Stand and be counted: Trade Kuminga for Zion?

[GQ Hot Dog]

A claim was made around these parts that multiple frequenters of this board would be willing to trade for Zion. So let's see a show of hands: Who, for instance, wants to trade Kuminga in a package for Zion?

I think it's nuts. In my opinion, Kuminga is better than Zion right now. Maybe if Zion played more I would feel differently about the exchange, but since he's played less than half the games he could have in his career so far, it seems clear to me that Kuminga is a better and more valuable player, largely because he's a more available player than Zion.

[whatisacenter]

I mean, I guess I’m down for Zion but in a why not kind of way.

I don’t really expect him to stay healthy, but he has safeguards in his contract.

I doubt the pelicans trade them though

[Onus]

Count me in for a trade for Zion

[TB]

It's impossible to have Kuminga be the main piece of a Zion trade because you would need to add Wiggins or Dray's salary to make it work.

Example of a trade that would work:

Zion, Hawkins, Marko
for
Wiggins, Kuminga, GP2, maybe 1 or 2 picks

[GQ Hot Dog]

It's impossible to have Kuminga be the main piece of a Zion trade because you would need to add Wiggins or Dray's salary to make it work.

Example of a trade that would work:

Zion, Hawkins, Marko
for
Wiggins, Kuminga, GP2, maybe 1 or 2 picks

I know. I'm just trying to gauge how people value Kuminga vs. someone like Zion that plays the same position.

[TB]

It's impossible to have Kuminga be the main piece of a Zion trade because you would need to add Wiggins or Dray's salary to make it work.

Example of a trade that would work:

Zion, Hawkins, Marko
for
Wiggins, Kuminga, GP2, maybe 1 or 2 picks

I know. I'm just trying to gauge how people value Kuminga vs. someone like Zion that plays the same position.

Gotcha.

I personally think Zion is way better than Kuminga right now. But the health issues are a serious problem.

But Zion got a full year in college plus unlimited minutes (when healthy) as a pro. Whereas Kuminga played awful G-League ball then sat bench a ton. Two years younger so he can close the gap, but right now the playmaking ability of Zion is much more advanced.

I could talk myself into a deal like that, but also happy to root for Kuminga since we should be exiting the raw development era and actually start enjoying the success of a player we all knew on draft day would take years to develop.

[oaktownwarriors87]

Green, Kuminga, Podz and Gui works

[vvoland]

It's impossible to have Kuminga be the main piece of a Zion trade because you would need to add Wiggins or Dray's salary to make it work.

Example of a trade that would work:

Zion, Hawkins, Marko
for
Wiggins, Kuminga, GP2, maybe 1 or 2 picks

I think you can piece together enough expiring contracts to trade for zion. Unlike Lavine and Butler, who make 45/50, respectively, we only have to send back ~37m for zion. So Schroeder+gp2+Kyle+jk is enough to get Zion and sign 2 pro-rated min contracts. If we include loon or buddy instead of jk, we can sign 3 or maybe 4 min contracts, I forgot the math.

[cpower]

you are talking about the Zion that plays 10 games a year? why not!!! max him for life and tank!

[superunknown]

Count me in for a trade for Zion

let's make it 2.

[superunknown]

It's impossible to have Kuminga be the main piece of a Zion trade because you would need to add Wiggins or Dray's salary to make it work.

Example of a trade that would work:

Zion, Hawkins, Marko
for
Wiggins, Kuminga, GP2, maybe 1 or 2 picks

I know. I'm just trying to gauge how people value Kuminga vs. someone like Zion that plays the same position.

Gotcha.

I personally think Zion is way better than Kuminga right now. But the health issues are a serious problem.

But Zion got a full year in college plus unlimited minutes (when healthy) as a pro. Whereas Kuminga played awful G-League ball then sat bench a ton. Two years younger so he can close the gap, but right now the playmaking ability of Zion is much more advanced.

I could talk myself into a deal like that, but also happy to root for Kuminga since we should be exiting the raw development era and actually start enjoying the success of a player we all knew on draft day would take years to develop.

zion health question marks pretty much offset kuminga's development/success question marks, one is not less uncertain than the other. and zion has proved, when healthy, that he's a force to be reckoned with. kuminga has not, yet the money he's seeking ifor an extension are same as zion current contract, so....
to me it's a no brainer, the problem indeed is not trading kuminga for zion but which other players (contracts) to include in the deal to make ends meet without gutting the roster too much.

[Crazy-Canuck]

Outside of being healthier, jk does nothing better than zion.

Zion makes 36M while jk wanted a 35M minimum on his extension.

If it's wiggins + jk as the centerpiece, I'd give it pause. Wiggins archetype is the hardest to find in the nba and we have nothing to replace that here.

If it's dray and jk? I might pull that trigger. Dray is physically breaking down, and that's the only reason I would consider it.

Steph, heild or podz or moody, wiggins, zion and post works be a pretty good starting 5 IF...IF..IF..Zion can stay relatively healthy. A steph, zion, and wiggs might be one of the better fitting trios in the league.

Again, if zion can come cheap and the prls are enamored with jk? Why not.

[Romulus]

you are talking about the Zion that plays 10 games a year? why not!!! max him for life and tank!

Exactly. Love Zion's talent but he's NEVER healthy. I'd take Kuminga over him every time. I'd never trade for guys who are never healthy, whether that's Zion or Ben Simmons or anyone else that can't stay on the court.

[SpreeS]

Give me a second. You wanna trade for guy who played 44% of all RS games in 6 years and played only one meangfull game (Paly-In) in NBA career, where had got injured...

[Jester_]

Give me a second. You wanna trade for guy who played 44% of all RS games in 6 years and played only one meangfull game (Paly-In) in NBA career, where had got injured...

Our dynasty started because we traded for a guy like that

[Jester_]

A claim was made around these parts that multiple frequenters of this board would be willing to trade for Zion. So let's see a show of hands: Who, for instance, wants to trade Kuminga in a package for Zion?

I think it's nuts. In my opinion, Kuminga is better than Zion right now. Maybe if Zion played more I would feel differently about the exchange, but since he's played less than half the games he could have in his career so far, it seems clear to me that Kuminga is a better and more valuable player, largely because he's a more available player than Zion.

this thread backfire on you huh champ lol

[cpower]

Give me a second. You wanna trade for guy who played 44% of all RS games in 6 years and played only one meangfull game (Paly-In) in NBA career, where had got injured...

Our dynasty started because we traded for a guy like that

problem is he is not even good anymore, he peaked on his 2nd season and has declined every since, i think his healthy will continue get worse and he is not interested to play....huge red flag

[Jester_]

Give me a second. You wanna trade for guy who played 44% of all RS games in 6 years and played only one meangfull game (Paly-In) in NBA career, where had got injured...

Our dynasty started because we traded for a guy like that

problem is he is not even good anymore, he peaked on his 2nd season and has declined every since, i think his healthy will continue get worse and he is not interested to play....huge red flag

yeah, but I think the appeal is if you can buy very low and turn him around - New Orleans FO is a disaster and worst place on earth for someone with an eating problem

is it likely to pay off? no. but even if there's a 5% chance it works, that's a 5% chance at a championship that's higher than our current odds

[whatisacenter]

A claim was made around these parts that multiple frequenters of this board would be willing to trade for Zion. So let's see a show of hands: Who, for instance, wants to trade Kuminga in a package for Zion?

I think it's nuts. In my opinion, Kuminga is better than Zion right now. Maybe if Zion played more I would feel differently about the exchange, but since he's played less than half the games he could have in his career so far, it seems clear to me that Kuminga is a better and more valuable player, largely because he's a more available player than Zion.

this thread backfire on you huh champ lol

It looks like it's 50/50.

OP was asking a question to have a conversation and I don't get the impression he was hoping everyone agrees with him.

[Jester_]

A claim was made around these parts that multiple frequenters of this board would be willing to trade for Zion. So let's see a show of hands: Who, for instance, wants to trade Kuminga in a package for Zion?

I think it's nuts. In my opinion, Kuminga is better than Zion right now. Maybe if Zion played more I would feel differently about the exchange, but since he's played less than half the games he could have in his career so far, it seems clear to me that Kuminga is a better and more valuable player, largely because he's a more available player than Zion.

this thread backfire on you huh champ lol

It looks like it's 50/50.

OP was asking a question to have a conversation and I don't get the impression he was hoping everyone agrees with him.

he made the thread because he's been butthurt at me for a while and wanted to prove me wrong when I said I'm not the only one who wants zion