GustavBahler wrote:

fishmike wrote:

GustavBahler wrote:By the end of the season, RJ was doing a better job of sharing the rock. Found Mitch for more alley-oops than anyone else during the season. More than Brunson. If that player shows up next season, I don't believe Ingram is a good idea at this point.

As others have mentioned, Ingram has had his share of injuries. RJ is one of the most durable players in the league. RJ is getting good enough for this move to look like a lateral one, when you factor in durability.

If RJ was being moved, SGA would be someone I would want to see the FO pursue. He gives us that legit first or second option we need. It also gives Brunson the opportunity to be more of a distributor. Won't have to carry the offense as much as he did, at times this season.

SGA? What do you think a deal would like there? Maybe Brunson and Randle?

We know they dont want picks. Definitely not just offer RJ. Would have to include another player. Neither IQ or Randle had a great playoffs, but IQ is a lot younger and improving, an elite defender, and can play 3 positions.

IQ would be closer to the timeline of recent OKC draft picks. Not that I'm in a hurry to trade IQ or RJ, but they would be the main pieces of a deal. This is the kind of player we should be pursuing IMO. Someone who will really move the needle. Not sure Ingram would be that player over RJ.

Ingram gets a thread cause he's got warts and issues. But yeah... SGA would be nice.

Jimbo5 wrote:I do like Ingram but it's highly unlikely he gets traded. Between him and Zion i have a feeling if push comes to shove, Zion is more likely to be traded than Ingram. Does all Zion's downtime/rehab time taking a toll on his relationship with the Pelicans?

There’s going to be a lot of cheerleading in the media for the Knicks to trade for Zion. Zion back in NY is tv ratings gold. Problem is it would be a lousy move for the team. He’s one of only 4 players I believe to average 26 7 and 4 first 4 years of his career but he’s never healthy. He will average maybe 40 games played per season here if we are lucky.

Pelicans aren’t trading us Ingram. They will try to trade us Zion.

Philc1 wrote:

Jimbo5 wrote:I do like Ingram but it's highly unlikely he gets traded. Between him and Zion i have a feeling if push comes to shove, Zion is more likely to be traded than Ingram. Does all Zion's downtime/rehab time taking a toll on his relationship with the Pelicans?

There’s going to be a lot of cheerleading in the media for the Knicks to trade for Zion. Zion back in NY is tv ratings gold. Problem is it would be a lousy move for the team. He’s one of only 4 players I believe to average 26 7 and 4 first 4 years of his career but he’s never healthy. He will average maybe 40 games played per season here if we are lucky.

Pelicans aren’t trading us Ingram. They will try to trade us Zion.

Its a good thing we have you to extrapolate his past health and focus issues and Leon should personally thank you!
Its pretty obvious that he and his contract are an issue.
Its obvious he has maturity issues and has been blessed with a body that has incredible talent but since high school needs more work and he has not done it.
Thats why you stay away from him.
But………If you get him its a “buy low” scenario. Boys become men. He has been famous since he is like 16 years old and its not working for him. He has to grow up and the issue is he does not have that love to work thing. He has gotten wealth and fame before doing anything. Its a mind ****.
Can he change? Can he work 8 hours a day and get his head and body right to feed that talent?
Nola might want to get him out of there and but as you eluded if he don’t get it done he’ll play just half a season.
He can play with porn stars all he wants. But if Zion don’t work he will be wealthy but highly unfulfilled with regret.

Change of scenery and system of accountability might help but its not destination he needs to embark. Its the process or journey on a daily basis he has to deal with. He might not have it. Likley never did. Talent is one thing. Its another to actually live a painful lifestyle and put in the work.

Lets be honest, no team passes on him via the draft. Not sure if his year at Duke would have demonstrated enough to say he was not a serious young man about his craft. Was Lawrennce taylor with Jah Morant hops. We never saw a kid like this before. Charles Barkley did not look like that.
But charles will tell you Moses Malone set him straight and was honest about him and Charles credits him with taking his career to HOF level.