Free agency and trade ideas: Which wings do we go after this summer?

[WeekapaugGroove]

Don't count Zion out Suns fans!

This is from a random non-informed poster on the Pelicans Roost forum.

Odd Zion rumor...


was told by a co-worker (Warriors fan) that Zion hasn't signed with an agent. He read/heard somewhere that Zion was so disappointed with potentially being drafted by New Orleans and that because he hasn't signed with an agent, he can return to school or sit out a year.


I personally don't think that would happen but I suppose it's not unreasonable to think it could.

If Zion sat out a year (as opposed to going back to Duke) could the Suns or any other team sign him to a large contract or would he still be considered a rookie?

No. If he pulled out of the draft he'd just be back in the draft next year (or whatever year he declared) regardless of whether he went back to Duke or not. If he stays in the draft and refused to sign the team who drafts him keeps his rights litteraly forever. There's no way around the draft.

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[Saberestar]

Rui Hachimura and call it a day

Right now he is the player that I would pick at #6.

His vibe is right, he is smart, plays smart, gets a lot of steals because he sees what the other team is doing and jumps the next pass. He can shoot, has a post game and passes well. He plays within himself, not often out of control. Really when you watch him and break him down, he could be a phenom.

Yeah, he has everything that you want on a modern PF.

[Cutter]

Don't count Zion out Suns fans!

This is from a random non-informed poster on the Pelicans Roost forum.

Odd Zion rumor...


was told by a co-worker (Warriors fan) that Zion hasn't signed with an agent. He read/heard somewhere that Zion was so disappointed with potentially being drafted by New Orleans and that because he hasn't signed with an agent, he can return to school or sit out a year.


I personally don't think that would happen but I suppose it's not unreasonable to think it could.

If Zion sat out a year (as opposed to going back to Duke) could the Suns or any other team sign him to a large contract or would he still be considered a rookie?

That'd be awesome frankly.....But would he actually risk it?

Of course it's very unlikely to happen, but I don't think it would be much of a risk if he stayed out of school a year, spent the entire time working with a trainer to stay in shape and work on his skills. As long as didn't do anything stupid or risky he should be perfectly fine.

He could then control his destiny and join the Suns to form the best young core in the league of Booker-Ayton-Zion!! Thats much better than the Simmons-Embiid core.

Again, very unlikely...... but you never know

[Cutter]

Don't count Zion out Suns fans!

This is from a random non-informed poster on the Pelicans Roost forum.

Odd Zion rumor...


was told by a co-worker (Warriors fan) that Zion hasn't signed with an agent. He read/heard somewhere that Zion was so disappointed with potentially being drafted by New Orleans and that because he hasn't signed with an agent, he can return to school or sit out a year.


I personally don't think that would happen but I suppose it's not unreasonable to think it could.

If Zion sat out a year (as opposed to going back to Duke) could the Suns or any other team sign him to a large contract or would he still be considered a rookie?

No. If he pulled out of the draft he'd just be back in the draft next year (or whatever year he declared) regardless of whether he went back to Duke or not. If he stays in the draft and refused to sign the team who drafts him keeps his rights litteraly forever. There's no way around the draft.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using RealGM mobile app

Wait, your saying he can't sit out a year, then be a walk-on with another team? He is stuck as the draft pick of the team who drafted him until he is traded? Harsh, but I get it I think.

[Fo-Real]

Right now he is the player that I would pick at #6.

His vibe is right, he is smart, plays smart, gets a lot of steals because he sees what the other team is doing and jumps the next pass. He can shoot, has a post game and passes well. He plays within himself, not often out of control. Really when you watch him and break him down, he could be a phenom.

Yeah, he has everything that you want on a modern PF.

Like everything, good help defense, the dude is basketball smart, he is **** REFRESHING, I'm ok with a front court of Ayton/ Rui/ Oubre.... he has some milsap offensively in his game, inside out.

[LukasBMW]

Zion is a high character guy. I think he wanted the exposure and pressure of NY, but he'll get his mind right, head to NOLA, and tear it up.

[Cutter]

What kind of shenanigans did Kobe pull when he was drafted by the Fakers in '96? Didn't he say he didn't want to be in Charlotte so Lakers arranged a trade for him? Maybe Zion could do that.

Zion announces he doesn't want to be in New Orleans ans want to play with the young Suns core. Suns offer every 1st they can legally offer, the Bucks pick etc.

Yeah, yeah I know not gonna happen!

[Cutter]

Zion is a high character guy. I think he wanted the exposure and pressure of NY, but he'll get his mind right, head to NOLA, and tear it up.

Agreed, he seems very high character. Plus, while I am a Suns fan first and foremost, it would be a very dirty deed against NO for the Suns to help facilitate taking a generational player.

May the Suns defeat the Pelicans in the WCF for years to come!

[darealjuice]

I'd feel absolutely terrible for New Orleans if Zion decided going back to school was a better option than going to New Orleans. First AD starts to force his way out, then an unproven guy from college decides he'd rather spend another year playing for free at Duke than come there? That would be brutal. Such an interesting rumor though, especially with the quotes floating around before the lottery about how he would have loved to stay at Duke and his visible disappointment at the lottery results. With that said, I think there's almost no chance it happens.

[LukasBMW]

If Zion blows out his knee in a workout, does he get his wish and fall to NY at 3 like Embiid did?

I suppose it's posible if Ja and RJ kill workouts and Zion gets hurt.

But only slightly more likely then Zion staying at Duke.

[bwgood77]

Right now he is the player that I would pick at #6.

His vibe is right, he is smart, plays smart, gets a lot of steals because he sees what the other team is doing and jumps the next pass. He can shoot, has a post game and passes well. He plays within himself, not often out of control. Really when you watch him and break him down, he could be a phenom.

Yeah, he has everything that you want on a modern PF.

Except he doesn't rebound, block shots, or shoot much from range. Also doesn't pass much. 6 seems really high for him though. I see him ranked between 18-37...thought at first you were thinking maybe 2nd round pick if he's there.

Just compare the numbers to his teammate....

http://www.tankathon.com/players/compare?players=brandon-clarke--rui-hachimura

[lilfishi22]

New Orleans could get so much for AD, but the other team has something to give. Honestly, the Suns ought to give NO a call. AD has a very good relationship with Monty. He might, just might, be willing to resign. A package that includes multiple future firsts from the Suns might be interesting to them.

And when he walks next summer they might as well shut the doors and disolve the franchise.

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I think the Suns should stay away from Anthony Davis. For that reason, if he walks, you are done for years. 10 years will turn into 20 years.

I think that would be a big swing because of what it would tkae to get and no certainty he stays. If they want to call Durant on June 30th/July 1st - fine. But AD - would be a big player to get but if he doesn't stay...

+1

If you have the team that's on the cusp of being a contender or a contender looking to make a final all-in push (like Boston for example) then it's a reasonable, big swing to take. But when you're this far out and playoffs STILL isn't guaranteed, it's just not worth the risk.

[bigfoot]

I'd feel absolutely terrible for New Orleans if Zion decided going back to school was a better option than going to New Orleans. First AD starts to force his way out, then an unproven guy from college decides he'd rather spend another year playing for free at Duke than come there? That would be brutal. Such an interesting rumor though, especially with the quotes floating around before the lottery about how he would have loved to stay at Duke and his visible disappointment at the lottery results. With that said, I think there's almost no chance it happens.

Zion could tell the Pelicans he plans to pull out of the draft (before June 10th) and return to Duke unless they trade the number one pick to a different team. I'm sure a lot of teams would sell the farm for Zion.

[lilfishi22]

So 10m In cap ?

Read on Twitter

?s=21

Salary dump JJ and you're looking at around $17m

[lilfishi22]

Every time I see someone suggesting to trade #6 pick (and more) for Mike **** Conley, I want to punch a puppy. It's such a mind-bogglingly terrible idea, it hurts.

Play stupid games (Trade #6)
Win stupid prizes (Conley)

Trading a #6 pick in a weak draft for a veteran in a position of need isn't a stupid game nor are they stupid prizes.

Believing that a top pick will be contributor right away or even in the near future is a stupid game we've been playing the last half decade

[Qwigglez]

This had me dyin after hearing these Zion rumors...

Read on Twitter

?s=21

[lilfishi22]

I think people saying that this new lottery format will kill tanking is garbage. I actually think this will encourage tanking but teams won't have to tank so hard this time. Imagine finishing 10,11, 12 and 13 in both conference and still have a big chance at getting 1st pick.

You can't really eliminate tanking unless you go with the set pick format for the draft. But evening the odds has shown that (for us and Cleveland anyway) that you can't play those tank war games anymore and expect to be "rewarded". If anything us dropping to #6 is probably karma for the years of active tanking we've been doing. That's exactly the point of these changes; not to eliminate tanking but to seriously discourage it. IMO they could probably even the odds even further. If a team just missing out on the playoffs can land a top 5 pick, it gives even less incentive for teams to need to be worse than they are.

[lilfishi22]

Don't count Zion out Suns fans!

This is from a random non-informed poster on the Pelicans Roost forum.

Odd Zion rumor...


was told by a co-worker (Warriors fan) that Zion hasn't signed with an agent. He read/heard somewhere that Zion was so disappointed with potentially being drafted by New Orleans and that because he hasn't signed with an agent, he can return to school or sit out a year.


I personally don't think that would happen but I suppose it's not unreasonable to think it could.

If Zion sat out a year (as opposed to going back to Duke) could the Suns or any other team sign him to a large contract or would he still be considered a rookie?

That'd be awesome frankly.....But would he actually risk it?

Has a player ever been drafted and gone back to college?

I've heard of players pulling out before the draft but I can't think of a time when a player entered the draft, gotten drafted and then returning to college. Either way, that's a crazy risk and I'm not sure if it's worth walking away from potentially $130m (rookie scale + endorsements) just because you don't like who drafted you

[Slim Charless]

His vibe is right, he is smart, plays smart, gets a lot of steals because he sees what the other team is doing and jumps the next pass. He can shoot, has a post game and passes well. He plays within himself, not often out of control. Really when you watch him and break him down, he could be a phenom.

Yeah, he has everything that you want on a modern PF.

Except he doesn't rebound, block shots, or shoot much from range. Also doesn't pass much. 6 seems really high for him though. I see him ranked between 18-37...thought at first you were thinking maybe 2nd round pick if he's there.

Just compare the numbers to his teammate....

http://www.tankathon.com/players/compare?players=brandon-clarke--rui-hachimura

All of this while also being much less accomplished as a defender, even though Clarke would often have a tougher match-up. While being in Gonzaga's system for 3 years he still hits at lower clip % across the board lol. Hachimura is younger, and slightly longer that's like the only things in his favor.

[BobbieL]

So 10m In cap ?

Read on Twitter

?s=21

Salary dump JJ and you're looking at around $17m

Might have to attach the Bucks pick or say there is a team wanting to trade up - maybe Suns attach Josh to get cap space that way.

I tried to attach Josh to Tyler for JR Smith but the only real player to take back is Nance. The Cavs just don’t have enough smaller contracts