Exactly what I mean. Even if Ball doesn't work out, they can still flip him for good value. Same goes for Ingram. They are both controlled by Pelicans for the next 3-5 years, Ingram is RFA next season but they can just match whatever he's going to get out there and keep him.
For the drafts, #4 pick is good. This draft isn't super deep but still has some nice players. Even if they land someone like Hunter who might not have the highest ceiling but has a relatively high floor, they should be happy with that pick.
And all assets they will get going forward could end up being really good. I'll be surprised if Lakers are a great team between 2022 and 2025, considering LeBron's age and AD's injury issue. I expect at least one of those picks to be high lottery. Bottom line is it doesn't even matter that much, they got three good players with value, a pick that is already high and a whole bunch of future picks for a player who had one year left and wanted to leave.
Will any of these players be as good as AD? Probably not, but in the whole league there's one player whose value is equal or better than AD and that's Giannis, who they were never going to get in return (it's delusional to even think that was on the table). Zion is the next big thing but they already have the pick that will become him.
The great thing about getting young assets and picks is that you get multiple shots at it. They don't have to all be great, if they don't fit in you flip them for something else and try again. That's the difference between getting Ingram and Ball and taking a 29-year old veteran. Also, Ball and Ingram have already shown they can play so they will not be like Okafor, Noel or Fultz who became almost worthless early into their NBA careers.
Their future looks great.
