Zion to OKC

[MoneyTalks41890]

OKC out: Aaron Wiggins, Isaiah Joe, Ousmane Dieng, Nikola Topic, 2025 PHI 1st (top 6/4/4 prot), 2025 MIA 1st (lotto/unprotected), 2025 UTA 1st (top 10/8 prot, then nothing)
OKC in: Zion, Jose Alvarado, Daniel Theis

Thunder add a scoring and rebounding beast who is only sometimes available, raising the upside of the team but adding risk. Contract is basically year to year at this point for Zion.


NOP out: Zion, Jose Alvarado, Daniel Theis
NOP in: Aaron Wiggins, Isaiah Joe, Ousmane Dieng, Nikola Topic, 2025 PHI 1st (top 6/4/4 prot), 2025 MIA 1st (lotto/unprotected), 2025 UTA 1st (top 10/8 prot, then nothing)

Pelicans throw in the towel on the Zion experience while he still has decent trade value, get some role players and pick assets.

[Devilanche]

Too risky a move. We are better off doing nothing.

[MoneyTalks41890]

Too risky a move. We are better off doing nothing.

For sure.

I’m bored and playing with matching salaries under the new CBA for the first time in a while. As the board reflects.

Not much fun to have with a team that has 14/15 players locked up.

[Devilanche]

Too risky a move. We are better off doing nothing.

For sure.

I’m bored and playing with matching salaries under the new CBA for the first time in a while. As the board reflects.

Not much fun to have with a team that has 14/15 players locked up.

Realistically our salary matching is Dieng/one of(wiggins/joe/kenrich)/dillon jones with asset to match.


Reality is probably just Dieng and hope for internal growth.

[daoneandonly]

Zion's a rebounding beast?

[Texas Chuck]

Too risky a move. We are better off doing nothing.

Is it? OKC still has the assets for any star that becomes available only now with Zion as matching salary.

I get not wanting to make this trade. But I think the risk is minor.

[psman2]

I think OKC could likely even drop an asset here and be the best offer. Risky but even if this doesn't work out OKC would still be a contender and with the way Zion's contract is structured and OKC remaining assets makes this a variable direction that they can pivot off without too much remorse. I didn't like the IHart version that was posted earlier this week, but I do like this one if OKC can take a 1st out.

NOP -- Just depends on if they have Zion fatigue. I think at this point they likely do and would welcome this offer. Move Ingram for whatever you can get too. Then let Murray stay and rebound his value and look to trade him and maybe Herb in the offseason and do a total rebuild with Trey as the lone long term piece.

[Big nick]

No way for me Zion is a player how doesn’t want to get in shape and doesn’t take his job seriously he has always been overrated.

[Devilanche]

Too risky a move. We are better off doing nothing.

Is it? OKC still has the assets for any star that becomes available only now with Zion as matching salary.

I get not wanting to make this trade. But I think the risk is minor.

For me, it introduce a higher variance in our outcome without the possibility of controlling the downside risk.

Spoiler:

For example -
As is , OKC is winning 50-55 games a season with a high chance of finishing amongst the final 4 in the end by reaching the western conference finals at least.

Usage is more or less certain and players have the season to grow into a set role so that’s SGA leading usage , Jalen/Chet some form of second or third usage with the rest then being divided amongst the roster.


With Zion,OKC is winning 45-60 games a season with the possibility that he can EITHER be injured come first and second round and OKC got knocked out earlier OR he somehow remain healthy whole playoff and OKC wins the ring.

Usage over the seasons fluctuates as he probably slots in between SGA and Jalen/Chet. Given Jalen /Chet are skill rookies , Zion availability/inavailibility robs the 2 the consistent chance to work out their role in game and get reps to get better in game and expand their game.

For me , given OKC asset base and relatively youth of Jalen/Chet , we are better waiting and paying more for a more available star then risking internal growth by trading for Zion.

You do get a chance to trade for higher salary with Zion on the team than off the team but I prefer to concentrate on the potential on court availability of my star.

Theres the element of risk that neither grow into the second option that SGA needs that allows OKC to win a ring but I think it’s a bigger risk to take a bet on Zion being able to play games in the playoffs.

Note - the low risk some upside move OKC can make is probably trying to find our version of Jason Terry on the offensive side of the game. Defensively I’m confident in the team but offensively we might be lacking.

[jayjaysee]

I say OKC should do this. And compared to other offers, this is good value for NOP. The other threads made me want to suggest Zion to Dallas, the upside swing at those prices were worth it. But for OKC, with Chet and IH, and their asset base.. I think you pay this price and recover if it goes wrong.

Zion’s contract protects against a lot of the downside. OKC still would have enough assets to maintain a roster around Chet/Jalen/SGA for the next decade. But you get a chance at being the team to get Zion to lose 30 pounds?

As a Dallas fan, I’d hate if OKC pulled this off.

[kobe_vs_jordan]

Would love for okc or memphis to make this type of deal. Makes some sense for Pels too. I might push for a protected swap also.

[Devilanche]

Would love for okc or memphis to make this type of deal. Makes some sense for Pels too. I might push for a protected swap also.

Memphis have better depth than OKC but less of a need at the PF spot I believe.

[kobe_vs_jordan]

Would love for okc or memphis to make this type of deal. Makes some sense for Pels too. I might push for a protected swap also.

Memphis have better depth than OKC but less of a need at the PF spot I believe.

More about opportunity for elite talent than fit if the price is right.

Griz could go small with JJJ at center or large with Zion at SF

[Devilanche]

Would love for okc or memphis to make this type of deal. Makes some sense for Pels too. I might push for a protected swap also.

Memphis have better depth than OKC but less of a need at the PF spot I believe.

More about opportunity for elite talent than fit if the price is right.

Griz could go small with JJJ at center or large with Zion at SF

Possibly . And hope that Zion / edey will be able to be counted as one contributor whole playoff. You guys also one of those team that find bench contributor consistently so should be able to withstand non Zion availability. What might be the salary matching from Memphis though ?