RealGM

Ill offer this idea for the Hornets to make a play this off-season assuming both teams dont land #1 pick.

To New Orleans
-Miles Bridges (2 years, $47.8 million)
-Josh Okogie (1 year, $7.75 million)
-2026 Denver or Golden State 2nd (more favorable)
-2027 Dallas 1st round pick (1-2 protected)
-2028 Charlotte or LAC 2nd round round pick
-2029 Charlotte 1st round pick (some form of protection)

To Charlotte
-Zion Williamson (3 years, $127 million)

Why?
-The Pelicans get 2 x 27 year olds as Bridges either can be flipped or play the 4 who makes 60% a year what Williamson makes and Okohie is a rotational pieces. The Pelicans get 4 picks as they can re-tool as use the excess picks to upgrade roster

-The Hornets make a move to build around Ball/Williamson as cornerstones with Miller and 2025 1st as greater foundational pieces as the Hornets look to make a move in EC as a young team

Think CLT is the best fit for Zion most times the threads pop up. But should just trade the two other team firsts (Miami/Dallas) and keep their own draft capital in case it doesn’t work out, right?

Seconds are fine, maybe NOP can push for Salaun instead of Okogie. Or that low value Phoenix first they got instead of the stack of 2nds.

If the team actually likes Bridges enough, you could build the salary around Nurk/Grant Williams.. If you think Bridges agrees to come off bench knowing he’ll still play a lot of minutes. Or maybe you have Miller start at the two to let everyone feel like starters and just have Bridges on the bench at the end of games?

(Probably don’t go this road if you end up with Flagg*)

I think New Orleans is fully committed to keeping him.

EmpireFalls wrote:I think New Orleans is fully committed to keeping him.

They already know how that will turn out. Now is the time to move him. He's built a little value back up playing half the season. Get what you can and move on. Zion can't be the player you're building around given his ability to stay healthy.

Makes perfect sense for Charlotte both Melo/Zion on the same timeline and they fit like a glove together.

I think the offer has to start with this year's premium pick (not Flagg), but top 4... NOP has to at least get a high-potential prospect. FRP25/Mavs27/Nurkic/Salaun/Green for Zion

Obviously just my personal view, but I wouldn't consider almost any reasonable package for Zion because he has not given any reason to trust that he can stay healthy. That includes this season, where he's only played a total of 30 games.

I would not trade the package in the OP to get 35-40 games a season of Zion, and I don't trust that we'd be getting more than that.

yosemiteben wrote:Obviously just my personal view, but I wouldn't consider almost any reasonable package for Zion because he has not given any reason to trust that he can stay healthy. That includes this season, where he's only played a total of 30 games.

I would not trade the package in the OP to get 35-40 games a season of Zion, and I don't trust that we'd be getting more than that.

Yep. Zions value is 30 games a year, and that’s worth Bridges and one first at best. It’s reality, no matter how much hype he once had in this league

Astaluego wrote:I think the offer has to start with this year's premium pick (not Flagg), but top 4... NOP has to at least get a high-potential prospect. FRP25/Mavs27/Nurkic/Salaun/Green for Zion

This is a wild package lol.

Top 4 pick in this class probably holds more value than Zion alone right now.

JMAC3 wrote:

Astaluego wrote:I think the offer has to start with this year's premium pick (not Flagg), but top 4... NOP has to at least get a high-potential prospect. FRP25/Mavs27/Nurkic/Salaun/Green for Zion

This is a wild package lol.

Top 4 pick in this class probably holds more value than Zion alone right now.

You're probably right, but what's NOP's motivation for trading Zion for non-top picks? They're loaded with good young players... at least Zion gives them hope that if he's healthy, he can make a difference... Likewise, the HORNETS already have enough high-potential prospects. Imagine sending last year's top pick (Salaun) for Zion... wouldn't you? Ball/Miller/Bridges/Zion/Williams... that would be a pretty good young core.

JustBuzzin wrote:

EmpireFalls wrote:I think New Orleans is fully committed to keeping him.

They already know how that will turn out. Now is the time to move him. He's built a little value back up playing half the season. Get what you can and move on. Zion can't be the player you're building around given his ability to stay healthy.

Makes perfect sense for Charlotte both Melo/Zion on the same timeline and they fit like a glove together.

Couldn't the same be said for Ball's career thus far? Injury and maturity issues.

The trade Zion idea falls short every time. Small market football city (and year by year profit results driven owner) like New Orleans isn't going to do some big rebuild. Like it or not from a basketball fan POV-- from an ownership/GM POV, the selling point of "Zion fixed his issues and he's set for an MVP season with this new, retooled roster!" is more appealing than, "We're going to lose a lot again and rebuild with a bunch of fringe role players that casual fans have never heard of. And hope to draft a great 19 y/o in next year's draft."

If Pelicans draft Flagg, then that's a clear cornerstone replacement in terms of star power/ selling tickets and excitement. Then they would field offers for Zion, but still not going to accept a scraps offer.

On the flip-side, I could see Pels having some interest in Ball of they drop to the 4th or lower pick, using that pick and one of CJ/DJM along with Hawkins, '26 IND 1st, etc.

A team is only trading for Zion as a low cost gamble. Charlotte or Chicago aren't bad choices for teams who would have interest, but the price is so low that the Pels will just keep him.

One_and_Done wrote:A team is only trading for Zion as a low cost gamble. Charlotte or Chicago aren't bad choices for teams who would have interest, but the price is so low that the Pels will just keep him.

This sums it up. The question should be- which teams will be desperate enough for a "star" this summer that they would make a significant valuable offer to make it worth it for Pels to trade him.

I think the window for the Pels moving Zion for a "reasonable" package is close shut for the time being. He's played well since coming back in better shape

JustBuzzin wrote:

EmpireFalls wrote:I think New Orleans is fully committed to keeping him.

They already know how that will turn out. Now is the time to move him. He's built a little value back up playing half the season. Get what you can and move on. Zion can't be the player you're building around given his ability to stay healthy.

Makes perfect sense for Charlotte both Melo/Zion on the same timeline and they fit like a glove together.

They both average about 35-40 missed games per season, is that a risk CHA wants to take. They would be fun to watch play together and would be good, but really at best its 50/50 that theyd be healthy enough together to even have the opportunity to see what they could be.

While Miles Bridges has played outstanding the last 2 months, I suspect this won't be enough for Zion anymore. I think it takes one more pick, like that juicy Miami pick which becomes even juicier if they miss the playoffs this year (unprotected in 2028 if their 2025 doesn't convey to OKC this spring).

If NO get Flagg, maybe a deal. Would be interesting if Charlotte had the 2 or 3 pick to offer. Could ship Zion for second pick and then send some combo of Herb/Murray/Murphy for third pick.
Flagg/Harper/Bailey all rookie trio with Missi and a veteran (Murphy, Herb, Murray) would be cheap and sell tickets.

Xman wrote:If NO get Flagg, maybe a deal. Would be interesting if Charlotte had the 2 or 3 pick to offer. Could ship Zion for second pick and then send some combo of Herb/Murray/Murphy for third pick.
Flagg/Harper/Bailey all rookie trio with Missi and a veteran (Murphy, Herb, Murray) would be cheap and sell tickets.

I am not under any circumstances interested in trading Dylan Harper for Zion.