12-16-2024, 12:10 PM
(12-16-2024, 02:43 AM)Mavs2021 Wrote: Well the counter arguments I´d have are that
1) I never rated Porzingis as highly as Zion. I think a healthy Zion is easily a top 10 player in the league.
2) Zion´s contract already has injury insurance out-clauses that Porzingis was not willing to accept, when he signed his 5 year max deal (#ClassicCuban)
3) Zion makes 126M over the next three years. That is actually cheap from a talent perspective (injury risk aside for a moment). For example Anunoby makes the same money for the next three seasons. Any normal star will make $60M+ annually on his next contract.
4) Looking at how much players like Durant, Bridges cost recently it will be difficult to find that #2 option to go alongside Luka for less than three first round picks.
5) Are we williing to bet on the draft the next two years and an accelerated development of that rookie to #2 option.
6) Obviously this would all require a very good physical and a very good talk with Zion to get into his head and mindset before you pull the trigger.
I don't think any of this compensates for the massive risk or the terrible fit. We don't need a player of Durrant caliber and Bridges was a massive overpay. We may not need that replacement for a while anyways. Kyrie is still playing at an elite level.
What is the ramification of the injury out clause? I'm sure it doesn't impact the assets and players you gave up to trade for him. Does it impact the cap? What value does that insurance have to future team building?