New Orleans Pelicans need to trade one core player per report. Zion Williamson? Ingram? McCollum?

[@LockedOnPelicans]

Are you trading Zion, Ingram, or McCollum?

[@nyamsus9285]

Z

[@shaneclayton9199]

Trade CJ, get CP3

[@Yellow_belly777]

Zion, let's go get scoot

[@NolaBlake504]

Brandon Ingram has too good a work ethic and love for the game to trade. Zion is probably worth more in a trade, but CJ isn’t really a contending second option. Just depends on what’s available.

[@matthewstratton5635]

I think we will have a consensus on who goes after another year. Right now it is a bit unclear. Because we have Zion who is overpaid for how much he plays and CJ who is overpaid for what he gives us. It is clearly easier to find someone to plug into a CJ spot that can give us similar output, then to replace a Zion. I definitely think BI is a player that should not be on the table. Our problem last year was that the team was built around having Zion and Bi playing at the same time, which just didn't happen to the extent it should have. I think that we need to build the team around BI and TM3, and if we have Zion, Great, but don't build the team around him, because then we have a team that doesn't work if we don't have him because he cannot be replicated.

[@Hornet2199]

Winning a title??? How about we set a goal of making it to the 2nd round of the playoffs.

[@hammeraffe]

yeah lol this fanbase is so delusional never make the cf final and want a chip lmao

[@BHRockaChaw]

Or just making the playoffs at all.

[@rickypronia2494]

How about making the playoffs first?

[@joeordile2250]

#1 seed when healthy

[@saucystew8111]

CJ is the odd man out. Age, contract, role all suggests his time is coming to an end. I hope we can draft Jordan Hawkins or Keyonte George. That way we could move Trey to the starting lineup and feature one of them off the bench.

[@vulturemode3464]

Yet he played the most games for our team out of Zion and BI….

[@saucystew8111]

@@vulturemode3464 and yet we are in the lottery. Are you telling me that you would trade Zion or BI before CJ??

[@brandonmoss7976]

@@vulturemode3464 how has he performed in postseason??? It seems like bi has to carry the load the last two times 😕 Remember the playing tournament? Remember the playoffs against Phoenix? It's almost like he wasn't even there 😕

[@vulturemode3464]

@@saucystew8111 Perosnally I’m not trading BI. I personally think he’s a better player than Jaylen Brown. But that’s for another discussion… Zion is obviously the best player we have, BI is a great second option. CJ is clearly our most reliable. I wouldn’t want to trade any of them personally but it I had to I’m getting the biggest bang for my buck and trading the person I can get the most for and who’s don’t the absolute LEAST for me as a team… BYE ZION!! Fat boy can go sit on someone else’s bench

[@vulturemode3464]

@@brandonmoss7976 he played hurt. Maybe if fat boy was on the court we would’ve won 🤷🏾‍♂️ but what do I know? He didn’t feel like Big Z so he watched, giggling on the bench… CJ played hurt, Jose was hurt, Zion had mental issues AND was hurt, BI played as well as he could’ve but we have NO shooters on the team other than CJ and Trey. We have a dumb coach who doesn’t know how to set up rotations for the team. And a double double machine who sits the bench (JV). We got a lot more problems than CJ McCollum my guy…. but trade away CJ like you all say for a worse asset, watch BI and Zion sit on the bench for another year and let’s have this conversation again about who we need to trade :)) I’ll be waiting

[@tehutim]

You are really committed to this BS. At this point it appears over.

[@lionelsimmons4704]

Zion trade rumors all over because of your trade zion video..they quoted you after "according to"

[@jefferyfennix1114]

That is what I said. Jake needs a narrative so bad, so he used Zion to stay relevant. I believe Zion is going to work so hard to change the narrative about him. Get rid of CJ. They should've never traded Drew!

[@rickypronia2494]

We played the Nuggets 4 times this year. Won2 lost 2. One of the games we lost was by one point. We just need to stay healthy, have a good draft.

[@brandonmoss7976]

If you going to trade somebody you trade your worst players not your best assets. Trade Josh Richardson, Trade Jaxson Hayes, Trade Kira (but use my bad player though), Billy Hernangomez is not trash at all as a matter of fact he's really good and efficient but the pelicans don't know how to use them I rather him succeed elsewhere. It would be a very unwise to trade any of the three right now, and the only problem with Jonas is that the front office doesn't know how to properly utilize him. They need to stop looking at him on an island and start incorporating him into the offense and not just passing the ball and expect him to do everything while everybody else stands around looking lost. They need to play Jonas the same way the nuggets played Jokic. If you have to trade one of the big three tho......😩😩😩😩😩 I guess trading CJ for somebody younger could help I certainly wouldn't mind us getting a faster guard, only because he doesn't show up much in the post season but..... Zion don't even show up and make sure the games, Let alone the postseason. But you keep B Ingram, because he actually wants to be great, 👍🏾

[@ericchau1058]

billy really do need more minutes somewhere; he plays good basketball, comfortable with the pick and roll, punishing the smaller man, plays like kevon looney simple, not super exciting, but effective.

[@brandonmoss7976]

@@ericchau1058 exactly what I'm saying! I really like him as a player and I already know he would Excel anywhere else! Also when we played the nuggets a lot of people forgot that he was the one who shut Jokic down and allowed us to win that game, and also Jose Alvarado 😆

[@ericchau1058]

@@brandonmoss7976 honestly want to keep him cause he has such good chemistry with the guys on the team; hella thought that he would get more minutes after winning euro league mvp

[@brandonmoss7976]

@@ericchau1058 that's what I was hoping for as well I was so confused 😕 even David West was questioning the minutes he was playing and even mention how efficient he was when he came in to play. Sometimes this front office works on nerves 😆

[@KonaSaint504]

Bro you couldn't even get teams to take those players in 2K lol.

[@astrocade9541]

Not trading BI at all. I also remember what we looked like without CJ. Dude was hurt, shooting with that brace and giving 100% effort. I’ll keep CJ. We done got spoiled and forgot

[@TheTakeOver42]

Y'all talking about blowing the Pelicans up when if you draft and Scouts the right free agents none of this would be a problem y'all so happy with players like Dyson Daniels and Jackson Hayes and those dudes are trash we need to move on from the players like that and bringing Talent that's going to help the team

[@amcboy2632]

We cannot afford to pay a guy $200 million to sit on the bench. Move THAT GUY. Do I really need to list his name?

[@vulturemode3464]

I’ll say it for you… Zion Lateef Williamson

[@officialbadmuthashucka7015]

This the first year that that contract takes affect

[@KOFIKNOWS]

The guy that only plays 29 games

[@dre7147]

We can't trade Zion it wouldn't have sense he's to young and talented

[@dre7147]

​@@KOFIKNOWS That was last year he's 22 he will play more games and improve

[@jordanryanethanowona2974]

At this point am not trading anybody

[@zeloytj4713]

Give it one more year if Z not healthy then trade him and build around BI

[@trailmountain8336]

Lol this team should have been built around BI since zion went down in 2021

[@thegoat7594]

Keep Ingram, Zion has one more year to prove himself and CJ can request a trade right now and I genuinely would be happy

[@macmoll]

As a Blazers fan I feel you 😂😂😂

[@logiq1]

CJ GONE HOPEFULLY

[@992ras]

The New CBA is gone to hurt small markets even more because it’s not like players won’t sign cheaper contracts to win titles at bigger market teams or stacked teams. This has happened in professional sports for a long time. Players will always make their on rules while rules are made up to so called make fair play. I don’t see how this CBA really helps any small market team by the time you build a team you have to get ride of it which once again seem like the small markets will take all of the effects while players will still go to big market teams to win titles or stacked teams to win titles.

[@hammeraffe]

whats the new rule?

[@rickypronia2494]

I would never trade B.I. you can not get a better player than Brandon.

[@davidwymer8244]

I think if we don’t perform well this next season one of the big 3 will be moved and it probably won’t be CJ. His salary will fall off first, BI or Zion would get a better return. For keeping the team together I feel we can stay below the tax for the next 2 seasons. Overall the cap should go up close to the max of 10% ever year. In 25-26 season that would put the cap around $162M. The tax threshold would be $192-196M. Add 7M for the first tax tier and 17..5 for tier 2. With signing our FRP to around $4M add $20M for a center, pay BI $42M we would be at $173M for 11 guys before we extend Trey. We could easily go into the tax for a year stay below the first tier of the tax and fall below the tax the next year when CJ falls off

[@paullanoue5228]

Really like CJ. He plays hurt, alway gives his best, and is a class act. Unfortunately his age makes him the obvious choice to trade. On Scoot Henderson I watched an 8 minute video on him and turned it of after 4 minutes. Didn’t need to see anymore. If I was a GM I’d trade a kidney to draft that guy.

[@yzjiuniang3521]

I simply donot think we can expect Zion to keep healthy for a lot of seasons....since the very start

[@DHW448]

Jake, doing a daft pick trade calculation. If the Pelicans trade this years 1st & both of next years first( Lakers option) is more than enough for the 2nd overall from Charlotte. 3500 point value for 2nd overall is the calculator I used. Is Scoot worth it?? Please do a show on it. Thanks

[@joesilver1216]

Great show.I would like to mimic your mustache around my lip era , but whenever i eat food its hard and also lip hair on my lip itches alot. Any suggestions on how i can avoid these issues?

[@IM-st2yo]

Man I don’t understand the hubris around OKC. They haven’t done anything and the west remains competitive. So what they have some guys that can play. Everyone does too. Just because they are feisty doesn’t mean that’s an indication of future success. I think the pels need to just stay the course. It sucks because it hasn’t yielded much success but with yesterday stars aging themselves out of contention the pels are in a good position to take the mantle. I think CJ might have to restructure his contract in the future. He’s getting paid too much but his production is needed at the moment. Pels should build around the core of BI, Zion, Herb, Trey. Everyone else is expendable. Luckily herb had a so-so year and they can kinda underpay for his services. I’d lock herb up today. BI will be courted and ask for the max. He’s prob the missing piece for a number of teams. I’d be foolish to move BI cause he’s still ascending. Zion is a generational talent. I’d keep him and as CJ the odd man out. He’s older and declining. But he’s a valuable asset and his production is invaluable. I don’t think point CJ was a failure. The whole team never really played. He was needed to score with guys in and out the lineup. But I think the ideal role for CJ is sixth man. The pels bench scoring needs a boost and CJ has microwave like qualities.

[@RuthlessPragmatic]

The question the front office has to ask themselves is do they want to pay BI 35% of the cap. Is he worth it? They need to figure that out now. Not a year later.

[@lionelsimmons4704]

Cj 2 1st for the 2nd pick

[@trailmountain8336]

What? 😂 Make it stop

[@vettelifedeucenola6573]

As long as it ain’t BI idc

[@jonbrodes1290]

If gayle doesn’t want to put together a championship team of Zion or Bi we’d both healthy Just move the team to Vegas

[@LetsGoPels]

I don’t think “blow it up” is the right term here, it’s more of just trade cj for a young talent and picks and get a cheap veteran

[@vulturemode3464]

Just throw the whole team away at this point.. We won’t get anything comparable for CJ, and Zion and BI can’t stay on the court… I’m just over it. I’m so tired of hearing about trading players. I really think we have what we need to compete and potentially win. But we won’t win a damn thing if Zion or BI can’t play more than half the season!

[@Paulb0961]

What a terrible take

[@vulturemode3464]

@@Paulb0961 you tell me how we’re supposed to win if we trade CJ and Zion and BI can’t stay on the floor… i’m seriously intrigued

[@Paulb0961]

@@vulturemode3464 so ur suggesting to give up zion and BI. Both who we acquired from the AD trade. If we are to dismantle this “whole team” the organization would have lost everything they tried to work for in the past 10 years. New medical staff, can have an impact. BI took another step in his bag this season, zion unfortunately is the same story but the org j splashed a 5 yr contract w him. Might as well give him another season and if still the same story then u trade him away. All your take says is how impatient u are lmao. You cant j give up on two stars in the game when there were shimmers of greatness from the team. You gotta give it another szn b4 you say something like that is all.

[@vulturemode3464]

@@Paulb0961 Personally, I don’t want to trade anyone. I think with the players we have, IF HEALTHY, we can go very far if not win it all… But if we gonna trade someone, i’m trading the person who’s done the absolute least for us and has a terrible health track record in Zion Williamson

[@Paulb0961]

@@vulturemode3464 but u cant trade him away this early after offering a rookie max. He needs another season.

[@lucasl2559]

Zion and BI is NOT going anywhere. I can promise you the team is not trading either of these guys. Zion is a HUGE bowling ball that is virtually unstoppable in the playoffs. The key is limiting his plays until the playoffs so how can a team with a limit Zion get to the post season? You would lean on a BI and Trey Murphy and Herb Jones. Pels have a ton of off ball talent, along with a boat load of picks that Charlotte and/or Portland might want in a trade so I would entertain anyone else on this team along with this year 1st with possibly next year 1st along with whoever is left on the bench other than those guys mentioned. Then use the Portland 3rd and swap with Charlotte for to include another 1st pick and possibly a bench player for that 2nd. Make it happen because I believe Scoot is that good of a player. I'm not worried about Victor because he can NOT STOP a Zion driving to the lane. In fact, NO ONE had been able to stop a healthy Zion driving into the lane so I'd say he stays. It would be a HUGE mistake if Zion is traded for that 2nd pick, even if its for Scoot. Zion is your muscle that every team need if they want to go deep into the playoffs.

[@blunar844]

Nick Smith or Keyonte George should fill that combo guard role after CJ is out

[@TheTakeOver42]

We have to really look at this the right way if we trade Zion who can we bring in that's comparable to Zion that will help us win with this current roster I can really tell you nobody because the way y'all Bash and put out trade rumors for Zion it's dropping his Market Zion is a one of one Talent who's just 22 years old and y'all don't really want to give him an opportunity to showcase that Talent Michael Jordan LeBron James Kevin Durant none of them won within the first four years in the league so why do y'all expect Zion to

[@drkknght5790]

I been saying they should be trading CJ. I think they could of traded him at the trade deadline last year. I think they can still trade him and get a player who more fits the team. I think we need and attacking guard

[@Frank-hv7xj]

I'm not a Pelicans fan, but I definitely would trade Zion for Scoot. Let's be honest, Zion is injury prone, and while it's not his fault but he can't really control his weight either (and off court "issues" being a distraction). Problem to me is Idk if teams are willing to trade for an injury prone player that has weight issue. I wouldn't.

[@JosephRomanick]

I’ve been a little out of the loop but when did BI say he doesn’t want to come back? Did I hear that wrong? I think Z is a talent yea… but NOLA is the city of culture…. And Z is clearly not a leader… BI is that Guy and his game will Age very very well…if he is upset I hope we can fix things with him, he’s shown up time and time again

[@chrisflo24]

This is why NO won't ever be a championship contender with an owner whose not willing to spend like the bigger markets who have won. I just don't trust Gayle Benson to pull out the checkbook to sign good talent.

[@hammeraffe]

she never really cares about winning.. she just care about the saints.. she never going to the luxury tax with pels

[@chrismurray4120]

why dont the nba operate like the nfl and profit share so smaller market teams can compete on the same level as larger market

[@kingppen]

I think how we gotta trade our players when they new contract exceeding how much they getting paid

[@t5dagreat]

We gotta take baby steps. Look at the Nuggets, they got better each year, going from one round of the playoffs, next year it was the next round, and look at them now. Let's get to the playoffs, then the next round, and keep building.

[@DHW448]

I think it's unrealistic to ask an owner to lose money. It was eye opening that the Bucks have been losing money. So, yes I can see this team being broken up.

[@hammeraffe]

why the owner lose money? i dont get it

[@DHW448]

@Hammeraffe Jo If or when the payroll is too high for the team to make a profit.

[@lancestevens1651]

Keep BI for sure. I'm going to say trade Zion. For one, I just don't trust him. Don't think he'll be on the floor when we need him most at the end of th season. While CJ's age and contract size seems the more natural to trade... the Pels will get less for him. And if we have Zion in the team, we need shooting. If we traded CJ, that's even less shooting around Zion. And we didn't have enough shooting last year. Zion seems the most beneficial to trade, in my opnion.

[@Opulence94]

Go for winning a title this season .. If we dont win it all , Trade CJ, Nance, Naiji, Billy & Josh are traded build around Ingram and Zion

[@TheTakeOver42]

If you draft Jordan Hawkins or Grady dick, CJ is expendable but I would hold on to CJ McCollum one more year me personally I don't think CJ was worth the contract he has and his role would be better as a six man because his volume of shooting is taking the ball out of Zion and Brandon Ingram's hand

[@Shmitty2023]

Just think aboutvit, if Zion can perform on the court like he does in the bedroom, we can go all the way😂😂😂😂😂

[@nineteenct]

Winning cures everything. There’s absolutely *no* reason to invest in a team that’s unserious every postseason. If Zion can actually be available for the playoffs that can change what this era looks like entirely With that said, it’s pretty clear unless things are immaculate that BI is out the door. And I appreciate him more than literally anyone else in the organization

[@thyviralload1359]

We all who know needs to be traded.

[@landryjoseph4333]

Package C.J. and Dyson with this year 14 and our 2024 pick and see if that moves the needle. I'm not trading B.I. or Zion.

[@3piecespicygolf]

Easily CJ, not even a debate

[@sting114]

I’ll trade FAT Zion to the hornets 🐝 for the # 2 pick . If I have to throw in a unprotected 1st , I would do it

[@josebless5152]

If y’all keep not appreciating BI.. he came come to Brooklyn 🗽🫶🏿

[@JaeSproo]

*Dude....they lost both Play In games by 5 points* ---- No what that means? They don't need Zion. If they were that competitive WITHOUT HIM? Scott Henderson would kill that talent gap. He works better with McCollum and Ingram than Zion does. What are we even discussing? A fat guy who doesn't want to play there? He has *long* lost the right to benefit of the doubt because we was the No. 1 pick. He's right there with Ben Simmons now as most undeserved No. 1 overall picks ever.

[@plids59]

Hi Jake, CJ the odd man out

[@amcboy2632]

Will Zion make more games or babies next year?

[@masonbrik86]

Leonard Miller all the way. Then Maxwell Lewis.

[@jonbrodes1290]

Only way I wanna see Bi go if he goes back to lala land

[@DonwellRiley]

If you keep saying trade out top players. I'm not watching this show no more

[@Aflo1989ttv]

Cj should have been traded. You could debate they'd be better off with Josh Hart

[@quest_yo]

Trade CJ and start Jose.

[@roberthaynesjr3517]

Zion

[@nolag4630]

Thanks Jake. I'd be open to the B.I. for Scoot scenario! I think Charlotte would want more than B.I. though. So greedy!!

[@lionelsimmons4704]

Why so early. The cba?

[@linxdavinci]

Obvious answer is Z bec of his availability & the outside issue adds up a bit, but he's the most marketable player on this roster thats why the management will think twice.

[@kingt5272]

So they tryna trade ingram for the number 2

[@DJVHAGG]

Don't trade JV

[@triboy3boy]

🏀

[@KonaSaint504]

If Gayle not gonna pay the tax just sell the team. Not looking to support some middle of the road mediocrity.

[@KonaSaint504]

Basically the Pels will look like the Pre Sean/Drew Saints...cheap sh!t.

[@gw504saints]

You got to get "NBA Porn Boy" out of here.

[@JosephRomanick]

I hate saying it but try hard as hell to sell Zion for Scoot…

[@abj504]

Comment

[@terrymccain2039]

Cj talks too much

[@joshdarby96]

As far as Zions situation what if this was part of her plan was to wreck Zion's name. When I was growing up in the 90's we was taught not to mess with a chicken heads feelings and I don't think he was. I think she knew about it and trying to take Zion down so let's not play into her game

[@SaintsGirl59]

Zion, he is not playing enough games Anthony Davis 2.0.

[@thegoat7594]

Ad wasn’t even this bad with injuries either😂

[@Montas19]

The obvious answer and the one that makes most sense is Brandon Ingram. Zion's value is at it's lowest right now. You're getting fleeced if you trade him this summer. McCollum has no real value at the moment, not with that contract. Even if the Pelicans trade CJ, keeping the rest of the team's core is financially unsustainable. People might not realize it but the starting salary of Ingram's new contract will be $47M (or $55M if he earns All-NBA honours). Add that money with Zion's $39M, Trey's and Herb's extensions, JV's extension (or the salary of a good starting center). The sum is more than $150M, almost the entire salary cap for the 2025-2026 season, just for 5 players. And that's without Dyson Daniels who will still be under contract in 2025, Jose's extension and the salaries of the Pelicans 1st round picks. The Pelicans will have to go into luxury tax just to put a 15 man roster together for the 2025-2026 season. Replace Ingram's $47M (or $55M) with the No.2 pick's salary for the 2025-2026 season ($12M) and you got your answer.

[@Montas19]

Also trading Ingram now will be easier and bring the Pelicans more assets. Starting from the 2024-2025 season, trade rules will get more strict. Teams above the 2nd apron will not be able to aggregate contracts or include players via sign-and trade. Also they will be allowed to trade draft picks up to 5 years into the future, instead of 7. This means that a Brandon Ingram trade in the summer of 2024 might only bring back a player like Tobias Harris or Harrison Barnes and two late 1st round picks.

[@jamalamirihamed442]

Except no rebuilding team is gonna give up the 2nd pick of the draft for 2 years of Ingram. This isn't Playstation.

[@Montas19]

@@jamalamirihamed442 And I'm sure Ingram wouldn't like to spend the next 2 seasons of his career in Charlotte. That's why a 3rd team will get Ingram and give the Hornets future draft picks. If Scoot falls to No.3 then no 3rd team needed. Portland gets Ingram and the Pelicans get Henderson.

[@jamalamirihamed442]

@@Montas19 That doesn't make much sense for the Pelicans. If money is the issue, Zion or CJ being dealt makes more sense. CJ is declining, & Zion is under contract for longer. If Zion's the "gEnErAtIoNaL tAlEnT" most Pelican fans insist he is, he'd certainly be more likely to fetch a top-5 pick. And since he never plays anyway, team chemistry won't be disrupted. Everybody wins. 🙂

[@Montas19]

@@jamalamirihamed442 Even if they trade CJ now (almost impossible if they don't attach picks or take a bad contract back), they will still be in financial problems in two years with Ingram making $47M or $55M. Zion's contract is cheaper than Ingram's new deal. Also Zion's value is at an all time low right now.

[@gregragincajun7968]

zion need to go they should have never never spend the $ they did on him

[@coreyrubin5290]

To all the CJ McCollum haters out there, CJ will be a starter on a championship team within one season of leaving the Pels! Just like Anthony Davis! Just like Jrue Holiday! Just like a few other former Pels!!! While the Pels will be stuck in the universe of trading away their best players just when they get close to competing while going for washed up "cheap" veterans and inexperienced "affordable" rookies! Par for the course!!

[@thegoat7594]

😂😂😂😂

[@coreyrubin5290]

@@thegoat7594 I see that you agree!

[@thegoat7594]

@@coreyrubin5290 no I don’t lmao CJ isn’t a winning basketball player

[@coreyrubin5290]

@@thegoat7594 I just like messing with the haters!!LOL

[@aaronbenandi2851]

If you can move Ingram and get Scoot make it happen