Zion’s time in New Orleans may be coming to an end this summer. The big man from Duke hasn’t lived up to the incredible hype coming out of college. That’s partly due to his injury history, which has caused him to miss large swaths of time consistently. Now, making nearly 40 million dollars a year, the team appears to be willing to move on from Zion and start from the ground up.
Portland was a fascinating young team this season. They punched above their weight but still fell short of sneaking into the play-in. Finishing tied with Phoenix for the 9th worst record in the league, they currently hold the 10th pick in the draft. Of course, that could jump in the NBA draft lottery, but as of right now, Portland looks like a young, hungry team with some assets they can move. With the success they’ve had with Deni Avdija, Toumani Camara, and Shaedon Sharpe, it’s easy to see why Zion might be a great piece to gamble on.
His superstar ceiling is still a possibility; being only 24 years old, he’s far from out of the league. With some incredible stretches of basketball in New Orleans, he’s shown he can be a top-tier player in the league if he can stay healthy. That’s a big if, though, and the main gamble of trading for him.
So what would it cost to bring him in? A trade of Portland's 2025 first-round pick, DeAndre Ayton, and Shaedon Sharpe could be one of the best packages out there for Zion. It would provide the Pelicans with all the tools they could need for a fast rebuild. Considering the Pelicans also have a top 5 pick this year, they could fly back into relevancy quickly.
Overall, it’s a bigger gamble for Portland, which has the chips to continue its rebuild slowly if it desires. However, with such a tantalizing player on the table, someone is going to jump, and it could just be Portland.
Next up, we have Detroit, a team that has finally been on the rise in a meaningful way since the mid-2000s. They picked up their first playoff win since 2008 this year, breaking one of the longest streaks in the NBA. Now, with Cade Cunningham emerging as a star, it’s clear that something is brewing in Detroit. With a host of young, unproven players, and now control over their future first-round picks, the Pistons may be in a risk-taking mood to grab Cade a co-star.
The trade would involve Tobias Harris and Ron Holland, plus multiple future first-round picks and multiple second-round picks for Zion. This would give the Pelicans a nice war chest of picks to continue building the team while adding Holland, who was selected fifth in the 2024 draft. This would be a little lighter than what Portland could offer, but it would be a compelling offer if the Zion trade market isn’t strong. It’s a risk worth taking for Detroit. He could turbocharge their rebuilding, making the Pistons an electrifying young group in a weak Eastern Conference with Cade and Zion at the helm. They could create one of the most fearsome tag teams in the league.
Miami’s season ended in shambles this year. They squeaked into the playoffs only to be destroyed in a historic four-game sweep by Cleveland. Lacking star talent, this team appears to be on a downward trajectory after trading Jimmy Butler to the Warriors in the middle of the season. The absence of Jimmy has been deafening, leaving a significant gap in the talent of this team. Even players like Herro and Adebayo struggled this year as they tried to keep the team afloat. With such a need for talent, they could pursue Zion.
Zion isn’t exactly a “Heat Culture” guy in his current form. He continues to struggle with his weight and focus. However, a motivated Heat Culture Zion might be one of the most terrifying players in the league. That’s a big if, but it could be enough motivation for a desperate Miami team to take a swing at him. A deal could work with Terry Rozier, Haywood Highsmith, and Nikola Jovic, along with multiple first-round picks. If they were able to put a deal like that together, they would be left with an excellent core. Herro, Wiggins, Williamson, Adebayo, and Ware would possess incredible size and scoring ability. The inside-out game of the team would be formidable, with Herro finally having some offensive assistance to keep the floor spread. This would be a big gamble for the Heat, who are already dangerously low on tradable assets, but it could be their one get out of jail free card if they could pull it off. However, being located in one of the most desirable markets in the league, Miami may opt to sit this gamble out and wait for their next superstar to come knocking in South Beach.
The Hornets have been in basketball limbo for years now. They keep adding top-level picks in the draft, but can’t seem to hit to pull themselves into a relevant team. LaMelo Ball had a breakout moment early in the season but succumbed to injury once again. Zion, who isn’t an Iron Man himself, could be a massive gamble at adding elite talent at a reasonable price to pull the team into relevance.
In this deal, the Hornets would likely be moving Miles Bridges, Tidjane Salaun, and some first-round picks to bring Zion onto the roster. It’s an all-in move betting on Zion, but with the team's current constructing, they would have one of the best lineups to slot Zion right in. Pair Zion with Mark Williams, Brandon Miller, and Ball would have an elite offense from day one. It would be one of the most explosive lineups in the East.
Overall, this deal feels the least likely considering the number of things that would need to go right, but with a high pick in this draft as well, they could turn this young team into something special.