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Me and my friends had a debate on this the other day. If for some miracle luck we get the #1 pick.. Do we keep or trade zion ? Zion would fit in well with our core and it would look like Bron at 34 would be the odd man out -- which is admittedly weird to say.

Or do we trade all our young pieces for established stars to win now? I would guess that Bron would be pushing Magic to trade zion for an established star like he did with Wiggins in cle..

I'd say we keep Zion, as we could get 20 years out of him instead of 3 more years from Bron..

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In that scenario, I would rather keep Zion and the cost controlled contract. People underestimate the importance of a cost controlled star.

Why not keep him and sign a free agent, creating a Zion/LeBron/Max free agent big 3? Or, keep him, sign a free agent, and then trade Ingram/Kuzma/Ingram for another star?

our timeline doesn't seem to matchup. If we got Zion (1% chance right now per tankathon) I would keep him all the way and look to move Bron for AD in a three way and sign Kawhi.

Depends on what offers the pick fetches and the coaching staff moving into next season.

You keep Zion obviously, the better question is if we landed the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th pick. The current mock drafts have RJ Barrett, Ja Morant, and Cam Reddish and imo RJ and Morant would be good fits.

We'd trade it in a heartbeat is my guess. If it's just a question to me I'd probably trade it as well. The odds of just growing a Championship team organically are just above zero. OKC drafted 3 MVP's that couldn't gel into one for example. These one and done guys who look like "can't misses" often times do so I don't see anything as a sure thing with him either. Finally, another rookie who needs 3-4 years to get there doesn't seem like a winning strategy to me.

We need that second stud, a real 2-guard who can finish and shoot the 3 and a scorer off the bench. Get those 3 this offseason and have some health next year and we will be in good shape.

I'd trade it for Anthony Davis. But Lonzo, Kuzma, Ingram? Nah, they wouldn't get any of that.

We keep it and trade LeBron instead.

LOL ...

I'd keep it and trade Lebron build around the young core.

You'd have to be pretty dumb not to keep Zion.

Considering the pick would be a "Laker" pick, it would automatically downgrade in many peoples' opinion, and Zion would be a "bust" simply because he was drafted by the Lakers. So trading him goes out the window.

We'd have to be pretty **** dumb to get rid of Zion to make Lebron happy(by giving him a buddy of his choosing via trade for the pick).

You keep Zion and wait out Lebron or try to trade him.. He's going to be a stud for the next 10-15 yrs.

We are only 5 games above the 6th worse team. If we could get down there and then jump in. Wow that would help so much.

I would keep it unless it got AD done in time to win free agency. And also we wouldn’t give up everyone to get AD.

Considering our lackluster draft results at the top of the draft, i would say the pick should be moved if it is not number 1.

To get the #1 pick, we'd pretty much have to jeff gillooly the competition right now, which isn't possible, so... I'm not sure why we're talking about this.

But if Zion is healthy, and you can get Zion, you pick Zion, and you keep Zion...

Sure he's got some flaws like any 1 and done player, sure you don't really know if his play will translate to the NBA until he plays some games, but cmon now... You keep him.

Danny Darko wrote:our timeline doesn't seem to matchup. If we got Zion (1% chance right now per tankathon) I would keep him all the way and look to move Bron for AD in a three way and sign Kawhi.

I would not put it past the NBA to give the Lakers another top 3 pick.

The odds of getting the #2 pick in 3 consecutive drafts weren't high either.

Despite the Lakers' struggles, they top national TV ratings. Though I would think they continue to top the league for ratings since Lebron creates a lot of drama.

OTOH, if the Lakers got every star they wanted, maybe there won't be as much drama and that won't be good for ratings, unless some of the stars snipe at each other, another Kobe vs. Shaq feud.

slifersd wrote:Considering our lackluster draft results at the top of the draft, i would say the pick should be moved if it is not number 1.

Lakers have had a lot of good young talent. They've traded away Russell and Randle, who've had very good seasons.

Also Thomas Bryant, who's had some very good games.

Also Lopez, who's had a very good season for the Bucks after playing for the Lakers last year.

Also Zubac, who played well for the Lakers but was traded away.


If they kept Russell, Randle and Lopez instead of signing Lebron and some of these 1-year vets, would they be better or worse off than they are currently?

Well first off Zion is not Wiggins so that comparison is unfair in my opinion. Secondly, it's as simple as do you want to win now? Or "maybe" win in 5 years? I think it also depends on what happens with the Warriors this post season and how dominant they look. Do the Warriors dominate again this post season and KD stays? Then, I'd say keep Zion because no one is beating the currently constructed Warriors when they're gelling.