can dump the salary of Val for future picks.

Cousins
Ibaka
Miles/OG
Powell
Lowry

This is the modern NBA where everyone else are potential legit threat to shoot the three.

[tDotted]

Cousins ain't a winner.

[Chr1s1anL]

Cousins ain't a winner.

Kyle and Deebo are. Which is what matters. As long as those two are on the team this team has a chance to win 50 games. Cousins wont change that.

[Nilanka]

Setting aside whether or not Boogie will become available, would you guys trade JV + Norm for Boogie? We could toss in the Brazilians if that would help.

Personally I would. Either we're all in these three years or we're not.

I would too.

[DanH]

JV and Norm is a pretty cheap price to pay for Cousins. I think I'd do it. Might as well take the shot, right? Even if I'm not confident it really makes us a better team.

[Scraptor]

Cousins ain't a winner.

Pelicans bench got outscored 53-8.

He's played for two incompetent front offices. I think he can be a winner in the right situation.

[Nilanka]

JV and Norm is a pretty cheap price to pay for Cousins. I think I'd do it. Might as well take the shot, right? Even if I'm not confident it really makes us a better team.

We could simply sell Norm as "the next Buddy Hield"

[MixxAOR]

Yeah I would go for Cousins. Give them anybody not named Lowry and Derozan

[Shaolin Fantastic]

JV and Norm is a pretty cheap price to pay for Cousins. I think I'd do it. Might as well take the shot, right? Even if I'm not confident it really makes us a better team.

Agree with you totally, it's a risk worth taking though. Especially if OG looks like he can step in at the 3. Worst case he fits poorly and we lose 1st/2nd round then cut our losses in the offseason. Best case he gives us the extra juice to beat Cleveland.

In this new ball movement offense we could be scary offensively with a Lowry-DeMar-OG-Cousins-Ibaka unit.

[Shaolin Fantastic]

I think Norm+JV is an easy sell to NOLA (assuming they're OLI on the playoffs).

They have zero good wings. Norm is a very good 2-way one with good potential. Also JV plays center full-time on offense and defense, which would allow Anthony Davis to play the 4 full-time on both ends. I feel like Cousins being there with his more perimeter oriented game, forces AD to play as a 5 a lot of the time (which benefits us because that means Ibaka becomes more of a 5).

Both Powell and JV are right around AD's age so they could reconstruct a new team around them and Jrue going forward.

[planetmars]

Can Norm even be traded? Just signed his extension so is he off limits for 6 months now?

[DanH]

Can Norm even be traded? Just signed his extension so is he off limits for 6 months now?

Good point. I'm so much in the mindset of trades next off-season, but Cousins will be a FA by then.

[Shaolin Fantastic]

Ah crap completely forgot about that.

We really can't trade for anyone good then. Norm isn't available to use as an asset.

[DanH]

Ah crap completely forgot about that.

We really can't trade for anyone good then. Norm isn't available to use as an asset.

He is next summer, which is when I'd expect any trade to upgrade the team to happen. This year is just too much of a tightrope walk, with the team right up against the tax, limited by the hard cap, and without picks in the upcoming draft. Sadly, yes, that eliminates Cousins from the list of candidates. Even by sign and trade it would be really tough to fit him under the hard cap next summer.