NOP-TOR (Zion reunites with Barrett)

[Toine85]

With talks of Zion being late to the team flight and how it’s an ongoing issue, it seems like he’s checked out and the Pelicans are no longer tolerating his bad behavior.

How about Quickley, Jakob Poeltl, Chris Boucher, 2026 1st (worst of Indy or Tor) for Zion and CJ McCollum?

Why for Raptors?
Seems like RJ has really settled onto the Raps and hopefully he can keep Zion accountable. They were roommates at Duke and still seem to still be close friends. Might be worth taking a shot for the Raps.
CJ/RJ/Barnes/Zion/Olynyk

Why for Pelicans?
Finally get rid of their headache and perhaps bring some balance to their roster:
Quickley/Murray/Herb (when he comes back)/Murphy III/Poeltl

[Godaddycurse]

No thanks, someone else can try to rehab Zion. Hes not a good fit with barnes

[Mr Swagtastic]

Barnes and Zion are a bad fit. This team has arguably the worst spacing in the league and it's not close. Zion is one injury away from being the worst contract in the league I don't see Darko being able to control him and Toronto being a great food city would literally be like a kid in a candy store for Zion Williamson.

I guess the op is having a primary assist guy by committee like I don't see Shed/Mitchell as the next guard after CJ retires or his contract is up. I don't see RJ or Barnes as point guards either. If Toronto does this they rehab Zion to get him leaner then the 285-300 lbs he is and tank for a guard like Demin, Harper, Jakucionis.

[Mavrelous]

Quickly now is a terrible contract that no one will take as a postitve, Pels prefer Zion deal over his.

[Mrakar]

Quickley's contract is awfull. Rest of the package is not that great.
Pels will trade Zion for an overpay or in case they get the #1 pick in the draft, not for mid package and lot of bad money...

[Euphonetiks]

Pels would have no interest in this trade. Zions contract is not guaranteed. Pels aren’t desperate to dump him.

[Godaddycurse]

Quickly now is a terrible contract that no one will take as a postitve, Pels prefer Zion deal over his.

dude's been beset by injuries, if he returns to prior year's form contract is fine but it will take time. do you think murray is also a terrible contract now after a rough start returning from injury?

[Mavrelous]

Quickly now is a terrible contract that no one will take as a postitve, Pels prefer Zion deal over his.

dude's been beset by injuries, if he returns to prior year's form contract is fine but it will take time. do you think murray is also a terrible contract now after a rough start returning from injury?

The contract was an absurd overpay, followed by injuries and drop in production.
Quickly has been a 6th man, never ever shown he can be a lead guard or a great off guard, he has no business making near max, he may hit neutral territory in his 3rd year, and I won't bet on it.

[Godaddycurse]

Quickly now is a terrible contract that no one will take as a postitve, Pels prefer Zion deal over his.

dude's been beset by injuries, if he returns to prior year's form contract is fine but it will take time. do you think murray is also a terrible contract now after a rough start returning from injury?

The contract was an absurd overpay, followed by injuries and drop in production.
Quickly has been a 6th man, never ever shown he can be a lead guard or a great off guard, he has no business making near max, he may hit neutral territory in his 3rd year, and I won't bet on it.

A) hes been over qualified as a 6th man. Can't really be a starter when brunson is blocking you
B) did well as starter post ASB with much improved AST% but its on a tanking team so understandable if you take that with grain if salt. Past 5 games averaging over 8 assist/game. Shooting not quite there though.
C) his contract should age better than others with 8 percent raises, by 3rd year it will be 20 percent of cap only

[Mavrelous]

dude's been beset by injuries, if he returns to prior year's form contract is fine but it will take time. do you think murray is also a terrible contract now after a rough start returning from injury?

The contract was an absurd overpay, followed by injuries and drop in production.
Quickly has been a 6th man, never ever shown he can be a lead guard or a great off guard, he has no business making near max, he may hit neutral territory in his 3rd year, and I won't bet on it.

A) hes been over qualified as a 6th man. Can't really be a starter when brunson is blocking you
B) did well as starter post ASB with much improved AST% but its on a tanking team so understandable if you take that with grain if salt. Past 5 games averaging over 8 assist/game. Shooting not quite there though.
C) his contract should age better than others with 8 percent raises, by 3rd year it will be 20 percent of cap only

No 5th year player should be paid near max for some interesting short stretches.
You don't know he was overqualified since he never shown he's qualified for more.
Yeah, hia contract will look better the longwr it drags, but there is are better or at the very least equal players paid much less, like Monk, Sexton and Simons, I have the 1st 2 comfortabely better than Quickly.

[Godaddycurse]

The contract was an absurd overpay, followed by injuries and drop in production.
Quickly has been a 6th man, never ever shown he can be a lead guard or a great off guard, he has no business making near max, he may hit neutral territory in his 3rd year, and I won't bet on it.

A) hes been over qualified as a 6th man. Can't really be a starter when brunson is blocking you
B) did well as starter post ASB with much improved AST% but its on a tanking team so understandable if you take that with grain if salt. Past 5 games averaging over 8 assist/game. Shooting not quite there though.
C) his contract should age better than others with 8 percent raises, by 3rd year it will be 20 percent of cap only

No 5th year player should be paid near max for some interesting short stretches.
You don't know he was overqualified since he never shown he's qualified for more.
Yeah, hia contract will look better the longwr it drags, but there is are better or at the very least equal players paid much less, like Monk, Sexton and Simons, I have the 1st 2 comfortabely better than Quickly.

-He played great when filling in as a starter during his time with the knicks. 22/5/5 in 20 games in 22-23 the year prior to trade, and similar numbers last year pre trade
-He was decent defensively while on the knicks and not a defensive liability like sexton and simons. This year monk and sexton are outplaying IQ so far but again its too early to tell. give it some time.

[Texas Chuck]

Yeah Raptors paid IQ on the come. He hasn't. At least not yet. So hard to make him the centerpiece for a trade for a star, especially since much of the Zion risk is mitigated by the outs in his contract that aren't in IQ's.

Just no reason for the Pels to say we'd rather gamble on IQ than Zion. Far less upside, far more financial risk. And then they get no incentive to speak of. Poeltl is a fine player, but isn't a needle mover for a team that next year will be without their 3 best offensive players from the past several years. And a worst of pick?

I can accept Zion doesn't hold a ton of value, but I maintain you have to give the Pels a reason to trade him. This is just passing Toronto's problems to them.

[Mavrelous]

A) hes been over qualified as a 6th man. Can't really be a starter when brunson is blocking you
B) did well as starter post ASB with much improved AST% but its on a tanking team so understandable if you take that with grain if salt. Past 5 games averaging over 8 assist/game. Shooting not quite there though.
C) his contract should age better than others with 8 percent raises, by 3rd year it will be 20 percent of cap only

No 5th year player should be paid near max for some interesting short stretches.
You don't know he was overqualified since he never shown he's qualified for more.
Yeah, hia contract will look better the longwr it drags, but there is are better or at the very least equal players paid much less, like Monk, Sexton and Simons, I have the 1st 2 comfortabely better than Quickly.

-He played great when filling in as a starter during his time with the knicks. 22/5/5 in 20 games in 22-23 the year prior to trade, and similar numbers last year pre trade
-He was decent defensively while on the knicks and not a defensive liability like sexton and simons. This year monk and sexton are outplaying IQ so far but again its too early to tell. give it some time.

Any of the 3 I mentioned will give you 20/5/5 in starters role, that doesn't make them worth 30+/yr, hell, Dejonte Murray is paid that and I'd argue he's overpaid and bad investment.

[nykballa2k4]

With talks of Zion being late to the team flight and how it’s an ongoing issue, it seems like he’s checked out and the Pelicans are no longer tolerating his bad behavior.

How about Quickley, Jakob Poeltl, Chris Boucher, 2026 1st (worst of Indy or Tor) for Zion and CJ McCollum?

Why for Raptors?
Seems like RJ has really settled onto the Raps and hopefully he can keep Zion accountable. They were roommates at Duke and still seem to still be close friends. Might be worth taking a shot for the Raps.
CJ/RJ/Barnes/Zion/Olynyk

Why for Pelicans?
Finally get rid of their headache and perhaps bring some balance to their roster:
Quickley/Murray/Herb (when he comes back)/Murphy III/Poeltl

Why not for Raps: IQ just got back and might be the linchpin to the team improving with his shooting and playmaking not to mention defense. Raps also seem to really like Poeltl as he is a true center and good. RJ, Barnes, Zion doesn't seem like a good mix.


I think revering the arrow here is a better idea. Both teams are currently chasing the Flagg more than the ring, so perhaps Barnes, Jacon to the Pelicans for Zion (with this years FRP, unprotected).

Basically Raps give whatever NOP wants to get a better chance in the draft.

[Mr Swagtastic]

With talks of Zion being late to the team flight and how it’s an ongoing issue, it seems like he’s checked out and the Pelicans are no longer tolerating his bad behavior.

How about Quickley, Jakob Poeltl, Chris Boucher, 2026 1st (worst of Indy or Tor) for Zion and CJ McCollum?

Why for Raptors?
Seems like RJ has really settled onto the Raps and hopefully he can keep Zion accountable. They were roommates at Duke and still seem to still be close friends. Might be worth taking a shot for the Raps.
CJ/RJ/Barnes/Zion/Olynyk

Why for Pelicans?
Finally get rid of their headache and perhaps bring some balance to their roster:
Quickley/Murray/Herb (when he comes back)/Murphy III/Poeltl

Why not for Raps: IQ just got back and might be the linchpin to the team improving with his shooting and playmaking not to mention defense. Raps also seem to really like Poeltl as he is a true center and good. RJ, Barnes, Zion doesn't seem like a good mix.


I think revering the arrow here is a better idea. Both teams are currently chasing the Flagg more than the ring, so perhaps Barnes, Jacon to the Pelicans for Zion (with this years FRP, unprotected).

Basically Raps give whatever NOP wants to get a better chance in the draft.

Toronto wouldn't move Barnes for Zion and the pick in this draft. I don't see how Toronto just moves a guy who wants to be there in Barnes for a guy who doesn't even want to show up for anything in Zion. Like he's missed a lot of practices now showing up late to a airplane. Zion clearly has superstar talent but I don't see how a team gives up a star and IMHO New Orleans shouldn't move their pick if Zion goes they are tanking this year and moving BI for more capital

[nykballa2k4]

With talks of Zion being late to the team flight and how it’s an ongoing issue, it seems like he’s checked out and the Pelicans are no longer tolerating his bad behavior.

How about Quickley, Jakob Poeltl, Chris Boucher, 2026 1st (worst of Indy or Tor) for Zion and CJ McCollum?

Why for Raptors?
Seems like RJ has really settled onto the Raps and hopefully he can keep Zion accountable. They were roommates at Duke and still seem to still be close friends. Might be worth taking a shot for the Raps.
CJ/RJ/Barnes/Zion/Olynyk

Why for Pelicans?
Finally get rid of their headache and perhaps bring some balance to their roster:
Quickley/Murray/Herb (when he comes back)/Murphy III/Poeltl

Why not for Raps: IQ just got back and might be the linchpin to the team improving with his shooting and playmaking not to mention defense. Raps also seem to really like Poeltl as he is a true center and good. RJ, Barnes, Zion doesn't seem like a good mix.


I think revering the arrow here is a better idea. Both teams are currently chasing the Flagg more than the ring, so perhaps Barnes, Jacon to the Pelicans for Zion (with this years FRP, unprotected).

Basically Raps give whatever NOP wants to get a better chance in the draft.

Toronto wouldn't move Barnes for Zion and the pick in this draft. I don't see how Toronto just moves a guy who wants to be there in Barnes for a guy who doesn't even want to show up for anything in Zion. Like he's missed a lot of practices now showing up late to a airplane. Zion clearly has superstar talent but I don't see how a team gives up a star and IMHO New Orleans shouldn't move their pick if Zion goes they are tanking this year and moving BI for more capital

The prize is pick(s), Zion is a flyer (heavy, low to the ground flyer) at this point.

[Mr Swagtastic]

Toronto wouldn't do that trade now. They are already a bad team themselves projected to have a great shot at Harper/Flagg/Bailey. I don't see them moving Barnes who they viewed as their franchise guy for Zion and to roll the dice top hope they get another top five pick who knows Barnes/Murray/CJ/Murphy/Missi/Ingram and Alvarado might be enough to push that pick out the top 6-10. I don't see how Toronto could go from having thar team with Pascal, Anunoby, Barnes, VanVleet etc and not including Barnes for KD who would have made them legit championship contenders to then going after an unmotivated and injury prone Zion and a pick.

Do you really think Zion is going to be happy to play in Toronto? IMHO he's going to demand out

[WhatsaTDot]

I actually would accept them moving on from Barnes post lottery balls if we knew the pick number coming back. We need to tank again in 2026 anyways so the timeline would suit better.

[One_and_Done]

Zion doesn't fit with Barnes, but I doubt Barnes is even around for the next great Raptors team. I am not sure you want him starting on a contender, at least Zion hypothetically could be that player. I wouldn't do the trade as either team. Nola certainly gets very little back here.