Trade & FA 2024-25:

[mvossman]

I get all the risks attached ( I was Mr. RedFlag on Porzingis), but we have to think about finding a long-term partner eventually for Luka.

Luka/X/Washington/Healthy Zion/Lively is pretty enticing.

Zion´s contract is not that big and heavily guarded (basically always expiring). Furthermore even in two years Zion is only 26/27. If you want to trade for a Joker , then you still need a big talent another team can talk themselves into or immediate cap relief. Zion´s contract provides either option effortlessly. Right now our only trade pieces that fall into that category are Luka and Lively, who are untouchable.

Klay/Kleber/Gafford gets you there cap-wise. I just don´t think two unprotected 1sts will be enough.

Just like I argued for Markkanen, Randle (also a Pelican) and Washington, you have to consider the circumstances. Good players in shit organisations.

New Orleans just has too many injuries outside of Zion. There has to be something fundamentally wrong in their physical/medical department, maybe even their courts or facilities.

Biggest question mark would be whether you can get the Texas Barbecue out of him mentally.

That lineup is a spacing nightmare.  He is a way bigger injury risk and worse fit that KP was.  This is a contending team with limited assets.  I can't imagine it would make sense to make a huge gamble like this, especially when the last time we made a similar gamble (an injury riddled potential headcase in a shitshow org) it failed utterly.