2021 FREE AGENCY: Markkanen wants out of CHI | DAL "definitely interested"

[SleepingHero]

I'm not sure I'd want to trade a FRP that far out.  You could probably flip Brunson for a FRP (if Pels/Raps aren't interested either by adding a 4th team to the deal or a separate deal).  I'd do that deal without much hesitation which makes me think it is too good to be true

I think Brunson is most likely gone from that trade too. Most likely to the Pels for extra compensation which could count as a FRP? 

I wouldn't understand the Pels thinking in that scenario as I think retaining Lonzo and keeping Ingram and Adams would give them the better team.  Maybe they think Zion and Ingram are redundant?

The general theme I've seen from the Pelican forums I've read is that there are plenty of Zion rumblings of him wanting out already. Zion+Adams doesn't work because they both play around the rim. They're looking for stretch bigs to play next to Zion. Bledsoe is seen as dead money and they're thinking about stretch waiving him to get to max cap space (with Adams being traded).

Ingram is also seen as a bad fit next to Zion as multiple times Ingram would ignore Zion in the 4th. It was speculated that it was Van Gundy's design, hence the firing now, but it seems Ingram can be had for a moderate return.  

Further, from the Lonzo angle, they don't want to pay Lonzo 20+ million. The general take is he's a good player but he isn't skilled enough to be paid that much. They desperately are looking for a vet presence and are eying Lowry hard (if the media reports are true). 

This trade not only gives the Pels the vet presence they're looking for, but a stretch big for Zion that can play D, and a  defensive SG that they need as well in Richardson. They also open up 30+ mil from their books and it lets them retool with whatever free agents they had their eye on (DeRozan maybe??). 

I think the Pels do it in a heartbeat. Mavs do it because they form a somewhat Big 3 with Ingram/KP/Luka.