INGRAM!!!
https://www.inquisitr.com/10005291/nba-rumors-proposed-knicks-pelicans-trade-sends-brandon-ingram-
HORSESHIT ON THE HALF SHELL
The endless pursuit of shiny objects.
So, just as IQ is starting get it in rhythm, developing a significant rapport with Obi; much as RJ is helping rev up the pace and tempo of motion and ball movement, by all means, let's sunder the chemistry we spent all motherfucking season working to achieve and get behind the first of many ludicrous blog-o-slog phantasy trades. Oh, and toss in draft capital to boot.
If we had gotten behind such nonsense, Obi would have been traded by now.
Did I happen to mention that y'all can go fuck yourselves?
Nah, that would be ill-tempered of me.
I mean, why not develop what we have invested time and blood in. IQ? Obi? RJ? Significant uptick since the allstar break. CAM REDDISH. Was starting to hit his stride when he got hurt. Who's to say he couldn't be of a piece with Ingram?
Okay, a tier or so below.
Feel free to debate and denounce such a notion. Still, he already has chemistry with fellow Dukie, RJ, which is just screaming to be developed.
Here's why I offer a hearty fuck you to such simplistic reasoning.
Our mega-trades have largely blown up in our face in the past.
And because our army of Trader Vics always sees the grass as greener, and largely overlooks the issue of...
CHEMISTRYAnd the ripple effect of messing with chemistry.
We swapped out Walker and Fournier for Payton and Bullock.
Dawg has eviscerated me for drawing this line in the sand, still, here it is once again [PS: THe ripple effect of losing Rose was catastrophic on a Global Warming level].
We swapped out defense for offense in replacing Elfrid and Reggie with Kemba and Evan.
Not only did they fail to mesh smoothly from the start, not only was Kemba an EZ Pass Lane on the defensive end, but it fundamentally sundered the progress Julius made last season, not to overlook that Elfrid and Reggie were Randle's friends. Do NOT poohpooh that. We saw the impact of freidnship and chemistry blossom last night in the person of IQ and Obi. We saw the impact of PATIENCE blossom last night in the person of IQ and Obi. Julius' numbers might have been roughly commensurate with last season's, but his consistency was sundered, and his head was clealry in a different place [roughly paralleling the placement of his prostate].
In any event, remains to be seen if Julius is part of our future.
But we have seen significant growth from IQ, Obi and RJ, so by all means let's trade IQ.