HornetJail wrote:swap Bridges for totally useless players like Josh Green and Salaun and I could be talked into it even though deep down I know that this has like an 80% chance of being a terrible use of the #4 pick
Those different players make more sense for both sides. Olynyk could be thrown in for vet big depth.
As a Pels fan, it would be fun to see them actually pick a rebuild direction like this. The only caveat is-- if Pels do an obvious rebuild, then their lose a looot of leverage for the Bucks' 2026 pick swap. "OH, Pels are tanking, so we don't even have to get the '26 MIL swap back, since NOP's will be high." So if they can cash in on the Bucks'picks before trading off Zion, that's ideal.
Just for fun:
Hornets trade: #4, #34 (NOP 2nd), G. Williams, Josh Green, Salaun, '27 MIA 1st (lotto prot.)
Pelicans trade: Zion
Hornets take a calculated risk to push for playoff contention in a weak East. They get very marketable and fan fun, and could be good with good health and rounding out the roster with veterans.
Pelicans go in rebuild mode, moving on from the Zion roller-coaster. They take high upside players with 4 and 7 (Tre Johnson at 4, Fears at 7) and hopefully have already dealt the Bucks picks to get involved in potential Giannis deals, or just keep them and roll with it. CJ can stick around as a vet mentor or moved in the right deal. They let Murray rehab to regain some value, poised for a top pick in 2026.
Nurkic/ Mark-Will/ Diabate
Bridges/ vet
Zion/ Okogie
Miller/ vet
Ball/ vet
Missi/ Olynyk
Murphy/ Karlo
Herb/
*TreJ/ Hawkins/ Reeves
CJ/ *Fears/ Jose (Murray)