Under any other circumstance, we'd have to take the wait-and-see approach and bide our time until the Pelicans lose leverage. With the emergence of Julius Randle, however, I think we're far closer to a suitable trade package than anyone ever imagined at the beginning of the season. Not only is he a better player than Zion at the moment, he also has better synergy with their second best player- Brandon Ingram- from their time together with the Lakers.

My offer would essentially be Julius Randle, Mitchell Robinson, Kevin Knox (to be flipped for Mo Bamba), four unprotected first round picks in 2021 and 2023, first round pick swaps in 2022 and 2024, the four future second round picks we got during this past draft (essentially) for Ed Davis and $5 million cash for Zion and the dead salaries of Eric Bledsoe and Steven Adams.

It effectively makes the Pelicans a better team in the short-term with enough draft equity to fill out their rotation with cheaper, cost-controlled players. It also makes far more financial sense for them because they improve the team without having to dramatically raise payroll. Essentially, Steve Adams' money gets converted into Julius Randle; Eric Bledsoe's money gets rolled into Lonzo Ball's impending extension; and Zion Williamson's money into Josh Hart's extension. They'll have to inevitably deal with Mitchell Robinson's bump in pay but should be able to easily accommodate the New Orleans native's $15-$18 million per year if they frontload Lonzo Ball's and Josh Hart's contracts accordingly. How could they say no?

http://www.espn.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=yex27yjy

While the Pelicans get the present, we get the future. A Zion-Barrett-Quickley core could dominate the East for a decade if we remain healthy. While we'd lose a ton of draft equity in the next few drafts, we'd still have enough financial flexibility to flesh out a capable rotation by virtue of Zion, Barrett and Quickley all being on their rookie contracts. They'd essentially make a combined +/-$20million/year moving forward, leaving about $55 million worth of cap space with Al Horford on the books.

Thoughts?

G: Chris Paul ($50M/2yr; 3rd year unguaranteed at $20M)
G:Reggie Bullock
F: Barrett
F: Zion
C: Al Horford

6th: Quickly

That's a squad!

martin wrote:

NardDogNation wrote:There is also strong indication that Chris Paul might opt out of his contract this offseason to secure a longer-termed contract. Just saying....

G: Chris Paul ($50M/2yr; 3rd year unguaranteed at $20M)
G:Reggie Bullock
F: Barrett
F: Zion
C: Al Horford

6th: Quickly

That's a squad!

No there isn't. If you have any reliable guesses at that, please link.

I definitely read it online (though I'm not inclined to look it up). Considering his strong performance this season, it makes all the fiscal sense in the world to leverage it for longer-term security.

NardDogNation wrote:He recently declared his undying love for playing at MSG. His best friend is RJ Barrett. And NYC offers him the opportunity to build his brand/profile quicker while being competitive. With all that being said, I think it isn't a matter of "if" Zion becomes a Knick but "when". And with the Pelicans being one of the worst run organizations in the league (they still use Saints trainers and lack a true practice facility, which leads to them being a league leader in injuries every season), I wouldn't be surprised if Zion is already disgruntled.

Under any other circumstance, we'd have to take the wait-and-see approach and bide our time until the Pelicans lose leverage. With the emergence of Julius Randle, however, I think we're far closer to a suitable trade package than anyone ever imagined at the beginning of the season. Not only is he a better player than Zion at the moment, he also has better synergy with their second best player- Brandon Ingram- from their time together with the Lakers.

My offer would essentially be Julius Randle, Mitchell Robinson, Kevin Knox (to be flipped for Mo Bamba), four unprotected first round picks in 2021 and 2023, first round pick swaps in 2022 and 2024, the four future second round picks we got during this past draft (essentially) for Ed Davis and $5 million cash for Zion and the dead salaries of Eric Bledsoe and Steven Adams.

It effectively makes the Pelicans a better team in the short-term with enough draft equity to fill out their rotation with cheaper, cost-controlled players. It also makes far more financial sense for them because they improve the team without having to dramatically raise payroll. Essentially, Steve Adams' money gets converted into Julius Randle; Eric Bledsoe's money gets rolled into Lonzo Ball's impending extension; and Zion Williamson's money into Josh Hart's extension. They'll have to inevitably deal with Mitchell Robinson's bump in pay but should be able to easily accommodate the New Orleans native's $15-$18 million per year if they frontload Lonzo Ball's and Josh Hart's contracts accordingly. How could they say no?

http://www.espn.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=yex27yjy

While the Pelicans get the present, we get the future. A Zion-Barrett-Quickley core could dominate the East for a decade if we remain healthy. While we'd lose a ton of draft equity in the next few drafts, we'd still have enough financial flexibility to flesh out a capable rotation by virtue of Zion, Barrett and Quickley all being on their rookie contracts. They'd essentially make a combined +/-$20million/year moving forward, leaving about $55 million worth of cap space with Al Horford on the books.

Thoughts?

I’m reluctantly with you in essence, I think... my heart says yes, but my head says no.

I think this is far more realistic at the end of his current contract.

NardDogNation wrote:

martin wrote:It literally makes ZERO sense for a player to turn down a 1 year $44M contract to play 2 years for $50M especially considering going from one of the best teams in the league to something much worse

The Suns are one of the best teams in the league by virtue of his play. What they were last season is probably closer to what they'd be without him, which is just outside of the playoffs.

Admittedly, I thought Paul was going to make less than $44 million next season. But the strategy of taking less annually to make more longer-term makes sense and has been done in the past. He's already 37, it's his only vehicle to getting bigger money later in his career. The portion of the 3rd year that he'd keep is his incentive in this type of deal.

So you think it's a good idea to sign a 37 year old to either a 2 year $50M contract or one for 3 years at $20M per?

Welpee wrote:Are you trading for Zion Williamson or prime Michael Jordan? Zion is not worth trading the franchise and our first born to obtain just because he likes playing at the garden. To me he's Blake Griffin 2.0. Great player, but he's not a young Kareem level player in terms of franchise impact. That trade proposal is a very Isiah Thomas/Eddy Curry-like maneuver.

The stuff Zion is doing at his age is pretty close to unprecedented. And considering that the Pelicans have control over him, at least for the next 3 seasons (2 under contract and a 3rd if he tries to force his way out by signing a qualifier), I think it's reasonable. Isiah Thomas never had the means to trade for a player this good and this young.

NardDogNation wrote:

martin wrote:

NardDogNation wrote:

martin wrote:

NardDogNation wrote:There is also strong indication that Chris Paul might opt out of his contract this offseason to secure a longer-termed contract. Just saying....

G: Chris Paul ($50M/2yr; 3rd year unguaranteed at $20M)
G:Reggie Bullock
F: Barrett
F: Zion
C: Al Horford

6th: Quickly

That's a squad!

No there isn't. If you have any reliable guesses at that, please link.

I definitely read it online (though I'm not inclined to look it up). Considering his strong performance this season, it makes all the fiscal sense in the world to leverage it for longer-term security.

There is a lot of dumb **** on the internet and that doesn't mean it's worth repeating. Dude is on the cusp of being on one of the best teams in the league and you think it's reasonable he is putting out feelers that he wants to play elsewhere - after forcing his way to said team - mid season cause it's on his mind?

Is that how this works?

I heard the suggestion made by Bill Simmons but also remember reading it from a New York tabloid beforehand. Both seem plenty reputable.

I also never suggested that Chris Paul wants to leave the Suns. What I am saying is that it makes financial sense for him to opt out in order to secure more money, long-term. He has all the leverage in the world with the Suns success and no game-changing free agents during an offseason that marquee franchises like the Knicks and Heat will have max cap space. Someone will inevitably pay him including the Suns.

Bill Simmons noticed that CP3 had an opt out and the NY tabloid, hungry as ever for the clicks, repeated the same.

There is a HUGE different between strong indication and writers offering up a take.