Trade & FA 2024-25:

[Chicagojk]

Not shooting the messenger here - this is more aimed at the NBA fan/media culture. Why on Earth does anyone outside of New Orleans even care what will ever happen with Zion Williamson? I wouldn't even consider trading for him if I was in the position of building an NBA roster. He has got to be the most overhyped prospect of all time.

Sad.   Maybe he was always going to get hurt.  He had a weird gait naturally.   But it is sad to see the guy as a Freshman at Duke.   He was so strong and explosive.  In the pros, he has been mostly strong with some skill.  The explosion really hasn't been there.  He has done no help by carrying too much weight.  Should be a warning flag to other players.  Injuries happen but not taking your training serious can really limit your career and potential future earnings.

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

Injured in HS. Injured in college. How the Pels thought that would change is beyond me. 90% of fitness is nutrition. His injury problems are caused by physics. Dude has 7'4" mass on a 6'6" frame. With that muscle mass and well documented awkward movement, he can't afford to be over 5% body fat percentage. He's probably closer to 15%.

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

Not shooting the messenger here - this is more aimed at the NBA fan/media culture. Why on Earth does anyone outside of New Orleans even care what will ever happen with Zion Williamson? I wouldn't even consider trading for him if I was in the position of building an NBA roster. He has got to be the most overhyped prospect of all time.

I think his name still creates clicks.

[SleepingHero]

Not shooting the messenger here - this is more aimed at the NBA fan/media culture. Why on Earth does anyone outside of New Orleans even care what will ever happen with Zion Williamson? I wouldn't even consider trading for him if I was in the position of building an NBA roster. He has got to be the most overhyped prospect of all time.

It's solely because of the flashes he's shown when he has been healthy. Which overall has been few and far between. Last year was his best year and he carried that Pelicans team to the thick of the Western conference playoff race. 

I agree though... Any team trading for Zion knows that he may play in 40% of games. Most teams are probably still fine with that idea though.

[KillerLeft]

It's solely because of the flashes he's shown when he has been healthy. Which overall has been few and far between. Last year was his best year and he carried that Pelicans team to the thick of the Western conference playoff race. 

I agree though... Any team trading for Zion knows that he may play in 40% of games. Most teams are probably still fine with that idea though.

I agree he has had short stints where he looked like a problem for the league, particularly downhill with the ball. But, like Luka, his time in shape enough to be able to get into the paint with the ball is getting rarer and rarer, only UNLIKE Luka, he has no midrange game to speak of, really. I think his career is likely to play out in disappointing fashion, even in the unlikely event he does manage to stay healthy long enough to matter.

[SleepingHero]

I agree he has had short stints where he looked like a problem for the league, particularly downhill with the ball. But, like Luka, his time in shape enough to be able to get into the paint with the ball is getting rarer and rarer, only UNLIKE Luka, he has no midrange game to speak of, really. I think his career is likely to play out in disappointing fashion, even in the unlikely event he does manage to stay healthy long enough to matter.

Its hard to argue against that given he's barely been in the league, but even Shawn Kemp had some monster years in his late 20s where he made it to the finals.

Of course, Zion isn't near in the condition Kemp was, but then again, Zion is a better version of Kemp anyways. The fully realized one.

I think teams are interested in trying to capture the only good years of Zion's career and that's why he has trade interest. Because like you said, his time getting into the paint is on a countdown clock.

[JamesConway912]

Zion actually played 70 games last season, so there was reasonable hope for him to be able to stay on the court. Just very unfortunate that he’s out again now. Dude’s super exciting to watch. He’s the type of larger than life-athlete that makes the NBA special. 

But it doesn’t look good long term-wise, I agree.

[SleepingHero]

NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral)
The Lakers may be reluctant to trade D’Angelo Russell now that he has become impactful in his new role, per @AnthonyIrwinLA

“In talking to sources close to the Lakers, Russell playing well in this role might make them a little more reluctant to part with him, as bench unit seriously struggled with Gabe Vincent at the helm. If this is actually who Russell can be for the rest of the season, the Lakers might get even more picky about who they'd trade him for, or would look to find a more reliable option than Vincent as part of a Russell trade.”

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral)
The Lakers may be reluctant to trade D’Angelo Russell now that he has become impactful in his new role, per @AnthonyIrwinLA

“In talking to sources close to the Lakers, Russell playing well in this role might make them a little more reluctant to part with him, as bench unit seriously struggled with Gabe Vincent at the helm. If this is actually who Russell can be for the rest of the season, the Lakers might get even more picky about who they'd trade him for, or would look to find a more reliable option than Vincent as part of a Russell trade.”

I've always thought his best role is 6th man.

[F Gump]

Typical LAL puffery, said/written as if there is always a long line waiting eagerly to trade for Russell! lol

(We've been fed this nonsense for years, of course, while LAL has repeatedly looked for some interest in order to move off him, and found none to speak of. He's their THJ.)

[KillerLeft]

Typical LAL puffery, said/written as if there is always a long line waiting eagerly to trade for Russell! lol

(We've been fed this nonsense for years, of course, while LAL has repeatedly looked for some interest in order to move off him, and found none to speak of. He's their THJ.)

Yeah, my first thought was that it was reverse psychology negotiation through the media. "Even pickier," lol.

[SleepingHero]

Typical LAL puffery, said/written as if there is always a long line waiting eagerly to trade for Russell! lol

(We've been fed this nonsense for years, of course, while LAL has repeatedly looked for some interest in order to move off him, and found none to speak of. He's their THJ.)

It does sound like they are hopelessly pleading someone drinks the kool-aid and takes Russell off their hands.

[SleepingHero]

@TheDunkCentral
The Lakers, Pelicans, and Kings have shown interest in Robert Williams III, per
@BrettSiegelNBA


“…Out of the three big men, Williams is expected to hold the biggest market. The Los Angeles Lakers, New Orleans Pelicans, and Sacramento Kings have held interest in the Portland Trail Blazers' big man dating back to the offseason.”

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

@TheDunkCentral
The Lakers, Pelicans, and Kings have shown interest in Robert Williams III, per
@BrettSiegelNBA


“…Out of the three big men, Williams is expected to hold the biggest market. The Los Angeles Lakers, New Orleans Pelicans, and Sacramento Kings have held interest in the Portland Trail Blazers' big man dating back to the offseason.”

RW3 gets injured watching another player fall.  He's *the* ideal switching defensive big man, but can't stay on the court.

[SleepingHero]

@ESPNNBA
Pelicans star Zion Williamson has undergone multiple treatments on his left hamstring and is not close to a return to action, sources told
@ShamsCharania
on Friday.

Williamson has been sidelined since suffering a hamstring strain on Nov. 6.

[Chicagojk]

@TheDunkCentral
The Lakers, Pelicans, and Kings have shown interest in Robert Williams III, per
@BrettSiegelNBA


“…Out of the three big men, Williams is expected to hold the biggest market. The Los Angeles Lakers, New Orleans Pelicans, and Sacramento Kings have held interest in the Portland Trail Blazers' big man dating back to the offseason.”

He can definitely help those teams and many others.  I m sure Portland would want to be patient and get a bidding war.  I would advise them to move him sooner than later.  History says he will eventually get hurt.

[SleepingHero]

@TheDunkCentral
The Milwaukee Bucks are showing interest in Dorian Finney-Smith and Cam Thomas, per
@GeryWoelfel

[Chicagojk]

@TheDunkCentral
The Milwaukee Bucks are showing interest in Dorian Finney-Smith and Cam Thomas, per
@GeryWoelfel

Do they have anything to offer?

I think this trade deadline will be fascinating.  I don't think any stars will move (although this is fluid), but teams like Washington, Brooklyn, Portland, Utah all have for sale signs.   Some solid rotation players available.  Especially with so many teams thinking they can make some noise in the playoffs.

[SleepingHero]

Do they have anything to offer?

I think this trade deadline will be fascinating.  I don't think any stars will move (although this is fluid), but teams like Washington, Brooklyn, Portland, Utah all have for sale signs.   Some solid rotation players available.  Especially with so many teams thinking they can make some noise in the playoffs.

They don’t really have many avenues to either guy. In terms of assets, they have Beuchamp. Only contracts they have to throw in for a trade match are Connaughton and Portis. 

They have no firsts to trade as I think all are still tied up in the Dame and Jrue trades.

[SleepingHero]

@TheDunkCentral
The Lakers are interested in Dorian Finney-Smith, per @AnthonyIrwinLA