Make Your Best Offer: KD, Zion or Sabonis

[jayjaysee]

If we get a non-top 2 pick.

Pick + PG for Zion + Olynyk

I think the Pels move off Zion to shed some long term salary and gain some assets. This does not do that.

If New Orleans is interested in trading Zion, I can’t see them turning down a pick 3-5 range?

PG can sit enough to not interrupt a tank and can be actively shopped his entire time in NOLA. Some team (Dallas, Sac, Phx, Miami, Milwaukee, CLT, etc) would convince themselves to take on a lot of future money to get him if it didn’t cost assets / or if it returned an asset (Dallas trading PJ/Gafford to third team for a first, third team salary to NOP, Dallas getting PG and asset)

[ProcessDoctor]

If we get a non-top 2 pick.

Pick + PG for Zion + Olynyk

I think the Pels move off Zion to shed some long term salary and gain some assets. This does not do that.

I mean the pick is an asset? You never know if they really like Ace Bailey or Edgecombe at #3. I think this also depends on where their pick lands.

Obviously, PG has 3 years left but maybe they could see him as a "mentor" I know Murphy is a huge fan.

It'll be really interesting to see what they actually do with Zion.

[jayjaysee]

I think unless it is Flagg to NOP, New Orleans should keep Zion really. With Flagg, I guess you commit to him and rebuild the roster to fit him and accept another tank.

This season feels like an insane injury anomaly for the entire roster.

Whether it’s Bailey, Ace or VJ (or others).. They work with Zion and you try to trust in Missi/Trey/DJM..

[SlimShady83]

Kings Out: Sabonis
Kings IN: Ball, Mark Williams

Hornets In: Sabonis
Hornets Out: Ball, Mark Williams

Hornets get a legit Center while trading away Injury prone Mark and trade Ball who might be trading?

Kings get a PG back from trading Fox and Mark who while INjury prone etc playing well lately.

[Slim Charless]

Yes 37 is correct. Your proposed package doesn't move the needle for phx unfortunately. It would have to start with Zac, Mann, Bufkin, Sac pick, and alittle more salary.

Hawks can get 10m in cap space if they renounce every ufa. None of this matter if KD doesn't want to sign an extension with the Hawks. His previous short list included SA, Hou, Minn, NYK, etc.

Not sure on this one, still weighing pros and cons.

Something around Sengun for Trae

and then
FVV (Maybe routed to Orlando for additional draft comp)
2025 Phx #1 (top 4 protected),
2027 #1 Houston has Phx and thier own with BK Swap rights, would offer the worst of the two picks.
2029 #1 Houston has 2 best of Dal, Phx, and Hou #1s, would offer the worst of the two picks.

Trae / Reed
Green / Cam
Brooks / Eason
Jabari / Amen
Sabonis / Adams

Just watched this live on McAfee:

Read on Twitter

We'll be cleaning up on KD bros. When you have 5 playoff teams competing with each other for the same player, then the market rises-a lot.

I think he goes to HOU for Jabari/Reed/Cam and 2 of our picks back. We'll probably have to take Brooks for cap purposes as well, but he can be re-routed to another team for more assets.

For whatever it’s worth Gambo believes it’s Green, Smith or Eason, filler and a pick. He’s been pretty consistent saying the Rockets extended Green in order to trade him for an upgrade.

I just personally don't see him as a good fit with Booker. They play the position after all. If anything, he'd fit well on that team with KD as he'd get single coverage and could probably learn a thing or 2 from Durant.

If we were to trade them Booker, then it's entirely different conversation. Then he's gotta be moved.

[ReggiesKnicks]

Does Zion have that kind of value at this point?

Does New Orleans take less?

I think so. That experiment is pretty much at an end. Interested to see what kind of changes are made. Four years of Zion, Willie Green, Griff and haven’t made it to the second round. Missed the playoffs all together twice and are bumping up against the tax.

I disagree. Zion, as a talent, is far better than anything or player they can get for him. Herb/Murphy III/Zion/Murray are the best fitting "4 best players" NOP has had.

I think they are incentivized and prioritize running at least one more year with Zion and company. Remember, when they have been healthy over the past 3 seasons, they are a good team.

New Orleans has set themselves up for moving on from Zion after the 2026-2026 season. The only guaranteed contracts for 2026-2027 are Herb Jones, Trey Murphy III, Dejounte Murray, and a few rookie scale contracts.

Hell, even if New Orleans sucks in 2025-2026, what is the incentive to trade Zion? Zion is going to be more talented than any single or multiple assets they return via trade. Zion being healthy means they are winning a lot of games and Zion being unhealthy means New Orleans is picking Top 8 again. The incentive simply isn't there to trade a player of Zion's caliber and talent level.

This all changes if the player New Orleans draft does have star potential and Zion is still plagued with injury. At that point, shifting gears and direction around a new talent and franchise cornerstone has merits.

[jredsaz]

Just watched this live on McAfee:

Read on Twitter

We'll be cleaning up on KD bros. When you have 5 playoff teams competing with each other for the same player, then the market rises-a lot.

I think he goes to HOU for Jabari/Reed/Cam and 2 of our picks back. We'll probably have to take Brooks for cap purposes as well, but he can be re-routed to another team for more assets.

For whatever it’s worth Gambo believes it’s Green, Smith or Eason, filler and a pick. He’s been pretty consistent saying the Rockets extended Green in order to trade him for an upgrade.

I just personally don't see him as a good fit with Booker. They play the position after all. If anything, he'd fit well on that team with KD as he'd get single coverage and could probably learn a thing or 2 from Durant.

If we were to trade them Booker, then it's entirely different conversation. Then he's gotta be moved.

I’d probably send Green to a third team in the deal but I believe Gambo when he says that Green is the salary the Rockets would like to move

[jredsaz]

Does New Orleans take less?

I think so. That experiment is pretty much at an end. Interested to see what kind of changes are made. Four years of Zion, Willie Green, Griff and haven’t made it to the second round. Missed the playoffs all together twice and are bumping up against the tax.

I disagree. Zion, as a talent, is far better than anything or player they can get for him. Herb/Murphy III/Zion/Murray are the best fitting "4 best players" NOP has had.

I think they are incentivized and prioritize running at least one more year with Zion and company. Remember, when they have been healthy over the past 3 seasons, they are a good team.

New Orleans has set themselves up for moving on from Zion after the 2026-2026 season. The only guaranteed contracts for 2026-2027 are Herb Jones, Trey Murphy III, Dejounte Murray, and a few rookie scale contracts.

Hell, even if New Orleans sucks in 2025-2026, what is the incentive to trade Zion? Zion is going to be more talented than any single or multiple assets they return via trade. Zion being healthy means they are winning a lot of games and Zion being unhealthy means New Orleans is picking Top 8 again. The incentive simply isn't there to trade a player of Zion's caliber and talent level.

This all changes if the player New Orleans draft does have star potential and Zion is still plagued with injury. At that point, shifting gears and direction around a new talent and franchise cornerstone has merits.

I mean it’s a fair take, I just don’t think that’s where the franchise is at this point. I think they’ll want to move on and will take less than what you proposed. He’s hurt a lot and the situation doesn’t seem to be working for him or the team. Guess we will see.

[Slim Charless]

For whatever it’s worth Gambo believes it’s Green, Smith or Eason, filler and a pick. He’s been pretty consistent saying the Rockets extended Green in order to trade him for an upgrade.

I just personally don't see him as a good fit with Booker. They play the position after all. If anything, he'd fit well on that team with KD as he'd get single coverage and could probably learn a thing or 2 from Durant.

If we were to trade them Booker, then it's entirely different conversation. Then he's gotta be moved.

I’d probably send Green to a third team in the deal but I believe Gambo when he says that Green is the salary the Rockets would like to move

I believe they wanna move out, I'm just hesitant to believe that he'd be the main piece coming over in a KD trade. Since he and Booker already play the same position. Plus Beal.

Meaning we'd have 3 SGs on the team-all of whom play similar styles and make over 30m a year.....

[jredsaz]

I just personally don't see him as a good fit with Booker. They play the position after all. If anything, he'd fit well on that team with KD as he'd get single coverage and could probably learn a thing or 2 from Durant.

If we were to trade them Booker, then it's entirely different conversation. Then he's gotta be moved.

I’d probably send Green to a third team in the deal but I believe Gambo when he says that Green is the salary the Rockets would like to move

I believe they wanna move out, I'm just hesitant to believe that he'd be the main piece coming over in a KD trade. Since he and Booker already play the same position. Plus Beal.

Meaning we'd have 3 SGs on the team-all of whom play similar styles and make over 30m a year.....

Honestly, I’m interested in the pick and Smith/Eason most. Suns need picks and I want to build a team around Booker and I think both those wings fit. Gambo is also convinced they move on from Beal one way or another. I’m very much against stretching Beal but if the do Green fits better. If they don’t, I think you can spin him for another big and a pic or two.

[Slim Charless]

I’d probably send Green to a third team in the deal but I believe Gambo when he says that Green is the salary the Rockets would like to move

I believe they wanna move out, I'm just hesitant to believe that he'd be the main piece coming over in a KD trade. Since he and Booker already play the same position. Plus Beal.

Meaning we'd have 3 SGs on the team-all of whom play similar styles and make over 30m a year.....

Honestly, I’m interested in the pick and Smith/Eason most. Suns need picks and I want to build a team around Booker and I think both those wings fit. Gambo is also convinced they move on from Beal one way or another. I’m very much against stretching Beal but if the do Green fits better. If they don’t, I think you can spin him for another big and a pic or two.

PG13 is about the only other player I can see be traded for Beal. Maybe Embiid.

[Astaluego]

I think if they sign KD, Green stays (also, who is that team, that is giving away a player of a similar level, but who plays in a position of need for the SUNS)

Sheppard/Landale/Smith/Brooks+FRP SUNS 25

For KD + FRP 25...

The Suns then decline the Martin/Micic options and trade the Suns 25 + future FRP + Beal for Claxton/Russell (ST). I think the pieces fit better and they're moving away from the 2nd apron.

Russell/Booker/Brooks/J.Smith/Claxton
Sheppard/Allen/Royce/Dunn/Richards

[Rich4114]

Charlotte:

#3 or #4 in this draft (Ace Bailey or VJ Edgecombe)
2026 1st: CHA lotto protected otherwise lowest of PHX/WAS/MEM/ORL
filler:
Jusuf Nurkic (expiring)
Josh Green (two years left)
Tidjane Salaun (1 year plus two rookie options)


for

Domantas Sabonis

--

I would not offer anywhere close to this package for Zion or KD, so I don't know why we need a single thread for all three of these...

I'd also offer this or something similar for Zion.

[penbeast0]

Charlotte:

#3 or #4 in this draft (Ace Bailey or VJ Edgecombe)
2026 1st: CHA lotto protected otherwise lowest of PHX/WAS/MEM/ORL
filler:
Jusuf Nurkic (expiring)
Josh Green (two years left)
Tidjane Salaun (1 year plus two rookie options)


for

Domantas Sabonis

--

I would not offer anywhere close to this package for Zion or KD, so I don't know why we need a single thread for all three of these...

I'd also offer this or something similar for Zion.

You would offer the #3 pick in this draft for Zion with his track record? Wow, bless you for having such faith in his redemption arc.

[HornetJail]

Charlotte:

#3 or #4 in this draft (Ace Bailey or VJ Edgecombe)
2026 1st: CHA lotto protected otherwise lowest of PHX/WAS/MEM/ORL
filler:
Jusuf Nurkic (expiring)
Josh Green (two years left)
Tidjane Salaun (1 year plus two rookie options)


for

Domantas Sabonis

--

I would not offer anywhere close to this package for Zion or KD, so I don't know why we need a single thread for all three of these...

I'd also offer this or something similar for Zion.

I'd probably consider that if we dropped to like 6 or 7, not sacrificing Bailey/Edgecombo though