Zion not just being held out?

I'm fine keeping him or trading him. Pretty indifferent and see the benefits of both. Only the FO and doctors know what's truly going on, the rest is speculation.

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Originally Posted by Eman5805

There is a statute of limitations though. What if Zion’s people are JUST THAT DELUDED and refuse to listen no matter what? I mean, I think Griffin sucks. But we can’t put this all on him if what we’ve heard is true.

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I agree. And I'm honestly pretty close to that line myself. But here's where I'm at. Play Zion. Right now. He thinks he can play. He wants to play. It's sink or swim time for this relationship right now. Give him the trust of letting him decide his health. Let him be a part of this run. If after that they still want out, then go ahead and cut bait.

What I can't accept is having Zion ready to play, having the possibility of salvaging the relationship with him (which is objectively the best version of the future for the Pelicans), and deciding to just try to string him along and run out the clock. It's BS. If I were Zion, I'd be upset too! Right now, it feels like there's some daylight for this turning around, and Griffin is burning the bridge. I might be wrong. Maybe I'm reading it wrong. If I'm right, though, it's time for Griffin to go. And I've been a Griffin supporter.

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Originally Posted by DarkHornet

I agree. And I'm honestly pretty close to that line myself. But here's where I'm at. Play Zion. Right now. He thinks he can play. He wants to play. It's sink or swim time for this relationship right now. Give him the trust of letting him decide his health. Let him be a part of this run. If after that they still want out, then go ahead and cut bait.

What I can't accept is having Zion ready to play, having the possibility of salvaging the relationship with him (which is objectively the best version of the future for the Pelicans), and deciding to just try to string him along and run out the clock. It's BS. If I were Zion, I'd be upset too! Right now, it feels like there's some daylight for this turning around, and Griffin is burning the bridge. I might be wrong. Maybe I'm reading it wrong. If I'm right, though, it's time for Griffin to go. And I've been a Griffin supporter.

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Im in the camp of play Zion as well. However, judging by his body language last night he seemed pretty happy. Im not convinced that his relationship with the team needs to be salvaged. I think they might be in a better place now than ever before.

Well at least we did not trade for Ben Simmons. Dodged a bullet

Nobody knows nothing about this situation. Sure, we can make educated guesses, but this is such a pointless exercise.

I think either way it will work out for us. Either we keep him and this team is suddenly a title contender or we trade him and potentially find a perfect fit plus gain assets. It is hard for us to lose this situation with the way things are going right now.

I'm not playing Zion....

1. He hasn't been in a competitive game at this level in almost a year.
2. He hasn't been cleared by the team's medical team. So, it's a no-brainer regardless of what Lee Anderson says.
3. If his days are, indeed, numbered in New Orleans, I'm not risking additional injury to a player who is not cleared by my medical staff (See Anthony Davis for precedent)
4. He brings nothing to the floor defensively to a team that is already flawed defensively....Nada...Zero...Zilch.
5. What has he done in three years to earn this team's trust?

Knowing how the NBA works, it wouldn't surprise me at all if Griff & Company already have a deal worked out to trade him this summer. Why would they want to go against the team's own medical advice and risk an injury that would blow up the trade?

And, if all is a bed of roses between the Pelicans and Zion's Camp (it's obviously not since Zion continues his brash verbal silence while posting videos of uncontested acrobatic dunks), it would serve Zion's (and the team's) best interest to get an additional four months of recovery.

I do believe that Zion wants to play, and the team is being more cautious with his recovery, so they have a difference of opinion. What I don't believe, is that having a difference of opinion like this makes the relationship unsalvageable and means he has to be traded/wont resign with the Pels.

Zion may not even know this but all his pregame slams could be used as a marketing tool too. Gayle Benson watching this and now thinking I’ve got something I can sell next season. This is great he is doing this. The more attention the better.

Just wanna be sure you guys dont twist my words because I will be gone for a while and I know how this works.

Remember, I have always said he will sign the extension this summer. Okay, just to make sure that is clear so people dont put the incorrect words in my mouth when y'all are having this convo more in depth this summer.

Alright, now bye

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Originally Posted by 13 - 3

Zion may not even know this but all his pregame slams could be used as a marketing tool too. Gayle Benson watching this and now thinking I’ve got something I can sell next season. This is great he is doing this. The more attention the better.

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I honestly don't think the team relishes the idea of being undermined by Zion. The myth, alone, will sell tickets next year. Couple that with this exciting young team, and it makes all the dunking BS moot....if not arrogant and obnoxious..

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Originally Posted by As I See It

I honestly don't think the team relishes the idea of being undermined by Zion. The myth, alone, will sell tickets next year. Couple that with this exciting young team, and it makes all the dunking BS moot....if not arrogant and obnoxious..

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Looks like Coaches approved of this to me

Zion getting some practice in before Game 4 �� pic.twitter.com/hgsQj62eI1

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 25, 2022

Mac do you have any insight into how Benson views the Zion - Griff relationship with regards to who she is more likely to support?

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Originally Posted by MichaelMcNamara

Just wanna be sure you guys dont twist my words because I will be gone for a while and I know how this works.

Remember, I have always said he will sign the extension this summer. Okay, just to make sure that is clear so people dont put the incorrect words in my mouth when y'all are having this convo more in depth this summer.

Alright, now bye

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y u go

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Originally Posted by hornetsrebirth

Im in the camp of play Zion as well. However, judging by his body language last night he seemed pretty happy. Im not convinced that his relationship with the team needs to be salvaged. I think they might be in a better place now than ever before.

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Zion is a 21 year old kid. He's getting excited about the specific game just as the rest of the crowd was excited. This isn't about one game, this is about the future. Also, I don't think Zion's relationship to the Front Office or the team (Players and Coaches) matters anymore. The front office and his "camp" don't get along. I feel like he's just a kid caught in the middle of a looming divorce battle. To each side's credit, they are doing what they think is best for the future and trying to steer the narrative in their own direction. But neither side is coming outright and saying this isn't working out because neither side has anything to gain from it yet. It honestly makes them both look bad that they can't get along (Front Office and Camp) but it doesn't benefit either side for Zion to get hurt either. In the end, I'm a Pelicans fan and not a Zion fan. I would have rather used his talent to help us win, but I'm also OK using the assets we gain from him leaving to help us win. If it were just Zion and the team (Players and Coaches), my guess is he would be out there especially for the playoffs.

Also.... we aren't supposed to be here! Our season should be over now and each side could have slinked off into the summer preparing for the future, but luckily for the fans, the team (players and coaches) had other plans that didn't mesh with the Front Office and Zion's Camp's plans.

IMHO we don't need Zion...we have a great future as it is...Zion could (almost inevitable) get hurt again on a 5 y max...could/will hurt our chemistry....IMHO just too much risk...if we could get 4 1st round picks +3 swaps ...other stuff...Let him be injured in NYC

trade for Randle, Mitch Robinson, and #10 pick

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Originally Posted by 13 - 3

Looks like Coaches approved of this to me

Zion getting some practice in before Game 4 �� pic.twitter.com/hgsQj62eI1

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 25, 2022

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Weatherspoon could barely get her arms around his waist. Just saying.

Your body shouldn't change that much between 19 and 21

https://engineercalcs.com/wp-content...ty-300x300.jpg

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Originally Posted by clark griswald

trade for Randle, Mitch Robinson, and #10 pick

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I don't know what the worst part of this illegal trade would be...Randle is a big negative asset, would take the ball out of BI/CJ's hands and a Randle/Jonas frontline would be open season on the rim; Robinson is underwhelming at best (do we really need another version of Jaxson Hayes?) and is an unrestricted free agent...if we want him so bad, just sign him (below MLE); and we already have the #8 pick so adding another rookie with a worse pick doesn't seem like a good idea. Not one of those pieces is attractive.

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Originally Posted by clark griswald

trade for Randle, Mitch Robinson, and #10 pick

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I would for Julius Randle, Mitchell Robinson, and 2022 First-Round Pick, 2023 First-Round Pick (DAL), 2024 First-Round Pick, 2026 First-Round Pick

Maybe his foot has fully healed but the team doctors have told him he's not playing until he hits a certain weight benchmark. Something like, you're not playing until you get down to 285?

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Originally Posted by Upper Decker

Maybe his foot has fully healed but the team doctors have told him he's not playing until he hits a certain weight benchmark. Something like, you're not playing until you get down to 285?

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Management is holding him out

Protecting the asset and erring on the side of extreme caution

Protecting why? Because they understand his trade value when healthy

I think the only trade Griff would entertain is for Jabari Smith in the draft. Even then... It seems like we are givng him the max extension. Is known that it'll be fully gtd?

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Originally Posted by Taker597

I think the only trade Griff would entertain is for Jabari Smith in the draft. Even then... It seems like we are givng him the max extension. Is known that it'll be fully gtd?

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He can't get the supermax rookie extension like Luka did, because he didn't qualify. But it will be fully guaranteed

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Originally Posted by 13 - 3

Well at least we did not trade for Ben Simmons. Dodged a bullet

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Lol. Some wanted him tho.

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Originally Posted by ml wave

I don't know what the worst part of this illegal trade would be...Randle is a big negative asset, would take the ball out of BI/CJ's hands and a Randle/Jonas frontline would be open season on the rim; Robinson is underwhelming at best (do we really need another version of Jaxson Hayes?) and is an unrestricted free agent...if we want him so bad, just sign him (below MLE); and we already have the #8 pick so adding another rookie with a worse pick doesn't seem like a good idea. Not one of those pieces is attractive.

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This man gets it

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Originally Posted by AusPel

Management is holding him out

Protecting the asset and erring on the side of extreme caution

Protecting why? Because they understand his trade value when healthy

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I understand that theory of yours (it can only be a theory cause no one knows nothing). But that would be ONLY if their sole intent were to be to trade him over the offseason.

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Originally Posted by Upper Decker

I understand that theory of yours (it can only be a theory cause no one knows nothing). But that would be ONLY if their sole intent were to be to trade him over the offseason.

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Yeah, I suppose let him get injured again and sign him for under market value, isn't the worst strategy

I feel like he plays as we get further in the playoffs, prob next round honestly. Why else would they make a point in showing him practice and dunking if that wasn't the plan? Trade value, sure that could be the case too but you just wait next year in showing him play, if you're thinking about trading him.

I'm good either way but again Zion and his camp (stepfather) needs to know he's part of a team and its not just about him. I'm happy for the team and the organization in terms of knowing we don't have to depend on just Zion and what he wants. All the players are important not just one. This team w/o Zion has done an amazing job. That narrative is the narrative and it should not change if Zion steps on the court for us during the playoffs.

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Originally Posted by AusPel

That haul sux dick. Why do you think Dallas next year 1st holds any value? It's gonna be about 24-26

Randle is a massive negative asset. You crazy bro

Any Zion trade NEEDS a top 4 pick this draft to even start to consider

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Time out. I need this to make sense.

So, you replied on my trade suggestion on how bad it was, but not to the one I just replied to in response? :confused:

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Originally Posted by WhyHornetsWhy

Time out. I need this to make sense.

So, you replied on my trade suggestion on how bad it was, but not to the one I just replied to in response? :confused:

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What other one?

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Originally Posted by AusPel

What other one?

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Original trade proposal that I replied on.

Lol look at my post that you replied to saying it sucks lol. You’ll see that I had replied with a better proposal than the post I had replied to

An article from within the last hour about Zion and Pels....

https://fadeawayworld.net/nba-media/...er-next-season

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Originally Posted by As I See It

An article from within the last hour about Zion and Pels....

https://fadeawayworld.net/nba-media/...er-next-season

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“Just on the big picture here, I don’t know if Zion Williamson is gonna ever play for the Pelicans again,” said Jordan Schultz. “He’s played 85 games in his career. If you don’t trade him this summer, what are you going to get for him long term? If you don’t believe he’s going to stay healthy, what are we talking about here? I think there is a very good chance he will not be back, and they will trade him this summer -- or at least strongly explore trading him."

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We'll see

Nico is using the same quote he used in an article he wrote a month ago. Nothing new here. And Schultz, the guy he quoted, is a huge Suns fan.

Don’t sleep on the #Suns -- even without my guy Book. ����

Armed with the Point God, an elite defense and the wisdom of Monty Williams, Phoenix remains a bona fide contender! ����

��: @TheGameDayNBA pic.twitter.com/c9HrcOgnuQ

— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) April 26, 2022

This is the article Nico Martinez wrote a month ago, after Schultz was on the Dan Patrick Show and made his statement. That was March 23rd. Today is April 26. Don't focus on the distraction.

https://fadeawayworld.net/nba-media/...im-this-summer

As someone admittedly less knowledgeable about the Pelicans and the NBA than most on this forum, I do not understand what the organization is doing in refusing to play Zion. And my assumption is that Zion physically can play. If that assumption is incorrect, then my comments below make no sense.

1. It seems that if there is a chance of salvaging or resetting the relationship between the player and the team, playing Zion provides that opportunity. Were I Zion and healthy, I would be upset if the team refused to play me.

2. The organization should want to see whether the relationship between the player and the team can be reset. Zion is incredibly talented. Were he to play next year for the Pelicans, the Pelicans would be a serious contender for a championship. And the NBA is a superstar league where superstars sell tickets and--this is important in New Orleans--put fans in seats. The three most talented NBA players over the last 12 or so years who played for the New Orleans franchise are Chris Paul, Anthony Davis, and Zion. Are we going to lose all three?

3. Playing Zion, if healthy and in reasonable shape, can only help the Pelicans win in the playoffs.

Again, if Zion is not healthy or physically ready to play, then the reason for his not playing is obvious. But otherwise I do not understand treating him like Deshaun Watson. Yes, he can get hurt playing. But his minutes will be to some extent limited, and he can get hurt driving to the Smoothie King arena. If the Pelicans trade him, they are not going to get value for him, and they will be losing another superstar player who should be the face of the franchise and who can actually get fans to attend games.