They wouldn't be as dominate as they currently are. I still think they would get to the Finals and most likely win.

 

I think many forget that during the Heat's recent tear, Dwayne Wade was playing at arguably his highest level. Bosh not far behind but it is still just Bosh. You wouldn't know it because James gets all the attention, but it has been a collective effort.

I could see the argument for trading the #1 pick.

 

Nerlens will miss the majority of next season, if not the entire season. He has not shown the ability to create his own shot from the post consistently. He is not an offensive creator from the post for others. He has not developed a high post game and he is not a good shooter anywhere on the floor.

 

His value is 100% defense and rebounding. His offense has come from his explosion and he will now have a surgically reconstructed knee. Is he the next Oden or Sam Bowie?

 

Maybe I can find a trade partner that will give me a player that is more established or offers more to the team right away. Teams have to decide if they are willing to wait a year and get a Tyson Chandler- type of player, which is what Nerlens will be right away. A bad team will probably need more than that to turn around their fortunes.

 

Nerlens would be a better fit on a winning team that can wait for his offense to develop- maybe one of those teams offers a pick and a player to get that #1 spot.

If I'm New Orleans I would take Nerlens. Then if he misses some or most of the season they are in the lottery again next year. I hear there is a pretty good gonna be in next years draft.

 

How solid of a core would you have with Davis, Noel and Wiggins all on the same team?

I think many forget that during the Heat's recent tear, Dwayne Wade was playing at arguably his highest level. Bosh not far behind but it is still just Bosh. You wouldn't know it because James gets all the attention, but it has been a collective effort.

 

Wade is a shell of his former self. That was his best stretch of the season but he hasn't been healthy for the last year and a half. He's possibly done in terms if being a high level player IMO.

If I'm New Orleans I would take Nerlens. Then if he misses some or most of the season they are in the lottery again next year. I hear there is a pretty good gonna be in next years draft.

 

How solid of a core would you have with Davis, Noel and Wiggins all on the same team?

 

Me too. If you're in the lottery next year it seems like any of those picks could be a potential stud.

Me too. If you're in the lottery next year it seems like any of those picks could be a potential stud.

 

That might be why they look to trade the pick. Better their chances of getting the top pick

If I'm New Orleans I would take Nerlens. Then if he misses some or most of the season they are in the lottery again next year. I hear there is a pretty good gonna be in next years draft.

 

How solid of a core would you have with Davis, Noel and Wiggins all on the same team?

 

Especially if you can keep Eric Gordon and Ryan Anderson with that young core. That's not only a playoff team eventually, but if they could keep it together it is potentially a championship team.

 

 

I guess they may be looking for another perimeter guy or point guard since they may have some doubts about Rivers, but if I'm NOLA I definitely take Nerlens over McLemore or Burke. AD and Nerlens may be similar but they are not the same player like many articles are trying to make you believe. AD in the future will be able to play most of his minutes away from the paint, either in the high post or on the perimeter. He will still bring those defensive instincts, but IMO having Nerlens down low and AD up high will create a devastating defensive presence down low. Quite possibly the best in basketball sooner rather than later. If they could lock Aminu down at a good rate then they could be a very defensive minded team when they wanted to be.