Being reported that the pelicans ownership is going to have the GM trade Zion.

[Kblaze8855]

Some point this summer presumably before the draft.

Three years from now his contract will peak at the pay Vanvleet makes next year so matching the money will be easy.

He landing somewhere big market and making a splash or going to Sacramento or Portland to continue being forgotten?

[Real Men Wear Green]

I could see the knicks trading for Williamson. They will be a little desperate to contend and he's still young enough to believe in, even though it's been rough so far.

[eliteballer]

I could see the knicks trading for Williamson. They will be a little desperate to contend and he's still young enough to believe in, even though it's been rough so far.
Didn’t he want the Knicks to draft him?

[Meticode]

Once David Griffin was let go the writing was on the wall because Griffin was Williamson's main advocate. Gone are the days when he surrounded Kyrie/LeBron with a championship team and helped build a four straight Finals team. Although it helps when LeBron James falls into your lap.

And personally I think you have to blow it up. The Pelicans are at this point where Zion has show he's still awesomely good with a glimmer of hope he can be in shape and healthy...he still has tremendous value, but it's too much of a risk to keep him when he's had chance after chance. Trade him, trade McCollum, blow it up.

[Neal Romer]

Pels did everything they could to put a team around him. They had pieces. Maybe not top contender level stuff, but with a committed Z they could have been interesting. Injuries are not a player's fault in and of themselves but there was clearly a toxic mix in Zion's case of injuries and a lack of motivation. I dont think Griffin deserved to lose his job on merit alone but I guess the ownership just wants to wash their hands of the whole era.

Gonna be interesting to see what other teams will be willing to give up to roll the dice on him.

[Meticode]

Pels did everything they could to put a team around him. They had pieces. Maybe not top contender level stuff, but with a committed Z they could have been interesting. Injuries are not a player's fault in and of themselves but there was clearly a toxic mix in Zion's case of injuries and a lack of motivation. I dont think Griffin deserved to lose his job on merit alone but I guess the ownership just wants to wash their hands of the whole era.

Gonna be interesting to see what other teams will be willing to give up to roll the dice on him.

No doubt. They made moves. It just never worked out because Williamson could never stay on the court. Might as well include Ingram in that equation too. He was injured constantly too. The Raptors will regret extending him after a season or two. Hell, he traded for him WHILE he was injured and sat the rest of the season for months.

[90sgoat]

Seems as if Zion never wanted to be there and attempted to eat himself out of NO.

Send him to Heat and let him get sorted out and be close to his strip clubs.

[ImKobe]

Makes sense to clean house and do a proper rebuild. Zion might turn out fine but he needs a fresh start.

[Kblaze8855]

I’m wondering how much the draft lottery could change things. If they win, you don’t think they would give the Cooper Zion pairing a year or what they want to completely clean house and make it Coopers franchise from day one? But if so what do you prioritize in a trade? Draft picks that might turn into good players 4 years from now OKC style?

I ran a quick simulation just for the hell of it with a current draft odds and ****ing Dallas won my first one and New Orleans the second.

Would a Cooper/Zion pairing be something they fear like…corrupts Cooper somehow? Not like Zion is a criminal or like he isn’t great when he plays.

Would you try to shield your next big thing from the previous one?

[Kblaze8855]

If they won the lottery and the Hawks offered Risacher and filler who says no?

Hawks get a legit duo they can market and at least pretend to be trying to win with and the pelicans get to start over with the last two number one picks. I even imagine Zion would be ok with it. He could get into plenty of trouble in Atlanta.

[Neal Romer]

I think the thing any potential trade partners have to figure out is where Zion actually wants to be. Because it's not just a question of losing him when his contract is up, but if hes not even gonna be engaged between now and then... whats the point?

Im also trying to figure out if this is just a Zion thing or if New Orleans has a legitimate issue with stars not wanting to play there. If there is a bigger issue there Im not sure what they do about that.

[Meticode]

Seems as if Zion never wanted to be there and attempted to eat himself out of NO.

Send him to Heat and let him get sorted out and be close to his strip clubs.

Maybe, maybe not. I think he just lacked self-control. You're constantly getting injured all the time and it's easy to get out of shape if you traditionally don't have that mindset. He looked in the best shape of his NBA career before they shut him down. Once he grew that goatee he looked like a whole different player.

[Im Still Ballin]

It's pretty suss Joe Dumars is taking over as POBO for the Pelicans. He was Executive Vice President, Head of Basketball Operations for the NBA since 2022. I think the league wants him to clean house so they can do the New Orleans #1 pick thing again.

From CP3 to AD to Zion. I'm not sure if they're going to trade Williamson now and rig it for Cooper or wait next year for the supposed Super Draft.

[Im Still Ballin]

Here's what he's been doing since 2022:


In his new role, Dumars will oversee all Basketball Operations matters for the NBA, including the development of playing rules and interpretations, conduct and discipline, and policies and procedures relating to the operation of games. He will engage with players, coaches, team executives, officials and other key stakeholders to sustain the highest level of play and competition. Dumars will also lead the overall talent strategy for Basketball Operations and reinforce a culture of inclusivity and innovation.

[Neal Romer]

It's pretty suss Joe Dumars is taking over as POBO for the Pelicans. He was Executive Vice President, Head of Basketball Operations for the NBA since 2022. I think the league wants him to clean house so they can do the New Orleans #1 pick thing again.

From CP3 to AD to Zion. I'm not sure if they're going to trade Williamson now and rig it for Cooper or wait next year for the supposed Super Draft.


Ehh. What is the league's incentive to see top picks go to New Orleans?

[Real Men Wear Green]

The city of New Orleans will be underwater in our lifetimes. NBA isn't going to rig the lottery for that franchise. If anyone gets that kind of benefit it would be a bigger city like Philly or Utah to get them a franchise player they think is more likely to stay.

[Im Still Ballin]

Ehh. What is the league's incentive to see top picks go to New Orleans?

I don't know, but they seem to have a vested interest there.

[Meticode]

It's pretty suss Joe Dumars is taking over as POBO for the Pelicans. He was Executive Vice President, Head of Basketball Operations for the NBA since 2022. I think the league wants him to clean house so they can do the New Orleans #1 pick thing again.

From CP3 to AD to Zion. I'm not sure if they're going to trade Williamson now and rig it for Cooper or wait next year for the supposed Super Draft.
LOL I love AI. Some of the stuff it spits out...

https://ptpimg.me/cvy6k9.jpg

[HylianNightmare]

Whatever team trades for him is in for a bad time

[warriorfan]

Ehh. What is the league's incentive to see top picks go to New Orleans?

This is what I thought as well.

Unless the league is using NO as some sort of minor league farm team :lol

[90sgoat]

It's pretty suss Joe Dumars is taking over as POBO for the Pelicans. He was Executive Vice President, Head of Basketball Operations for the NBA since 2022. I think the league wants him to clean house so they can do the New Orleans #1 pick thing again.

From CP3 to AD to Zion. I'm not sure if they're going to trade Williamson now and rig it for Cooper or wait next year for the supposed Super Draft.

If any team should be moved to Vegas it should be NO.

It's the most forgettable team in the league along with the Bobcats. Washington should also call it a day, haven't been relevant in 50 years.

[90sgoat]

The city of New Orleans will be underwater in our lifetimes. NBA isn't going to rig the lottery for that franchise. If anyone gets that kind of benefit it would be a bigger city like Philly or Utah to get them a franchise player they think is more likely to stay.

Cooper Flagg playing in Red-White-Blue in the city of the liberty bell would be a great story. Might help PG and Embiid win that ring.

[John8204]

Whatever team trades for him is in for a bad time

Watch Zion go into an MVP run with a different organization, y'all always blaming the players even when you have a mickey mouse organization that has failed countless guys that won in other places.

[Real Men Wear Green]

Watch Zion go into an MVP run with a different organization, y'all always blaming the players even when you have a mickey mouse organization that has failed countless guys that won in other places. Is not the team's fault that he can't stay healthy. Him and Ingram only playing half the time made sure that they were never going to accomplish anything.

[Kblaze8855]

Is not the team's fault that he can't stay healthy. Him and Ingram only playing half the time made sure that they were never going to accomplish anything.

never know. Different teams have vastly different standards. The heat famously are over the top when it comes to fitness and will get rid of your ass if you don’t meet the goals they set for you even to the point of pushing away superstar talent. It’s possible four or five years with Riley on his ass produces a different player.

It’s also possible he just gets injured anyway as some people on the heat have. I’m just saying teams do have different medical and fitness practices that make a difference. The mouse thought Eric Dampier Was a better investment than a 29-year-old Steve Nash, who had lingering injury issues they couldn’t get him clear of. He wasn’t missing games but it’s understood that they didn’t like his chances to maintain a high level. Goes to Phoenix and they dip them into a Lazarus pit and he was still a star 7 years later.

He could possibly turn it around.

i’m not sure he’s even hurt now. I assume they just threw away the season which makes sense.

[Real Men Wear Green]

Heat still had to deal with Butler missing 20 every year. There are just certain players like Mikal Bridges that seem to never miss games, a few more that don't seem to get major injuries and then there are guys that misses a lot of games. I will say Williamson's weight and leaping combine to make him seem more likely to get hurt but other than dating he needs to watch what he eats and work out what can they do? I believe they even have him a contract that wasn't fully guaranteed. All a team can do is avoid guys that have shown a history of injury. Drafting a guy after one year in college it comes down to luck as much as anything.

[999Guy]

There could be 20 teams that try to trade for Zion.

I'd prefer he ends up in the East for competition and league balance sake.

If he stays in the West I woudn't mind him rescuing a couple careers like Jokic or Booker.

If he ends up somewhere like Portland it's just NOP 2.0.

[Kblaze8855]

Heat still had to deal with Butler missing 20 every year. There are just certain players like Mikal Bridges that seem to never miss games, a few more that don't seem to get major injuries and then there are guys that misses a lot of games. I will say Williamson's weight and leaping combine to make him seem more likely to get hurt but other than dating he needs to watch what he eats and work out what can they do? I believe they even have him a contract that wasn't fully guaranteed. All a team can do is avoid guys that have shown a history of injury. Drafting a guy after one year in college it comes down to luck as much as anything.

The reason Riley complained about Butler missing 20 games every year was because he knew Butler was incredibly fit and could have played but simply didn’t give a shit about the regular season. I don’t think anybody questions Jimmy Butler’s fitness. He meets the standard anybody sets he just decides to take games off.

that said my real concern is how I could’ve pronounced the word “Mavs” for my speech to text to hear me say “mouse” in my other post.

Sometimes I think I’ve been in the south too long. People down here think I have a northern or Midwest accent but when I go north people think I’m from ****ing Mississippi.

[Neal Romer]

To be fair 'Mavs' is an abbreviation not an actual word. So it's understandable the program wouldnt recognize it.

[rawimpact]

wtf kind of OP is this? Didnt even specify who the player is...

[Kblaze8855]

wtf kind of OP is this? Didnt even specify who the player is...

https://www.hostpic.org/images/2504162257010355.gif

[warriorfan]

Glad we got that clarified. I thought we were talking about Elfrid Payton.

[Kblaze8855]

Glad we got that clarified. I thought we were talking about Elfrid Payton.

it was a nice story for a minute or 2 there when he came back from wherever the hell he was. I didn’t care for him early in his career, and I don’t mind admitting that it was for the completely petty reason of hating his hair. But when they called him off the couch it was hard not to root for the guy.