Came across [this thread](https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/144ces2/madison_based_on_my_conversations_with_people/) over on r/nba and saw that nobody posted it over here yet.
Starting 11 minutes into [Locked On Pelicans](https://youtu.be/QHzHK8fRJjc) with Pelicans insider, credentialed member of the media Jake Madison.
>Based on my conversations with people with the team, there are times when they feel very fed up with Zion. Not enough to necessarily want to trade Zion Williamson away or actively start to do that. Again, they’re really trying to appease him with a big deal shake up or the training staff, but it’s in their minds in some capacity. And you know, they’ve worked through some trade scenarios or what the return for him would be.
>
>We’ve heard some rumors of does he want to be here or not. He said all of the right things. Actions have been a little bit different at times. He doesn’t really spend a lot of time around the team in the offseason doing offseason workouts. He doesn’t necessarily need to, but you’d certainly like it.
>
>I think the Pelicans absolutely love Scoot Henderson, really think Scoot is going to be a star and would also like to be in the Scoot business.
This seems to imply that New Orleans could be interested in some sort of trade involving #3 and Zion which would be… interesting?
Pros
\-Insane natural talent, easily the best co-star Dame has ever had (when healthy)
\-Gives us more rebounding and physicality down low
\-Young player locked up on a long-term deal
Cons
\-Might be the most injury-prone player in the league
\-Some effort and character concerns (could Dame help with this?)
So let’s talk, who wants Zion in Portland?
by spencp99
39 Comments
I would much rather have Ingram tbh. Keep Zion far away from here
Is Zion’s work ethic there? If a guy isn’t giving 100 then he’s not gonna play well with Dame.
I’d 100000% trade 3 for Zion.
He in theory could help right now whilst also being able to bridge into the next generation. He’d solve the problem of having too many guards if we were to take Henderson at 3 which would leave us overloaded on guards
“I can change him”
Zion is disengaged and injury prone, I want nothing to do with that albatross of a contract.
Straight up damaged goods. No thank you.
So do I…
Ugh. This just reeks of desperation. That risk is just wayyyyy too high. Pelicans have given that dude everything and he still doesn’t care about ball. Don’t do it.
right now, zion is a net negative. 3 is a net positive. no way does this happen
Zion has become so underrated. Dude averaged a 28 point double double on insane efficiency and suddenly he sucks? You’re rolling the dice with the injuries but LA did that with AD and it worked out pretty well, if an upside swing like this is available we take it without thinking twice
Correct me if I’m wrong but I believe he’s only played 29 games in the last 2 seasons. There is no reason to have any interest in him at all until he proves he can stay on the court.
Ingram and Herb Jones though…
I would do it for zion and herb jones, and their pick with Simons going to pels. But no way am I trading zion for 3 straight up. Wayyyy too risky
What about #3 for CJ? Have we thought about trying him next to Dame before?
They can have 23 for Zion. No way I trade 3 for that walking disaster.
Poor Pelicans. At least they tried to put together a great team.
I want Zion purely because it would be fun to play the blazers on 2k again, but I don’t think it would translate in real life with the injuries
Yeah…no. Scoot please.
“Injury prone” is a deal breaker for me.
hard pass. all tat money for a guy who prefers to sit on the bench with a suit. money can be be better spent. no thanks.
We’ve got the assets and facilities (strip clubs) to make it happen.
Honestly the talent is just too insane to pass up. Would do the trade on the condition of having the most scrupulous medical exam in franchise history.
They wouldn’t offer but we’d take Zion no questions asked. We’re too far away from title competition to get there without rolling the dice. If he could stay relatively healthy, he’d push us into contention status
Trading the third pick for Zion would be the dumbest move in the history of the trailblazers franchise. I wouldn’t trade a single asset for him. Not a second round pick, not anything.
Smells like a Shawn Kemp type trade
It’s risky but I don’t give a shit about adding Scoot to this roster. Healthy Zion is All-NBA first team player. Roll the dice. He’s a dad now maybe Dame can fix him
Portland has what Zion loves, strippers.
Sounds good! But I’m going for Ingram not Zion
The package Has to start with Ingram
I think that this could be a good thing for the Blazers trading for him. I had never considered this options before.
Either he is healthy and dominant alongside Dame as the 2nd star we desperately need. Or he is weird and injured and we end up trading Dame (like we might have to do if we DONT get someone of Zions caliber anyways).
If it doesn’t work who cares how much his contract is, we would be rebuilding anyway.
Obviously the scenario is more complicated than that and it depends on what both teams are giving up, but this is a really high risk, really high reward situation. Plus Dame is a great leader and there isn’t shit to do in PDX to distract Zion lol.
I would rather have Scoot and Shae for the next decade than Dame and Zion for who knows how long.
I would make sure Dame spent a bunch of time with him. If at the end of it, Dame wants him, then make the trade. If he doesn’t, don’t.
The blazer would get 20 games a season out of Zion, It would be more likely seeing him at the local food carts than in the moda center floor.
Zion is injury prone and his focus is elsewhere. He’s either going to tune in and become a star or become a bust. Nothing more, nothing less.
Fuck no. Good lord no. Dude is avg like 20 games a season and his body is already failing him. He also doesn’t have ANY motivation or leadership skills. Hell no. Be such a dumbass short sighted move. Luckily seems Cronin knows the #3 is more valuable than that BS. Offer Ingram and we can have a convo at least.
Everybody loves Scoot
The Zion we all saw at duke and very very brief flashes of in the NBA, will never be seen again. Which is fucking tragic because Duke Zion was on a straight line to becoming a top 20 player OAT
We would regret trading the #3 for Zion.
That would be a fun 20 games and a depressing 62 games. No, thank you.
It would be Brandon Ingram. Pels aren’t trading Zion for that
Yeah I think there is a slim to none chance the blazers want zion for the 3rd.