Zion Can Save the Tank

[Tremendous Upside]

There are moments of clarity where you suddenly see the true insanity of the galaxy-brained tankers who have lost all contact with what makes this sport great. It's like peering into the depths of hell. You shudder, shake your head and look away, leaving them to shout about their outlandish sabotage scenarios from the depths of their armchairs.

This is one of those moments.

 

[The Jazz Wonderbra]

Im not advocating for trading a young guy for Zion. But trading Zion is still going to require getting something hopeful in return from the Pelicans perspective.

I think the clippers should look hard at trading for Zion. Their entire roster is locked up for 2 years. Getting Zion would help them reset below the cap and give them hope for a future asset.

 

[The Jazz Wonderbra]

Danny ainge has a history of picking up all star head cases and making them work when others didnt want anything to do with them.

If we can improve our 2026 draft chances, while helping the Pelicans improve, and hold a future chip. It is definitely worth looking at a bunch of scenarios to see if something fits.

 

[Udidthizz]

I'm not religious, but a firm believer that Zion coming to Zion is meant to be and be glorious.

 

[hgb]

While I don't think Pelicans will get good value for Zion, I'm sure someone will risk significantly more than this (at least if the picks are 2nd rounders)

 

[jom2003]

I mean... there is a reason no one wants Zion/Ja/Trae. Under this current CBA with second apron in place, a bad contract can destroy your team building instantly.

If I'm buying low, I'd rather take the Giddey/Avdija/Daniels approach and gamble on folks like Ivey/Sochan/Dick who’s shown plenty of flashes in the past but losing minutes this season. That's how you get potential stars for cheap. That’s how we got Lauri.

Especially in the case of Ivey, we can basically give him the same Zion treatment. Sit him in the name of “injury management”. Detroit can use some additional shooting and veteran presence. We spare jazz fans with all those Svi minutes. Ivey is an expiring too so he won't cost you much. Detroit either get something from him now or lose him for nothing next summer.

View: https://youtu.be/Qchuo7HDBuE?si=DbyoV0DDZVnoMOWh


View: https://youtu.be/Cbc44Ff1N7c?si=gJt3CWQyNxjQWAEU


View: https://youtu.be/XEmWrYp1zIc?si=Wg7UhMuC_xzmS0fk

 

[KqWIN]

Maybe… or we waive him if we don’t like what we see. Read the post above… his contract is no guaranteed. Also our cap space lol. It ain’t gonna matter all that much.

FWIW, I think some of his contract will be guaranteed. 20-60% is most likely depending on how many games he would play this year.

But I also love how convince ourselves that we're a major FA destination whenever the FO says "flexibility".

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

FWIW, I think some of his contract will be guaranteed. 20-60% is most likely depending on how many games he would play this year.

But I also love how convince ourselves that we're a major FA destination whenever the FO says "flexibility".

I also love all the posters here talking about aprons like they understand anything. We ain't even to the bib... the aprons???? lol.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

There are moments of clarity where you suddenly see the true insanity of the galaxy-brained tankers who have lost all contact with what makes this sport great. It's like peering into the depths of hell. You shudder, shake your head and look away, leaving them to shout about their outlandish sabotage scenarios from the depths of their armchairs.

This is one of those moments.

This is somewhat a tongue in cheek idea lol... but it is similar to what Raps did with Ingram. Seems to be working out for them but whatevs... we should push for 30 wins.

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

Im not advocating for trading a young guy for Zion. But trading Zion is still going to require getting something hopeful in return from the Pelicans perspective.

I think the clippers should look hard at trading for Zion. Their entire roster is locked up for 2 years. Getting Zion would help them reset below the cap and give them hope for a future asset.

I don't know that they will get much more than some guys that can play and some scraps tbh. Its not an easy contract to match salaries with. Not sure who is really in the position. Kings maybe?

 

[Handlogten's Heros]

FWIW, I think some of his contract will be guaranteed. 20-60% is most likely depending on how many games he would play this year.

But I also love how convince ourselves that we're a major FA destination whenever the FO says "flexibility".

I think I saw somewhere like 7M or something like that. The contract is a bit of a mystery.

All I know is if he plays the amount he needs to earn the guarantees... then you may have gotten a cheap all-star. If not, you can waive him with a small cap hit. Its a low risk but highly likely to be a loss proposition. I might not put the draft capital required to get it done... but if its a few seconds (NOP don't have hardly any seconds) I don't think its really a loss if we improve our current draft positioning.

 

[KqWIN]

I think I saw somewhere like 7M or something like that. The contract is a bit of a mystery.

All I know is if he plays the amount he needs to earn the guarantees... then you may have gotten a cheap all-star. If not, you can waive him with a small cap hit. Its a low risk but highly likely to be a loss proposition. I might not put the draft capital required to get it done... but if its a few seconds (NOP don't have hardly any seconds) I don't think its really a loss if we improve our current draft positioning.

Sportrac has it as follows:

20% - Weight. body fat, injury benchmarks (right foot injury) - These are unclear, especially the right foot injury specification, but I'm assuming he clears this benchmark.
40% - 41 games played
20% - 51 games played
20% - 61 games played

Guarantee date for each season is 7/15. So for the 2025-26 season, it all gets guaranteed 7/15/25 (after the moratorium).

If we traded for Zion, I would do so under the impression that we're guaranteeing his salary for next season and just trying it out for at least one year. That would eat up our cap space, so if you're hoping to win the Grimes sweepstakes a trade like this could be a barrier.