Let Zion's Be Bye Gones with Hawks and Hornets

MasterIchiro · Post #1 » by **MasterIchiro** » Sat Jan 11, 2025 5:23 pm

Hawks
IN - Zion
OUT - Deandre Hunter, Larry Nance Jr., 2027 Pelicans 1st

Gives the Hawks two #1 scoring options to push for playoffs in a weak East. Snyder has Duke connections and Zion is from neighboring South Carolina. Home is where the heart is?

Pelicans
IN - Tidjane Salaün, Nick Richards, 2027 Mavs 1st via Charlotte, returned 2027 Pelicans 1st via Atlanta, expirings (Martin, Micić)
OUT - Zion

Gives the Pelicans 2 firsts for reboot, 1 prospect, a C2 to develop Messi, cap space, and seals the tank pending trade of Ingram which feels inevitable.

Hornets
IN - Deandre Hunter, Larry Nance Jr.
OUT - Salaün, 2027 Mavs 1st, Nick Richards, Martin, Micić

Hornets acquire a defensive anchor and spacer for their 3-point offense, #3/4 scoring option, switchable defender in his prime (27), plus a vet C2/PF who can space in small ball bench units rather than be redundant with Mark Williams and Moussa Diabaté. They pull the plug on Salaün who is the worst shooter in the NBA for players with 100 or more misses. Perhaps Hunter helps pull the Hornets out of a rebuild, in addition to the Hornets 2025 lottery prospect.

LaMelo / Mann
Miller / J. Green
Hunter / G. Williams
Bridges / Nance Jr.
M. Williams / Nance Jr.

Post #2 » by **Mavrelous** » Sat Jan 11, 2025 5:33 pm

Pelicans 1st should go the Hornets or stay with ATL, I think the package NOP is getting is enough w/o this 1st.
Raw PF prospect picked with #6 and very good 1st while no other future salary sent.

MasterIchiro · Post #3 » by **MasterIchiro** » Sat Jan 11, 2025 5:42 pm

Mavrelous wrote:Pelicans 1st should go the Hornets or stay with ATL, I think the package NOP is getting is enough w/o this 1st.
Raw PF prospect picked with #6 and very good 1st while no other future salary sent.

If the Hawks would be willing to leave in the 2027 returned Pelicans 1st to New Orleans, I'd gladly remove the Mavs 1st and substitute in 3 high quality 2nd round picks: 32 (Pelicans), 34 (Hornets), plus 2027 Pelicans/Blazers 2nd (more favorable). This way the Pelicans are not overpaid, and the Pelicans 1st is doing more work than the 3 quality seconds given Hornets are giving up pick 6 on a rookie scale contract.

Many Hornets fans remaining in his corner would fight this.

If Grey Poupon - Honey Dijon - Tidjane Salaün passes as core value for Deandre Hunter with the year Hunter is having (25 points per 36) and considering his 3D fit in Charlotte, I'd be all for escorting the Frenchman to the French Quarter.

Post #4 » by **Mavrelous** » Sat Jan 11, 2025 5:48 pm

MasterIchiro wrote:
Mavrelous wrote:Pelicans 1st should go the Hornets or stay with ATL, I think the package NOP is getting is enough w/o this 1st.
Raw PF prospect picked with #6 and very good 1st while no other future salary sent.

If the Hawks would be willing to leave in the 2027 returned Pelicans 1st to New Orleans, I'd gladly remove the Mavs 1st and substitute in 3 high quality 2nd round picks: 32 (Pelicans), 34 (Hornets), plus 2027 Pelicans/Blazers 2nd (more favorable). This way the Pelicans are not overpaid, and the Pelicans 1st is doing more work than the 3 quality seconds given Hornets are giving up pick 6 on a rookie scale contract.

Many Hornets fans remaining in his corner would fight this.

If Grey Poupon - Honey Dijon - Tidjane Salaün passes as core value for Deandre Hunter with the year Hunter is having (25 points per 36) and considering his 3D fit in Charlotte, I'd be all for escorting the Frenchman to the French Quarter.

Trading the 2nds for the 1st for balancing is a good idea.

Ball4life32 · Post #5 » by **Ball4life32** » Sat Jan 11, 2025 6:01 pm

Zion is redundant with Jalen Johnson.

jayjaysee · Post #6 » by **jayjaysee** » Sat Jan 11, 2025 6:08 pm

I think I just trade for Zion if I’m Charlotte? Why would they not take the upside swing here? I don’t get it. You go into next season with Ball, Miller, Zion and a top 5 pick. Most exciting season for the fans since? 20 years?

I think Atlanta doesn’t need to take the chance with how good Jalen has looked. But if you set it up to keep them under the tax, it’s probably worth it really. All of a sudden Atlanta has depth and 3 young stars locked up.

MasterIchiro · Post #7 » by **MasterIchiro** » Sat Jan 11, 2025 6:41 pm

jayjaysee wrote:I think I just trade for Zion if I’m Charlotte? Why would they not take the upside swing here? I don’t get it. You go into next season with Ball, Miller, Zion and a top 5 pick. Most exciting season for the fans since? 20 years?

I think Atlanta doesn’t need to take the chance with how good Jalen has looked. But if you set it up to keep them under the tax, it’s probably worth it really. All of a sudden Atlanta has depth and 3 young stars locked up.

I'd much rather have Miles + Hunter + Nance Jr. + whatever draft capital than Zion + Salaün.

Hornets are better off preserving draft capital rather than aiming for a #1 option given LaMelo and Miller as top options and given we are not positioned to make a run like the Hawks.

I think Zion to Atlanta is far far more realistic than Zion to Charlotte or any other rebuild team looking to preserve draft capital in any upgrade.

JRoy · Post #8 » by **JRoy** » Sat Jan 11, 2025 6:59 pm

+1 for thread title.

Wouldn’t be surprised to see NO deal ZW, doubt they would get much in return.

Then his new team can cut him and he can sign in LAL for nothing.

HornetJail · Post #9 » by **HornetJail** » Sat Jan 11, 2025 9:35 pm

I prefer swinging for the upside with Zion, but I think I'd comfortably take this deal as is... Hunter seems to have finally taken a leap. The chances of Salaun ever being a 19ppg 63 TS% player or anything close to it, feels impossibly low. I foresee the Pels just cutting us out from this tbh