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Watching Zion and the Pelicans is kind of like watching a TV series where the writers have checked out. More injuries, more excuses and the FO continuing to say for a 4th straight year "if we can just get the right people around him..."

At this point, that doesn't seem to be the issue. He came into camp actually in shape, but he's just flat out and forever injury prone. That's who he is and who he's going to be for now until the end of his career. The Pelicans should just move on from this era and start over.

When I see Zion, I think he will have the Demarcus Cousins trajectory.

DNP; Chicken Parm

LarsV8 wrote:When I see Zion, I think he will have the Demarcus Cousins trajectory.

Maybe Derrick Coleman

Yeah but who are they gonna trick into taking him. Not sure the GM could survive waiving him. Just too much of an L to literally waive a guy you took #1.

If NOP is sold on Jones/Murphy being part of the core moving forward, then trading Zion for the missing pieces makes sense. If NOP sees Jones/Murphy as above average role players, then they need a star to play around them, thus keep Zion.

My question would be, what could NOP get for Zion now?
Murray/Jones/Murphy/???/???
vs
Murray/Jones/Murphy/Zion/???

LarsV8 wrote:When I see Zion, I think he will have the Demarcus Cousins trajectory.

That would be the best case scenario at this point.

I mean this looks like a lost season for them anyway due to injuries. They're not distressed sellers even if Zion is very much a distressed asset. Might as well play the season out and decide which direction to take this summer.

They have to. It's holding the team back. Sure he could do well somewhere else but you must assume it wouldn't happen in New Orleans.

Such a shame one of the biggest waste of potential....

This dude had LBJ/Wemby level hype coming into the league and very briefly looked like he might live up to it. What a shame for Pels fans

Miami and their strict body fat protocols is the only place that can save his career at this point.

Yeah but other than waiving him, what can u trade him for?

Ben Simmons and 2 2nds? Nets see if a change of scenery can be a reset next year? They lose nothing here.

DusterBuster wrote:Watching Zion and the Pelicans is kind of like watching a TV series where the writers have checked out. More injuries, more excuses and the FO continuing to say for a 4th straight year "if we can just get the right people around him..."

At this point, that doesn't seem to be the issue. He came into camp actually in shape, but he's just flat out and forever injury prone. That's who he is and who he's going to be for now until the end of his career. The Pelicans should just move on from this era and start over.

Zion has never been in NBA shape in his life.

His body type cannot handle the rigors of an NBA season and his only chance for longevity was to slim down considerably but that takes away his advantage and then he's just not that good.

Pelicans should get rid of him as fast as possible but how many teams are gonna give up serious value to get this guy? It's not like he's some do it all all-NBA point forward. His fit on teams is very limited and he's never healthy

I thought they should've done it last year while he actually still had sky high value. I'm not a fan of teams holding onto players who clearly don't want to play for that specific team. I also hate when they hold onto a player for too long even though it clearly isn't working out.

The Pelicans should be a second Thunder at this point. Just a bunch of young players and picks. They probably could've gotten about 8 or more picks as well as a couple of young players for Zion, Ingram, and McCollum.

He’s currently sitting on one of the worst contracts in the league if they don’t have the cojones to just waive him.

Horrible character.
Horrible work ethic.
Chronically injured.

Even if the Pelicans wanted to turn the lights off they’re probably going to have to accept the inevitable fate that they’re getting $0.25/$1.00 value for him in a trade OR complete salary relief/headache gone/no assets.

They can hope a team like Brooklyn is willing to take the risk. They can let Zion sit out this season and try to pair Zion/Flagg.

They have big expirings, decent veterans and some youth that might appease NOP.

Should they? I think that's pretty much rhetorical at this point. Will they? Probably not until they feel they'll get something meaningful for him, but I don't see much coming from a guy who spends more time on the IL than on the court. Promise will only get you so far.

Is David Griffin still the one running things in New Orleans? If so then the situation is hopeless, the guy is one of the worst executives in the league.

Childs wrote:

LarsV8 wrote:When I see Zion, I think he will have the Demarcus Cousins trajectory.

Maybe Derrick Coleman

Dang I thought Coleman was gonna be an allttime great

We'll always have his amazing Duke highlight reels!