Offseason Question #9: 5th pick, or Zion?

[babyjax13]

Let's say Utah drops to #5 and the top 4 of your personal big board have all been selected. Would you rather take the 5th player on your big board, or trade for Zion? I think Zion's ceiling is still really high, but the health and motivation issues are huge concerns.


Prior questions
#1: should Lauri stay or go? https://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=2454649
#2: what position are we weakest at? https://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=2455126
#3: what style should we play? https://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=2455378
#4: who is the keeper? https://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=2455576
#5: your top-5 big board? https://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=2456314
#6: second draft https://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=2457144
#7: tank time-frame https://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=2457232
#8: Hardy's extension https://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=2457754

[babyjax13]

This is hard for me. I think it's probably a year too early for this kind of trade, so I went with the pick ... but if Flagg/Harper/Johnson/Bailey are all gone, I do see Fears and VJ as being far enough below them that I'd consider it.

[Inigo Montoya]

That depends on a few things. First, what the trade is--what exactly the Jazz are giving and getting. Second, under this scenario, does it include Zion making clear before the trade that he'd be willing to re-sign?

[babyjax13]

That depends on a few things. First, what the trade is--what exactly the Jazz are giving and getting. Second, under this scenario, does it include Zion making clear before the trade that he'd be willing to re-sign?

Let's say yes, he is willing to re-sign (he still has a couple of years under contract) and that the trade is Collins + Clarkson + 5.

[Inigo Montoya]

That depends on a few things. First, what the trade is--what exactly the Jazz are giving and getting. Second, under this scenario, does it include Zion making clear before the trade that he'd be willing to re-sign?

Let's say yes, he is willing to re-sign (he still has a couple of years under contract) and that the trade is Collins + Clarkson + 5.

Then I would make that trade.

For the record, my top 4 are:

1. Flagg
2. Harper
3. Bailey
4. Johnson

I think Edgecombe's ceiling is probably high level starter but not a star or allstar, so that's a relatively easy decision.

[bkohler]

Zions contract is actually pretty great. If he has catastrophic issues, you could waive him. If you did this you'd need to probably move Walker for some more spacing and have the next couple moves queued up in the hopper. Zion plus our current roster seems like a play-in team unless you can grab another stud or two more quality players.

So I guess for me it would all be about what the next moves are. If you've got something good lined up then I'd go for it.

[Daddy 801]

If he would resign, seemed overall happy to be traded here, and were sending Collins and Clarkson…. I would make that trade.

The bonuses to me about this trade is it’s even easier to tank. If we could follow this trade with sending Sexton to move up in the draft and get a pick in the 9-12 range and then send Lauri for an unprotected pick next year and some other assets we easily could be the worst team next year while allowing Zion to play every other game and work on his conditioning.

[Catchall]

Zion's inability to stay healthy is a disaster for whichever franchise employs him. Give me our Ace/Tre/VJ.

[Denizfeital]

Wow, 88% 5th pic and 12% Zion so far.

I think that speaks for itself.

I want no part of Zion's deal.

"Oh yeah, but if he stays health, or/and if he stays on the court, or/and if he stops gaining weight, or/and if he stops eating Big Macs".

Yeah right.

Regards,

[SoCalJazzFan]

Zions contract is actually pretty great. If he has catastrophic issues, you could waive him. If you did this you'd need to probably move Walker for some more spacing and have the next couple moves queued up in the hopper. Zion plus our current roster seems like a play-in team unless you can grab another stud or two more quality players.

So I guess for me it would all be about what the next moves are. If you've got something good lined up then I'd go for it.

Putting aside his "availability" issues, this is my concern. I don't see adding Zion as creating a WCF level team, which is what we should be shooting for. We'd still need a starting level PG (unless Collier or KG step up big time next season) and a defensive 3&D wing. Does Kessler fit with Zion? Probably not, but then getting a rim protecting stretch big is not easy these days.

[bkohler]

Zions contract is actually pretty great. If he has catastrophic issues, you could waive him. If you did this you'd need to probably move Walker for some more spacing and have the next couple moves queued up in the hopper. Zion plus our current roster seems like a play-in team unless you can grab another stud or two more quality players.

So I guess for me it would all be about what the next moves are. If you've got something good lined up then I'd go for it.

Putting aside his "availability" issues, this is my concern. I don't see adding Zion as creating a WCF level team, which is what we should be shooting for. We'd still need a starting level PG (unless Collier or KG step up big time next season) and a defensive 3&D wing. Does Kessler fit with Zion? Probably not, but then getting a rim protecting stretch big is not easy these days.

I don't think people realize how far away we are from really competing. Most think we're one good player away... we're a bunch of good players away.

[Inigo Montoya]

Zion is looking pretty good right now.

[dr0welf]

Easy pass, I'm not a huge Zion fan.