RealGM

NO sends Zion to ATL
Atl sends Johnson, and a small salary NO's pick back this year and the swap back next year

ATL goes for it. Zion is a big upgrade to Johnson and a great fit with KP. If Risacher steps up, they'd have a very balanced lineup and could be a threat

NO starts fresh around Jones, Fears, Queen, Murphy and picks

pipfan wrote:and the swap back next year

It’s actually the worse of NOP/Mil top 4 protected. Not a swap. Which is a pretty high variance asset thanks to Giannis’ uncertainty and the Pels overall situation..

(The top 4 protection is incredibly unlikely to matter given it’s the worse than first.. still smart to have it though for NOP)

I don’t question Zion being the better player. But adding what’s looking like a good lottery pick this coming draft and another first with decent variance.. I’m taking Jalen and his nice contract..

pipfan wrote:NO sends Zion to ATL
Atl sends Johnson, and a small salary NO's pick back this year and the swap back next year

ATL goes for it. Zion is a big upgrade to Johnson and a great fit with KP. If Risacher steps up, they'd have a very balanced lineup and could be a threat

NO starts fresh around Jones, Fears, Queen, Murphy and picks

I don't think I'd trade Johnson alone for Zion. I'd certainly never throw that pick in.

Hawks say No.

Pelicans have no leverage only way they get that pick back clean is sending Trey which is a bad idea. But if they set on moving Zion you gotta do it for KP and the pick.

I'm working on a Zion to Lakers thread, stay tuned all haha.

As for thread, I'm agreeing with others.

I value the 2026 unprotected pick much higher than Zion

Zion isn’t a big upgrade at all and him + KP are a terrible rebounding frontcourt. Not even getting into the picks. Not close at all.

pipfan wrote:NO sends Zion to ATL
Atl sends Johnson, and a small salary NO's pick back this year and the swap back next year

ATL goes for it. Zion is a big upgrade to Johnson and a great fit with KP. If Risacher steps up, they'd have a very balanced lineup and could be a threat

NO starts fresh around Jones, Fears, Queen, Murphy and picks

Do you keep up with JJ, he's a 20-10-5 caliber pf. He's an elite rebounder for his position behind only Giannis to date. Ultimately a team can't have a Zion + KP frontcourt for health reasons. Shid just having one is pretty detrimental to your team long term.

QMemphis wrote:Pelicans have no leverage only way they get that pick back clean is sending Trey which is a bad idea. But if they set on moving Zion you gotta do it for KP and the pick.

Kp and the pick works. Perfect fit next to Queen. And works with Trey and Herb. Jose, Poole, Peavy, Bey, Missi plus whoever you end up picking. I really don’t mind that.

lordjeff05 wrote:

QMemphis wrote:Pelicans have no leverage only way they get that pick back clean is sending Trey which is a bad idea. But if they set on moving Zion you gotta do it for KP and the pick.

Kp and the pick works. Perfect fit next to Queen. And works with Trey and Herb. Jose, Poole, Peavy, Bey, Missi plus whoever you end up picking. I really don’t mind that.

Yeah of course that works for us Pels' fans. But there is no way Hawks value unreliable Zion higher than that unprotected Pels/MIL 2026 1st. It's potential gold. Sucks for us Pels' fans, but that pick is sunk cost at this point.

Zero chance I would trade that pick for Zion. That pick is possibly the best asset in the entire league that’s not a player right now.

Daddy 801 wrote:Zero chance I would trade that pick for Zion. That pick is possibly the best asset in the entire league that’s not a player right now.

Thats a pick you keep for if a Giannis comes available that would be a massive asset to go get him with alot of the young pieces we have to add to a deal.

We are in a really great spot to get him compared to alot of the league imo.

I think that pick is much more valuable than Zion. Tbh it might be more valuable than the Pelicans' entire roster.

Daddy 801 wrote:Zero chance I would trade that pick for Zion. That pick is possibly the best asset in the entire league that’s not a player right now.

Best pick held by another team, probably. Maybe semantics but I'd still have an unprotected 2026 BKN/UTA/WAS/NOP pick as more valuable.

Threezus wrote:

Daddy 801 wrote:Zero chance I would trade that pick for Zion. That pick is possibly the best asset in the entire league that’s not a player right now.

Thats a pick you keep for if a Giannis comes available that would be a massive asset to go get him with alot of the young pieces we have to add to a deal.

We are in a really great spot to get him compared to alot of the league imo.

If you trade a pick like that it should be for a multiple all star level player AND you don’t have to gut the team. Otherwise the risk/reward would say to keep the pick and hope to get a good to great player through the draft. It’s pretty much guaranteed to be a top 8 pick in a loaded draft. And easily could be the top pick which is insane for the Pels to have traded. Dumars man…what an (fill in your blank response).

This is kind of sad, like a junkie who sold their Rolex for drugs now begging the drug dealer to sell the Rolex back to them in exchange for their car

Eh it wasn’t Pels fans offering up. I’m saying id take it cause like everybody else I’m done with the Z experience and I want to build around our new guys.

Jalen Johnson is two years younger and on track to be an All-Star or potentially fringe All-NBA player. While he’s had some injury issues, he’s the safer long-term bet compared to Zion. On top of that, Jalen’s locked into a longer, more team-friendly deal at a lower annual cost. There’s no way I’d trade him for Zion and definitely not if it meant throwing in a valuable pick on top of that.

Established that the '26 pick and Johnson are off the table for a Zion trade.
The real question is... would either side want to do it for the 2027 lesser of NOP/MIL 1st? Hawks look content to pivot to the young core and move off Trae next offseason. But if they want to give it one last push for weak-East playoffs...
For the Pels, could they deal with the embarrassment of trading with Hawks again and risk getting burned?

Porzingis, Kennard, 2027 1st (lesser of NOP/MIL), 2nds
for
Zion, Hawkins