The coaching change in New Orleans is only a small part of the situation facing the Pelicans, according to Shams Charania, Joe Vardon and William Guillory of The Athletic. Sources tell the authors that some members of Zion Williamson‘s family are extremely critical of the organization and want to see him on another team.
Wednesday’s decision to part ways with head coach Stan Van Gundy after just one season was part of the effort to make Williamson happier. Charania, Vardon and Guillory cite a “growing unease” between Van Gundy and his players, as well as between the coach and the front office.
The Pelicans have missed the playoffs in each of Williamson’s first two NBA seasons, and numerous sources spoke about family members who would like to see him in a better situation. Williamson seemed to exhibit his own frustration at an end-of-season press conference.
“It’s disappointing. I’d be lying to you if I said anything else,” he said. “It’s very disappointing. But the best thing we can do is regroup, come together as a team, come together as coaches this offseason, talk and do what we need to do to be better next year. It’s not much to it, we just gotta be better.”
Even if Williamson does want to go elsewhere, getting there won’t be easy. He will be under team control for the next three seasons and will almost certainly be offered a maximum-salary rookie scale extension next summer. Even if he turns that down and opts for restricted free agency, the Pelicans will be able to match any offer he receives.
Accepting a qualifying offer could get him to unrestricted free agency after his fifth season, but that’d be an unprecedented move for a player of Williamson’s caliber.
The team has already made changes to accommodate Zion, the authors add, reworking its support staff during the offseason. Even so, family members have remained critical of the organization, with Van Gundy as a frequent target. The family saw Van Gundy as too “rigid and demanding” and believed the Pelicans didn’t treat Williamson like a typical NBA star.
Williamson was also reportedly upset with a March trade that sent J.J. Redick to the Mavericks. Citing family concerns, Redick had asked to either be traded before the season or stay with the team until the season was done. Williamson had become close with Redick, who blasted the organization on his way out. His comments were believed to have affected Zion’s view of the team.
As long as Mrs Benson still owns the team the league will always try to pry there best players.
Pelicans are dysfunction
Future is as dark as Wolves
First round picks from Bucks and Lakers won’t be good
Sounds just like the AD situation.
Except five years earlier. Davis at least gave it a try for several years. This is year #2 for Zion. If he forces his way out this early, we might as well scrap the draft and just let anyone sign wherever they want.
At this point I’d say just do away with contracts completely and let these guys pick their pick-up team at the beginning of every other season
Amen.
Free agency for everyone, every year.
I think, It’s the fairest way to do it.
Freedom at the price of security.
Yay chaos?
Better than no competitive balance that we have now.
Think it’s pretty obvious he’s angling to go to the Knicks. Tight with RJ and also wonder if Knicks can buy low on Reddish.
Clearly the pelicans wouldn’t want to trade him. But I doubt he resigns regardless as unlike most rookies he already has big money via endorsement/shoe deal.
Could the Knicks offer Randle maybe Toppin and some picks, doesn’t seem like enough but it’s a situation worth monitoring. Maybe 3 team deal for additional assets.
I don’t think Pelicans want Randle and RJ
Via third team
Third team will have to offer proven young star like Donovan Michell or Booker and 1 lottery pick
Knicks don’t have any lottery pick
Via third team, Lakers can make trade offer too
If that were the case Knicks could offer Randle plus a few extra firsts they have plus their own picks. Problem is, with Zion, I don’t know if anyone thinks NY’s firsts are going to be worth that much.
Randle + Ingram + motherload of picks from LA, Milwaukee, and NY to get a third guy and be semi-competitive COULD appeal to New Orleans, because going nuclear when you just went nuclear and got Zion can’t be appealing at all.
Having said that, even as a Knicks fan, I would still be disgusted if that happened. If Zion successfully forces his way out in two years, then essentially every smaller market team in the league should just pack it up and go home.
They already can’t get stars to sign with them. Now if they DRAFT a star and he can just decide to force his way out before he’s even extension eligible? Forget it. If that’s the case, they should just contract the league to be Boston, NY, Brooklyn, Philly, Miami, LAL x 2, and Golden State.
NO had Randle already. I doubt they would want him back, especially at a higher price.
I agree, but Randle is definitely a better player now than he was in NO. His abysmal playoff performance notwithstanding.
This crap really needs to stop. He was drafted by them and has a five year contract. There is literally nothing to pelicans can do to extract the same value for him.
If he doesn’t like it there, he should quit.
Amen
I feel for pelicans. Lebron has made this a players league with zero loyalty, so what if pelicans do everything he asks? He could do the james harden and stop trying to get off team and then cite that “them catering to me wasn’t what I wanted” I just want players to stay on there respective teams and not create superteams
There is no loyalty in sports from both sides. Look at situations where guys were traded at the beginning of a new contract. Teams should make a better effort to put better talent around their stars. Also Lebron has never asked for a trade and actually stuck with the Cavs when they barely put talent around him.
His family doesn’t speak for him, I can understand if he said he wants out but the post says nothing to that nature.
If the player doesn’t like where he’s drafted can’t he get out after three years? Or does the team have total control over that extension for year 4 and 5?
I guess the restricted free agent part after year three ultimately gives the team all the control. Still not a bad gig though as an NBA basketball player.. get paid pretty good money, travel, Summers off, 5-year commitment. You don’t like the situation then head for the hills in year 6. Not too shabby.
On paper it is 9 years
4 year rookie contract + 5 year max contract
Reality a star can ask for trade at any time
Teams usually trade them
The team actually has control for NINE years if they want it. The first five years are completely under team control. The next four are covered under the RFA situation. It could be gotten around slightly if he accepted a one year offer sheet from a team as an RFA. But that would be a big gamble on health for both team and player and still cover his first six years.
Or a RFA can sign a qualifying offer sheet and become an UFA the next year.
Yeah I forgot about accepting the qualifying offer. Although that carries the same risk for the player as accepting a one year deal from another team. Plus, the new team wouldn’t get his Bird rights, so he would get paid less by accepting the QO.
It’s technically only 6 years of team control if the player accepts the qualifying offer instead of signing an offer sheet. Honestly any player who is drafted could ask for a shorter rookie contract but I doubt any player who would turn down the guaranteed money at the start of their career.
I don’t understand the mentality of “he got drafted, so…” That’s the problem: he got drafted. He didn’t get any say in where he wants to play. If you’re drafted somewhere that’s a mess or you don’t like, you’re stuck there for five years. That’s a big chunk of the average NBA career.
I guess you could force your way out. Couple guys have done that. Sit out, not get paid, force them 2 unload you.
I still think, like I said above, not a bad deal. Five-year commitment.. it’s not like you’re in Siberia or Antarctica. You’re in New Orleans or Sacramento or whatever city a guy wouldn’t like to be in. Heck I wouldn’t mind Sacramento or New Orleans or any of the NBA cities. Just play ball, collect the money and year six hit the road.
Actually the only problem I have with the players is when they sign the max deal with their team and then six months later cry that they want out of there. That stinks.
I have sympathy for players who are drafted and want out because they had no choice in their destination.
Less so if a guy signs a big FA deal and suddenly wants out, barring some major change in the franchise.
I don’t. They get paid to provide entertainment. They’re privileged to be performing a kids game and getting paid like a CEO. I’m not saying they don’t deserve to get paid, but let’s pump the brakes on the entitlement and AAU attitude.
See, I hear that argument about money so much. Yes, they make a lot of money. They also perform athletically to a level many of us cannot, which is why they make that money. Supply and demand.
You can train someone to be a CEO. You can’t teach an elite vertical jump. You can’t teach someone to be 7′ tall.
Because they make a lot of money, they don’t deserve to be happy with their employer?
How many people actually like their boss? I mean really like their boss? Just because these guys make a lot of money doesn’t mean their bosses should bend over backwards for them either.
Additionally, there are a lot of jobs that people are just not smart enough to do, so don’t demean the people doing non-physical labor by saying anyone can be trained to do their job.
These guys are physical freaks (I mean that in a good way), but there are a LOT of players that can easily take their roster spot and no one would really notice. If Zion retires tomorrow, the NBA would not shut down. They would just gravitate toward the next big thing that would emerge. Stick your finger in bowl of water and then pull it out, these guys can be replaced just as quickly as the water replaces your finger.
No disrespect meant to anyone doing non-physical labor jobs. I did say someone, not “anyone” could be trained. It does take a high degree of intelligence and dedication. Still, that pool of people is bigger than the elite level athlete pool.
I’d argue there aren’t a ton of people who can take these guys spots though without people noticing. If that’s the case, NO should have no issue trading Zion, right?
I realize not everyone likes their boss, but most of us have other employers in the same field we can jump to freely. NBA players don’t have that option.
They don’t have that option because the demand is not there for more than one pro basketball league in this country. There is far more demand for CPAs or lawyers or doctors than for basketball players. That’s why there are multiple options for those people. Besides, NBA players can always go overseas.
Trading Zion to another team is not the same as him going away. In one case you remove his value without adding him somewhere else. In another you remove him while adding to an opponent, thereby weakening your relative position. Think of it like we both have $100. If $20 just burns up and is lost, then you have $100 and I have $80. I only have to find $20 for us to be even again. But if I give you that $20 and take back lottery tickets (the equivalent of draft picks), then you have $120 and I have $80. I have to get twice as much value for us to even again. So not the same.
Both sides of this argument miss the point slightly.
The NBA is a business. No one is spending $200 on League Pass or buying $100 tickets to see a guy who can just jump high in an empty gym or has accomplished the feat of being 7 feet tall.
They’re paying to see world class athletes compete in a dramatic product the NBA puts out.
Guys leaving teams to this degree hurts the drama of the NBA product. Rivalries become essentially non-existent when guys switch teams every two years.
And, more importantly, small market teams (the majority of the league) bleed cash because they can’t get anyone interested in their franchise because even when they get a star like Anthony Davis or Zion Williamson they demand trades and the team is back at ground zero.
At some point, if this continues at this rate, this will hurt the NBA product overall in a meaningful way, which will hurt the NBA’s bottom line, which ultimately will hurt the players’ salaries.
So it’s in the interest of both parties to come to a sensible arrangement balancing the freedom of the players and the rights of the individual franchises.
Do you get to choose where you live and work?
Does Tiger Woods get to choose which golf tourneys he enters?
Does a tennis player get to choose when and where they wish to become a professional player?
NBA and NFL use a method that is not capitalism to enforce restrictions to play in the league. Sure they can do it, but your argument is weak that he has to stay with a team when he is drafted when other industries do not do the same thing.
Zion is smart to want out. He sees what is happening in the NBA and the Pelicans are not gonna compete anytime soon.
Sorry everyone, Los Angeles, NYC, and Miami will ALWAYS be the preferred choices for players bc, well, these cities are far more fun to live in than say Cleveland.
They are rookies. They should have no power in where they go. I understand when vets decide to leave because they have at least done something for the organization. But rookies have no seniority and have proven nothing in the pros. Their high school/college hype can only take them so far.
Hiflew, why? Because that’s how it has been done? Zion right now is probably better than 30 vets who will be FAs this off-season. I haven’t looked at the list, but I’m confident in it.
Honestly if I had the gifts to play a pro sport, I’d rather go undrafted and pick my destination. It may be less money, but you can set yourself up better.
Because that is the way the world works. In every business. Not just pro sports. You don’t get to walk into a company and have as much pull as someone that has worked there for 10 years. You just don’t. This generation is not going to change that any more than the last generation could. And trust me we wanted to as well. Same with the baby boomer generation, they had to take their lumps also.
Yes it because that’s how it has always been done.
I don’t want to turn this into a bigger than basketball conversation, but I just question why the status quo is accepted if it can be improved?
I’m not really arguing with you that it’s hard to enact change because you’re right. I just don’t understand coming down on players because they try.
It’s all about the entitled attitude to me. It’s the disrespect for everyone that came before them that put them in the position they are in to even think about challenging the status quo.
It’s not so much their actions of trying to change, it’s the disrespectful attitude at the forefront of those actions. Maybe if these guys showed a little bit of humility, I might have some empathy. But they don’t.
Without the draft and the de facto 7(ish?) years of team-control of rookies, the NBA’s talent imbalance would probably be worse, and diminish the competiveness of the league over time.
How many top shelf prospects would pick Milwaukee, Charolette, Utah, or OKC? I just don’t think immediate free agency would be good for anyone other than the Zions, KGs, and LALs of the world.
This generation has already changed the dynamic in the NBA…
Ask AD and Harden.
BTW when did the baby boomers ever take any lumps. They have had a vice grip on this country since the 80s and it is always what they want.
IE… See Donald Trump.
@Appalachian_Outlaw… I totally agree with you, Zion never chose to play in the big easy… folks seem to have trouble understanding this!!!
BTW, guys did you know that Chauncey Billups the #3 pick he didn’t wanna be in BOS & force a trade in his rookie season!!!
Now that didn’t make the draft useless from then on, right?
Boy, oh boy… this site is sooo full of drama queens!
El Don and AppOutlaw…. what’s your take on the salary cap?
Billups didn’t force a trade, the Celtics just traded him because he was a disappointment. In fact, he was on 5 teams in his first 4 years, including 1 he never played for, mainly because he was disappointing everywhere he played.
Well, honestly the Celtics were more disappointed they didn’t get Duncan, but you get the gist.
You could also chose to sign a shorter contract or take your talents overseas. Even though they don’t get to choose who drafts them, they also are not forced to sign a contract to play for said team.
DXC has explained this… small-market owners made it hard for drafted players to leave for say a more glamorous city. The rules are artificial and can be changed in the next CBA negotiations, whenever they get over the covid turbulence. Every CBA the rules change… cynically, to make up for the problems created by the previous round of solutions!
But the •natural rules of life• laid out by hiflew are not mandatory. Neither is full free agency plausible!
There should be some adjustments made, giving an easier out to draftees. But neither side will want to shift power to newbies. It’s about who sits at the table when unions & mgmt. clash.
Balderdash! LOL
Zion holds all the cards. Here’s how he gets his way:
1. He refuses the extension.
2. He tells the front office he’s taking the qualifying offer whenever he becomes an RFA.
3. The Pelicans are F*#$@$ if Zion actually takes the QO, as they can’t trade him anywhere without his permission. He can literally walk away at the end of the 24-25 season with the Pelicans getting absolutely nothing for him.
Granted, taking the qualifying offer is turning down a huge payday. But if Zion *really* wants out, he can make it very, very painful for New Orleans. And they know that as well as anyone.
SO, realistically, the Pelicans have to trade him if he refuses the extension. Not now, but come Feb 2023? They either trade him or watch him take the qualifying offer and lose him for nothing.
See I wish family members would let the players make their own choices. Maybe it’s just me being biased bc of Kawhi’s family essentially turning the spurs against him to get him to go to LA, but this annoys me. And yes I know there was blame on the spurs side, but i know that it easily could’ve been resolved if there weren’t people whispering in his ear, even going as far to help him avoid talking to the spurs. I forgave Kawhi bc he is a grown man a long time ago, free to make his own choices, but I’ll never forgive his uncle for sticking his nose where it doesn’t belong. These guys are men, not children, i get they want the best for their family but they should let them handle their own business. Family is important, but they shouldn’t get that involved unless it is immediate family who lives with the player, meaning spouse and children. That’s it. Idk. Just my rant. I’m probably wrong in a way too bc like I said recent bias against my own franchise hurt by family getting involved
The NBA has a competitive balance problem when players drafted by non-glamour market teams are are already clamouring to leave after their sophomore season.
Idk how you can claim competitive imbalance when Hawks and Suns are about to make respective conference finals.
I don’t typically feel this way, but starting to see less player empowerment era and more player entitlement era. And I’m a Zion fan.
Yes correct and you know what, it’s less about the city than we think. It’s more about the owner and or management. I guess the GM tried to appease the players here by firing Van Gundy with a lot of money still on his deal. Maybe this report came out before the coach was fired?
Do you think Phoenix and Atlanta are small markets?
It is not the market. It is the franchise! He will have his 3rd coach in his first 3 seasons. Including just coming off having one of the worst and annoying coaches in the game.
The nba is just falling apart everyone wants to leave now. They should just do a fantasy draft of all the players and have them be picked to teams. I know that would never happen but dang that would be entertaining
Maybe they should just have 10 teams located in New York for those that want to focus on advertising and future broadcasting careers, 10 teams located in Los Angeles for those that want to focus on acting careers and/or doing Kardashians, and 10 teams located in Miami for those that want to focus on good weather and parties.
Wiseman, Wiggins, the two 1st rounders and future picks for Zion. ZW goes to a team who is never going to fire its coach. Boom, everyone wins.
coupofthecentury Money doesn’t match, 10s of millions would need to go to GS to make it fit. But if that GSW pick hits top 4 then it would still only have a 15% chance of hitting.
Really wouldn’t have to be that much to make the money match. Obviously it would never happen, but all the Warriors would have to do is take back the contract of either Eric Bledsoe or Steven Adams and the money would work. It would take all of the Pelicans cap room though.
Zion doesn’t have the ability to force his way out of New Orleans. He’s there for either 7-8 years, or if he wants to forego $$ security for 2 years and play his 5th season for a Q/O, 5 years. That’s the system he bought into.
Pels can be stupid / weak minded, and accommodate him, or explain the facts of NBA contractual life to him. If they trade him, the owners need to sell the team incident to a move out of the City. No point in having the franchise, even for the basketball fans there.
This is so naive.
Zion can ruin the Pelicans as a Franchise if he wanted too.
Do you think people in NO go to the games to see the Stephen Adams?
LOL. Not sure what side of the discussion you’re taking. The only way that Zion ruins the Pels is if they give in to his desire for a trade. That’s true precisely because fans don’t go to see Steven Adams. Getting a few draft picks isn’t going to matter to the fanbase of a team that can’t hold their drafted players to the RSC regime.
I sincerely hope they “explain the facts,” then watch Zion sign the qualifying offer and see one of their greatest players walk away with nothing to show for it. That would be epic.
But what’s more likely is that New Orleans doesn’t want to risk Zion signing the qualifying offer, so they’ll trade him. Because “telling him how it is,” or whatever, would be really really stupid if it means losing Zion for nothing.
But I hope they do it your way. That would be hilarious.
Shush little boy. When you learn what a contract is maybe your thoughts on a situation like this won’t be so comical. You’re suggesting Zion go down a path that no player ever has (not signing an early max extension when offered). When that’s the case, there are reasons. The fact that you are unable to understand them doesn’t change anything.
If Zion really wants to go down this path, it’s not good for him or the Pels. But certainly the Pels are best served by taking the 5 years vs the 7 years, versus accommodating any trade demands to salvage a few secondary assets.
Ya, you’re probably right. Zion has already locked up $100 million in income via endorsements, and made enough money to cover him for life. He’s definitely not the kind of guy who could afford to take a financial risk like refusing a big extension.
And sure, his family would support him doing whatever it takes to get out of the dumpster fire that is New Orleans.
And yes, lots of players have done exactly what I’m describing (Ben Gordon, Ray Felton, Vlad Radmonovic, Nestorovic).
But I’m sure you’re right. Nothing to worry about at all if you’re New Orleans. After all, tHeyVe goT a cONtraCt.
I would be disappointed too but trade demands after 2 years in the league is a little ridiculous.
Just for argument’s sake. You’d require a haul for Zion and let’s get the picks out of the way:
Mavs 1sts: 2021, 2023
Knicks 1sts: 2021, 2023, 2025, and 2027
Players: Obi Toppin
If the Pels say – you have to take Bledsoe or find a taker for Bledsoe, then you’re looking at some of that draft capital reducing slightly.
But until then, my plan would be to build around Zion. Make roster improvements – Trade Bledsoe & Adams (35M) for Kemba Walker (36M). S&T Lonzo Ball for Lauri Markkanen. Re-up Hart. Then see how much space you have left to add veterans on the fringe or MLE.
Remember you need to find a trade where someone wants to get out of their player just as much as you want to get out of Bledsoe, so Kemba is a logical answer. Otherwise, you’re looking at a Westbrick. I don’t see that jiving.
C – Hayes / TBD
PF – Zion / Markkanen
SF – Ingram / Marshall
SG – Hart / Walker
PG – Kemba / Lewis
Alternatively, I’ll give you Ben Simmons + 4 1sts and pick swaps for Bledsoe and Zion.
Philly has only two available first round picks to trade
Simmons is an all star, good value
If I’m Philly I would not do that. The way Zion plays he gets hurt a little bit too much and that athleticism will eventually disappear Blake Griffin Style. I’d rather keep Ben Simmons and
HIRE A SHOOTING COACH !!!!!!!!!!
They could both be viewed as risky and able to get a GM fired. Of course NY’s Rose has a fallback job!
I would support a Z-Will trade bC he does not fit with Ingram, or Adams really. Best moves are to trade Ingram+Adams for a shooting big and sign Hart for the 3.
If I am the Knicks, I would rather keep Randle. You know Randle works in NY. Even if he did have a rough handful of games in the playoffs, he was still 2nd team All NBA and still only 26. Zion for all his hype, might not work as well. He had a good year, but will he ever be healthy enough? It’s kind of like Embiid, or Bill Walton for us older guys, the guy has all the talent in the world, but if he’s not on the court the talent doesn’t matter.
Zion and adams to mavs for porzingis and picks?
hahahahahaahahha.
Glad you’re back man. That whole “The NBA is fake, the Lakers will win” routine was hilarious. Now you think a trade centered around Porzingis (who has negative value) and picks is a good package for Zion.
You’re the funniest guy on the site.
Have you heard of the sport of basketball, bro? I think you might enjoy it. You should give it a watch.
Van Gundy hire was a head scratcher from day 1. The only way to repair the relationship between Zion and the organization is to hire Billups or Kidd, someone he will respect and be able to learn from/have open dialogue with.
Young players need a relatable coach who can extract the most out of their talent. David Griffin is one mistake from costing a small market team their 3rd star player (CP3, AD, now Zion)
Griffin isn’t a good GM. Give most of us on this board LBJ in his prime and a GM position, we could probably build a halfway decent team.
Nothing to do with New Orleans or Zion, but I wish Ben Simmons family would demand Philly trade him. That might be the only way they’d pull the plug and try a different approach next season. Now we get to spend the off-season as a laughingstock.
He’s fat
Knicks could use Ball more than Zion but I’ll take both.
It’s not like the Pels have a history of deep playoff appearances…
As a GM, I wouldn’t give a ton for Zion. Most of his first two seasons he’s spent limping up and down the court, and he lands hard off his dunks like a young Blake Griffin.
Ugh, here we go again!
TWO YEARS!!!! Waa, I don’t like the coach, waa, you traded JJ, waa we didn’t make the playoffs!
My goodness, when does this stop?! Some in his family chirping = Zion asking his family to do his chirping for him in a pathetic passive aggressive move.
What if the problem is that some NBA franchises are awful? What if it’s NOT the players, but some rich idiots?
The winning percentage leaguewide will always be 50%. One can assume some will not be winners. Remove them, and then somebody else will be the losers.
So no reason to start removals.
Ya I don’t think contraction is the answer. But the league could force a lot of owners out for the benefit of fans, revenue, etc.
Consider New Orleans: In just the last 20 years, they’ve blown it with Chris Paul, Anthony Davis, and now (probably) Zion. How many superstars can a team not win with before the league steps in and forces a sale?
These babies need to stop crying and man up. They are in an elite league making elite money, and leadership starts with yourself. Zion apparently wants to blame the coach or the front office for poor team play on the court, which is ultimately the players’ responsibility. It’s one thing to over perform on the court and then criticize management for not providing enough support. It is another to fail to condition properly, fail to set an example for team mates as a leader, and then put all blame on others.
Yeah,
Hiring Van Gundy is on Zion as was giving an extension to Stephen Adams…
Zion should know better.
When he hits restricted free agency, he could just sign a 1 year deal. Pelicans may or may not match. If they know zion will sign a 1 year deal, they could just sign and trade him to whatever franchise and then zion signs a 3 year or 4 year deal with that other club
Nope. Obviously, you don’t know the RFA rules. The only way he can get out of New Orleans in under 7 years (without the team facilitating it) is to go through year 5 on a Q/O. That’s 3 more seasons, and the final 2 seasons without the security of a multi-year deal (something that, to date, nobody’s ever done when a max extension was offered).
Varejao threatened to do it, and Cleveland ultimately caved on his demands as a result.
Varejao? Threatened what? He wasn’t even a RSC, so clearly not eligible for a max extension of a RSC.
Name one guy on a RSC who after the 3rd year of his RSC is offered a max extension that turned it down? Presumably because he preferred to play years 4 and 5 on 1 year deals, vs getting 100 mm, all for the privilege of leaving early. Maybe one guy threatened, but it wasn’t done publicly.
Yea only a few dudes I can recall did that and they ended up getting screwed. Montajunas comes to mind.
Didn’t get a max offer to turn down. Zion would be turning down well over 100 mm that would be locked in a year in advance (effecting electing to move forward under 1 year deals for 2 seasons). He has to REALLY want out.
Right. Why would Zion REALLY want out. Things are obviously fantastic.
I’m sure he’d LOVE to spend 9 years of his career in New Orleans. Makes PERFECT sense.
Awwwwwww poor little Zion isn’t being coddled and spoon-fed so he throws a hissy fit? Boo hoo
You do know that this is a report about his family possibly saying something and not a direct quote from Zion himself.
Maybe you are responding to an obvious attempt to get people to read an article and pick a side?
I mean i heard that your aunt said you dont really like NBA trade Rumors and that you want the entire staff fired. Should I believe that too?
Millenials, Generation Z …… they are entitled.
Everyone born after the 90s is entitled. I was born in the 80s. Worked two jobs to pay off my tuition, was handed nothing & worked for everything…
But boomers aren’t? Come on Mike! :)
I’ve lived long enough to state that my generation (X) worked and deserved everything they got in life.
There will be outliers of course, but Gen X has long been in the frontlines, in this technological / internet revolution.
Millennials have been the butt of jokes in the corporate world for some time now. Entitled, impatient.
Boomers will be boomers, they have the money.
Why does his “ Family” have to say these things? Isn’t he a grown ass man who can speak for himself? Reminds me of part time Kawai and his uncle. Let me guess he wants to go to some place non dis functional like the Knicks. Come on just say he wants to play in LA or NY.
I believe the NY media is behind this and the next story out is he wants to be traded to the Knicks. The NY media believes that everyone wants to play there. Two years ago the NY media was talking about the Knicks signing every available top free agent , as well as winning the lottery and getting Zion. As usual the Knicks signed nobody. The Knicks sucks and MSG is a S-Hole!!!
Make it where any team can resign their own draft picks to any contract without being over the cap. Say said player that was drafted only counts 10 million to the salary cap. Also, say that if player forces a trade they lose 15% of the max value of the contract they can sign next time around as a penalty for forcing the trade.