Ball for Zion?

[Euphonetiks]

Pels pass. Melo is not a winning player. His game is fun, but does not result in wins. Zion even with his weight issues is consistently more impactful than Melo.

It’s not the tatoos and jewelry that makes Melo immature and not dedicated. It’s training in the offseason with the Balls’ private trainer (DMo) and Lavar instead of real professionals. Not a coincidence the frequency of Melo’s and Zo’s injuries. I’d rather take the gamble that Zion grows up and respects the game. He’s at least already stopped letting his father control his offseason training.

[Hoppy1]

When I saw the title, I was honestly unsure which Ball we were talking about, Lamelo or Lonzo. Obviously Lonzo would require significant value coming with him, and a SERIOUS hope he could come back somewhat as his old self. But I also don't see a Zion/Lamelo swap without significant value headed OUT from the Pelicans. Also, I wouldn't give up Lamelo for the Ingram/Daniels package, just not enough upside there for Charlotte, in my opinion. Probably just ends up as "both sides say no"...

Could Bridges, Ingram, and Miller all play with a center and PG? Miller shoots well enough from 3 but can either of them guard a 2G consistently?

[Laimbeer]

I've got Ball worth a bit more, not a lot. But I think both clubs would value their own guy more.

[Trey24]

I doubt they are the same tier players

I think they are

Not a believer in Zion’s mental or physical approach, but I see Melo as kind of gimmicky and not on track to become a serious franchise PG

This is what I think of when I see or hear this player talk. Maybe it's because of how he was raised in the spotlight, but he seems goofy and not about the right things. I'd be open to trading Zion for a lot of players / deals. Wouldn't be enthused about LaMelo on my team I watch. And more importantly, David Griffin is all about "high character, professionalism, human-ness." So I doubt he has Ball on his target list. Yes, Zion also has some concerns like that, but it's almost inherited from a player that's already on the team (and didn't show character/proffessionalism concerns before he was drafted), not traded for like this Ball trade would be.

Lamelo isn't allowed to celebrate wins with his teammates huh?

Lamelo has shown nothing but being a hard worker and great teammate so far in his career. And the Hornets aren't trading him for anything less than a Durant-type package at minimum. I think Lamelo will get over the bad injury luck and prove all of you wrong many times over.
In a Zion package Pelicans would have to add a lot of assets to get Lamelo from the Hornets. He is valued incredibly heavily in Charlotte and cor good reason.

[Trey24]

Pels pass. Melo is not a winning player. His game is fun, but does not result in wins. Zion even with his weight issues is consistently more impactful than Melo.

It’s not the tatoos and jewelry that makes Melo immature and not dedicated. It’s training in the offseason with the Balls’ private trainer (DMo) and Lavar instead of real professionals. Not a coincidence the frequency of Melo’s and Zo’s injuries. I’d rather take the gamble that Zion grows up and respects the game. He’s at least already stopped letting his father control his offseason training.

You really think Lamelo Ball hasn't been training with NBA professionals in the offseason? That's hilarious and wrong and Lamelo is way more of a winner than anyone gives him credit for. The only time he doesn't impact winning is when he isn't on the court, which unfortunately has been quite a bit the last couple seasons due to a faulty right ankle.

[BK_2020]

People really gonna trade Lamelo for Zion because of off-court issues? lmao.

[MKWB]

I think Hornets actually make sense as a team to trade for Zion to pair WITH Ball and Miller.

1. Incoming new ownership and GM, will want to make a big-name "star" swing. Wolves made their big Gobert splash with young star Edwards secured, Ishbia got Durant to pair with young star Booker right when he took over. Zion, even with all his flaws and issues, fits that bill. After a full season being healthy and helping his team make the playoffs, trading for him could be a better gamble than it was in years past.

2. With 2 young stars secured and some new supporting cast pieces, they could be in a position to give up some valuable trade assets while still keeping a young, competitive core intact, and not sacrificing years of future draft capital. Their 2024 top-5 pick can be part of a trade centerpiece, and young Center Mark Williams could be a major asset, too. I'm sure Hornets fans here will be flabbergasted at the thought of giving up anything of value for 'fat, lazy, weirdo, etc.' Zion. But he does have some star appeal and talent, especially to a new ownership group. Adding him to Ball and Miller would make for an exciting, young team.

CHA '24 1st (top-5 pick) + Mark Williams + Bertans (option picked up) + C. Martin
for
Zion + NOP '24 1st (20ish pick)

Hornets get wild, making a (flawed) star splash for new ownership. They still get a pick in the draft and keep Grant W. to help as a defensive role-player. They're set across positions, except Center which they can address in draft (Missi, Clingan, Isivic) and/or trade or free agency (Goga, Hartenstein).

Pelicans/Griffin move on from the Zion experience while his value is somewhat higher than the past. They retool around Ingram, Herb, Murphy, Daniel, Hawkins and the new additions. Griffin would probably demand more (the Miami and/or Dallas 1sts Hornets just got?) and Grant Williams could make for a more direct, cleaner trade. But here they opt for cap flexibility of Bertans' expiring tradable salary rather than Grant Williams' long term contract with other young forwards already on the roster.

Goga/ Richards
Zion/ G. Williams
Bridges
Miller/ Mann/ Curry
Ball/ Visic/ N. Smith
--
Mark W./ Nance
Murphy/ Martin/ Bertans
Ingram/ Cody Williams
Herb/ Hawkins
CJ/ Dyson/ Jose

[HornetJail]

I think Hornets actually make sense as a team to trade for Zion to pair WITH Ball and Miller.

1. Incoming new ownership and GM, will want to make a big-name "star" swing. Wolves made their big Gobert splash with young star Edwards secured, Ishbia got Durant to pair with young star Booker right when he took over. Zion, even with all his flaws and issues, fits that bill. After a full season being healthy and helping his team make the playoffs, trading for him could be a better gamble than it was in years past.

2. With 2 young stars secured and some new supporting cast pieces, they could be in a position to give up some valuable trade assets while still keeping a young, competitive core intact, and not sacrificing years of future draft capital. Their 2024 top-5 pick can be part of a trade centerpiece, and young Center Mark Williams could be a major asset, too. I'm sure Hornets fans here will be flabbergasted at the thought of giving up anything of value for 'fat, lazy, weirdo, etc.' Zion. But he does have some star appeal and talent, especially to a new ownership group. Adding him to Ball and Miller would make for an exciting, young team.

CHA '24 1st (top-5 pick) + Mark Williams + Bertans (option picked up) + C. Martin
for
Zion + NOP '24 1st (20ish pick)

Hornets get wild, making a (flawed) star splash for new ownership. They still get a pick in the draft and keep Grant W. to help as a defensive role-player. They're set across positions, except Center which they can address in draft (Missi, Clingan, Isivic) and/or trade or free agency (Goga, Hartenstein).

Pelicans/Griffin move on from the Zion experience while his value is somewhat higher than the past. They retool around Ingram, Herb, Murphy, Daniel, Hawkins and the new additions. Griffin would probably demand more (the Miami and/or Dallas 1sts Hornets just got?) and Grant Williams could make for a more direct, cleaner trade. But here they opt for cap flexibility of Bertans' expiring tradable salary rather than Grant Williams' long term contract with other young forwards already on the roster.

Goga/ Richards
Zion/ G. Williams
Bridges
Miller/ Mann/ Curry
Ball/ Visic/ N. Smith
--
Mark W./ Nance
Murphy/ Martin/ Bertans
Ingram/ Cody Williams
Herb/ Hawkins
CJ/ Dyson/ Jose

Mark is extremely hard to value without knowing what's going on with his back injury. But I'd have a hard time saying no to this if there is something concerning going on, even though I am big big on Mark's potential... we need a way to find a better center though.

[JeffFosters]

LaMelo (when he plays of course) has been steadily improving. Whereas Zion has stagnated if not regressed.

And I think it's more likely LaMelo's ankles get better than Zion taking his weight seriously. For his flash, Melo does take being a basketball player seriously.

Lamelo's FG% has been stagnating, 3pt% is worse, he has more turnovers. Yes he has more points, but at what cost, he is bellow league average in efficiency by quite a margin.

I can’t see any situation where a team is competing for the conference finals with LaMelo as a key piece. He’s got stats on a bad team vibes.

[HornetJail]

LaMelo (when he plays of course) has been steadily improving. Whereas Zion has stagnated if not regressed.

And I think it's more likely LaMelo's ankles get better than Zion taking his weight seriously. For his flash, Melo does take being a basketball player seriously.

Lamelo's FG% has been stagnating, 3pt% is worse, he has more turnovers. Yes he has more points, but at what cost, he is bellow league average in efficiency by quite a margin.

I can’t see any situation where a team is competing for the conference finals with LaMelo as a key piece. He’s got stats on a bad team vibes.

good thing, he's already had big stats on a good team (43 wins in 2021-22) so you can put aside those "vibes". We know what kind of contributor he is on a functional offense. LaMelo isn't Luka/Westbrook/Harden who should be carrying an offense night in and night out. His best role is as one of 2-3 players capable of big scoring totals, and playing off of them.

Due to our roster being Memphis levels of busted two years straight, and Steve Clifford's entire offense game plan being "give the ball to the best player available and have the other 4 players watch" (whether that someone is LaMelo, Kemba, Al Jefferson, Vucevic, Rozier, Kelly Oubre, or Mason Plumlee, that is always what Clifford's offenses become)... LaMelo has not been able to play the role he should be playing.

Not to say LaMelo is completely blameless, he tends to chuck if he's trying to find a rhythm, and he's rarely had one the last two seasons due to injury... but he's not being put in a position to succeed at all under Clifford.

[Euphonetiks]

CHA '24 1st (top-5 pick) + Mark Williams + Bertans (option picked up) + C. Martin
for
Zion + NOP '24 1st (20ish pick)

That’s not even close for the Pels. Griff hangs up and stops taking Charlotte’s calls.

[MasterIchiro]

Counter-proposal:

Tre Mann
2024 Hornets 1st (Pelicans call in pick)
2027 Mavs 1st (top-2 protection)
2027 Heat 1st (lottery protected, unprotected 2028)

Why for Charlotte? Hornets need a POA defender in the starting lineup. Trey III provides elite spacing.

Why for the Pelicans? Need a PG of the future. The pick haul combined with their pick cupboard adds muscle to negotiations they can leverage to solidify the roster around Zion & Ingram.

Can the Pelicans' roster absorb a near max deal to Trey Murphy III? I remember Lonzo Ball was a casualty of looming luxury tax penalty.

I'm asking sincerely because I'm not sure about the specifics financially.

[MasterIchiro]

Counter-proposal:

Tre Mann
2024 Hornets 1st (Pelicans call in pick)
2027 Mavs 1st (top-2 protection)
2027 Heat 1st (lottery protected, unprotected 2028)

Why for Charlotte? Hornets need a POA defender in the starting lineup. Trey III provides elite spacing.

Why for the Pelicans? Need a PG of the future. The pick haul combined with their pick cupboard adds muscle to negotiations they can leverage to solidify the roster around Zion & Ingram.

Can the Pelicans' roster absorb a near max deal to Trey Murphy III? I remember Lonzo Ball was a casualty of looming luxury tax penalty.

I'm asking sincerely because I'm not sure about the specifics financially.

Could/would the Pelicans want to flip this package for Trae Young?

[MKWB]

CHA '24 1st (top-5 pick) + Mark Williams + Bertans (option picked up) + C. Martin
for
Zion + NOP '24 1st (20ish pick)

That’s not even close for the Pels. Griff hangs up and stops taking Charlotte’s calls.

As always with trades here, especially Pelicans ones I post, ideas are basic frameworks that can be added or ammended as seen fit. And I skew value to the other teams in my trades since there are more fans of other teams that view and comment, while just a few like you, AD4MVP, BuddyBuckets, Mkraker will chime in with low effort and low value one line posts of "no way! way off! unfair!" So there, I just hung up the phone on you and stopped taking your calls.

[Euphonetiks]

CHA '24 1st (top-5 pick) + Mark Williams + Bertans (option picked up) + C. Martin
for
Zion + NOP '24 1st (20ish pick)

That’s not even close for the Pels. Griff hangs up and stops taking Charlotte’s calls.

As always with trades here, especially Pelicans ones I post, ideas are basic frameworks that can be added or ammended as seen fit. And I skew value to the other teams in my trades since there are more fans of other teams that view and comment, while just a few like you, AD4MVP, BuddyBuckets, Mkraker will chime in with low effort and low value one line posts of "no way! way off! unfair!" So there, I just hung up the phone on you and stopped taking your calls.

Low effort trade proposals get low effort responses. More detail for your sensitive soul. Zion for a 1st in a super weak draft and a decent center prospect with back issues while also giving up a 1st is a very bad deal. Sorry. We are 33-22 in the west, Charlotte is 13-41. We aren’t the ones that should be offloading a star to rebuild, Charlotte should think about it, but I wouldn’t propose a trade of Hawkins, Larry, and a 1st for Melo because that’s silly and no one following the Hornets would say “just need to adjust the value some”.

[JustBuzzin]

If we trade Ball to the Pelicans I'm almost certain it would be for Ingram.

How does Ball for Ingram straight up sound?

[lordjeff05]

Pelicans are 11 games above 500, how is that barely above 500? What people think they see as a regression is mostly just Zion playing fewer minutes per game this year. The difference between 29 per 40 and 31 per 40 is negligible. I think I see the vision of what a PG like Ball could do for Z and vice versa. I guess we will see how things shape up this spring before figuring out value better. If Zion shows up with fresher legs in the playoffs because of fewer minutes then all of this becomes moot. Hornets arent making the playoffs regardless so the value of Melo will be what it will be this summer regardless.