RealGM

If NO wins the lottery and takes Flagg #1. Would you look to trade Zion? Murphy? Jones?

Would you look to move down 1 slot and take Harper at #2?

I would take Flagg and look to move Zion.

What is your take?

Yeah definitely gotta move Zion not a good fit with Flagg.

Move Murphy is step 1.
NO is winning nothing while counting on Murphy and Jones.

I'd be looking to move Zion even if I DIDN'T win the lottery if I were them. Winning the lotto just makes it more obvious.

I think Flagg is a good fit with anybody...he's kind of like Franz Wagner in that way...I don't see a weakness in his game. Zion is a star when he's ambulatory - that's the big decision. If you think he can ever be reliable, health-wise, you give it a look at least. The Duke brotherhood thing is real too. Suddenly NOLA is loaded with long versatile 2-way talent around Zion...that's pretty exciting...especially if Missi becomes a 10+ rebound, 2+ block, lob-catching savage...that'd be fun.

When Zion is good, he's still generational. It's in the MD's hands, imo...I wouldn't blame them for selling high on Zion if they're just over the wondering. Either way, they'd be in phenomenal shape, especially if Zion is healthy trade bait going into the summer - lots of options-all of them good.

I’d trade Herb and go with Zion/Flagg/Trey. Maybe look to trade Zion if it doesn’t work. Maybe look to trade Trey is Zion/Flagg are great but too long boi and not enough speed.

Think Zion/Flagg could fit really well.

Trade Zion and Dejounte, build around Missi/Flagg/Herb Jones/Trey Murphy

Getting Flagg is the one move that would truly spur a Zion trade. They both play the 4 and you want that transition for your new franchise guy to be as easy as possible.

Plus seeing what you have with Missi and Flagg together defensively is really intriguing. I think it also makes sense to trade Trey and Herb in this situation because they almost too good and fit too well. Start Jose and Hawkins, leverage CJ’s expiring to get a pick in exchange for a bad contract and go from there.

1) Draft Flagg.
2) Field offers for Zion. Get a good/great offer (multiple 1sts and/or good prospects)? Then trade Zion. If offers aren't good enough, keep him.
3)Take offers on McCullom/Olynyk expiring contracts if an upgrade/better fitting player is available.

Draft Flagg,
Field offers for Zion for more draft capital
Trade Herb and Olynyk to the Celtics for Jrue and a pick.

This is going to quickly boil down to a trade Zion thread, which I agree is the right route.

New Orleans is going to either want more sure fire complements to this new core, which would seem to be: Missi/Flagg/Murphy/Jones/Murray, or add more picks and youth...or both.

Below are some constructs I could see:

1. Claxton and BKN pick (projected at 6)
2. Quickley and TOR pick (projected at 5) - make Quick 6th man
3. Huerter, Collins and CHI pick (projected at 8)
4. Grant Williams, Jusuf Nurkic and CHA pick (projected at 4)
5. Lauri Markannan and 1 future 1sts, 2 2NDS (PHX 2031 1st, 2025 2nd Rd Swap with WAS, LAC)

in this scenario ..what pick do the Hornets have..? I would trade Zion to the Hornets for their pick, to pair Flagg with one of Harper/Edgecombe... trade CJ to Magic if possible for Denver's Isaak/Cole+ FRP expirations..and draft a center..
Harper/Herb/Murphy/Flagg/Missi+Alvarado/Murray/Hawkins..
that's an amazing core to have, in my opinion

As someone said earlier, this quickly devolves in to a a trade Zion thread so instead of doing that, maybe we an expand on what sets up the team and Flagg for success, short term and long term, partially by learning from past mistakes. There are a couple of things that I believe are helpful for the development of a player. One is developing a clear role that corresponds to their skillset. Zion's role shifted alot over his time in New Orleans and that hampered his development. The other thing is complimentary players. Offensively, especially for a big that usually means pairing you with a decent point guard that can get you the ball and floor spacing that makes it easier for you to operate. Defensively that means a rim protecting big that can correct for your mistakes and a versatile wing defender that doesn't require you to have to defend against the best guy on the court.

The Pels have all of that, although I'd argue that they should get rid of their wings because they fit too well and could inflate the win total of the team. Jose is a great point guard to start because he will look out for Flagg, play the right way with intensity and effort but he's not good enough as a starter to negatively affect your win total. Missi is a good big to play off of Flagg because he is being groomed to be a rim running rim protector.

One benefit that the Pels would have with Flagg vs Zion is Flagg is easier to build around because he has an outside shot and he is big for his position. That allows some versatility as to who put next to him.

if the Hornets drop to #5 or worse, I'd have a hard time not offering that pick and filler for Zion and just hoping for the best, even though I know full well what the eventual outcome of that is going to be for us

HornetJail wrote:if the Hornets drop to #5 or worse, I'd have a hard time not offering that pick and filler for Zion and just hoping for the best, even though I know full well what the eventual outcome of that is going to be for us

And on the flip side, if the Pels fall to #5 (maybe even 4), I could see them offering it and filler (CJ) for Ball.

What pick do you think Zion could bring back in this draft?

shrink wrote:What pick do you think Zion could bring back in this draft?

Should bring back? #25+

Would bring back? #5-10 some mid-lotto team gambles on him.

I have said this before, but if Pels win the lottery trading Herb makes the most sense. He has the most value now on a cheap contract and the most overlap with Flagg. He’s also older than Zion/Trey and has the least number of years under control. There is no sense in trading Zion while his value is still low and his contract isn’t a risk. Sell high, not low.

As a fan of a taking team I would be bummed because I feel like if there is any of the two latter lotto teams that don’t deserve a FRP it’s for sure the Spurs and NO being next.

Having said that I don’t see any reason NO wouldn’t keep Zion if they get Flagg. If there was any chance Zion got healthy a Flagg and Zion pairing would be pretty damn lethal. I don’t buy the whole idea they are redundant. A modern day Charles Barkley and Pippen could play along side each other just fine. My comparisons may not be perfect, but you get the point.

giberish wrote:

shrink wrote:What pick do you think Zion could bring back in this draft?

Should bring back? #25+

Would bring back? #5-10 some mid-lotto team gambles on him.

Completely unserious board

Also why would the move be trading Zion if you get Flagg? What is the logic there? Unless you just want to trade Zion period, which is different.