Zion unhappy in NOLA?

[budwom]

Zion's a 21 year old top draft pick playing on a mediocre team. This is not exactly uncharted territory...he'll still be very young when he becomes a free agent, so I just don't see why he can't bide his time and make good decisions which he CAN control (like hiring appropriate agents). Patience, grasshopper.

[JasonEvans]

I generally agree with the points made here , but one quibble is that there is in fact a ifestyle difference between someone who has made $150m vs $300m in an NBA career (endorsement deals aside). Divide that in half to account for taxes and you’re looking at $75m vs $150m. Now $75m is certainly nothing to sneeze at but then take into account that you need to live off the income from that for many decades (hopefully you live that long) after your NBA career. Maybe you can consistently make 3% income on this per year, or roughly $2m (again, before taxes).

This is just a quibble but there are many avenues of "putting your money to work" for the super-rich that net far, far more than a 3% return. Mezzanine loan funds and real estate ventures typically have an IRR of about 12-14% with much of that being annual cash flow. It is not difficult to put together a stock portfolio that will have some growth while also paying dividends in the 5-7% range. There are businesses that all but run themselves that will pay you considerably better than a 3% return.

Again, just a quibble and I am not saying that $300 mil in earnings is not significantly more than $150mil, but if you made $150 mil and only turned it into annual cash flow of $2 mil then you need to find a new financial adviser.

[duke96]

This is just a quibble but there are many avenues of "putting your money to work" for the super-rich that net far, far more than a 3% return. Mezzanine loan funds and real estate ventures typically have an IRR of about 12-14% with much of that being annual cash flow. It is not difficult to put together a stock portfolio that will have some growth while also paying dividends in the 5-7% range. There are businesses that all but run themselves that will pay you considerably better than a 3% return.

Again, just a quibble and I am not saying that $300 mil in earnings is not significantly more than $150mil, but if you made $150 mil and only turned it into annual cash flow of $2 mil then you need to find a new financial adviser.

I wish it were that way! I think if you told your financial advisor that, like a typical retiree:

1) you have a pot of money that is likely to be your only really sizeable amount of earnings you expect in your lifetime,
2) you rely on that money for your annual income to support your lifestyle year in and year out, and
3) you want to make sure you didn't take significant risk of loss in that portfolio such that your annual earnings would be stable and reliable

They give you a best case 4% expected annual return in this environment.

You can for sure target a much higher return than that, but I don't think most financial advisors would tell you you can do it with a "retiree" risk profile.

Bear in mind long term muni yields are less than 1.5% these days.

Anyhow - I think my broader point was sometime we say on this board that various levels of wealth are "more than you could ever spend" etc but once guys start seeing their teammates making and spending huge amounts of money, they can pretty quickly recalibrate their spending aspirations!

Anyhow pretty off topic to the Zion discussion, so apologies for that!

[brlftz]

I think the normal standards for how to handle a retirement nest egg don't apply if that nest egg is a hundred million dollars. You can weather the ups and downs of investments that are slightly volatile but still pretty safe if you're not counting on cash flow to keep you housed and fed. Even a typical stock index fund will give you better than 3% over time, and you have the option of a much more diverse portfolio when the pile of money is that large. Overall, I'd be pretty upset if my $100 million fortune only got me 3% over time, even if I was being pretty conservative.

[Bay Area Duke Fan]

Zion's a 21 year old top draft pick playing on a mediocre team. This is not exactly uncharted territory...he'll still be very young when he becomes a free agent, so I just don't see why he can't bide his time and make good decisions which he CAN control (like hiring appropriate agents). Patience, grasshopper.

Based on his history, that part is especially important advice for Zion.

[JasonEvans]

There is talk that New Orleans is willing to give up the #10 pick to Atlanta to get Cam Reddish in the hope that will make Zion more happy. I'm not sure if the Hawks would make that deal though. Cam is a nice piece to have under team control on a rookie deal.

[flyingdutchdevil]

There is talk that New Orleans is willing to give up the #10 pick to Atlanta to get Cam Reddish in the hope that will make Zion more happy. I'm not sure if the Hawks would make that deal though. Cam is a nice piece to have under team control on a rookie deal.

Hawks would have done this deal ten times out of ten if Reddish didn’t play in these playoffs and show he’s a nice rotation piece (and maybe even a third banana)

[delfrio]

The chatter around swapping picks with Memphis and sending Bledsoe out also involve some thinking that Memphis would send Grayson to the Pelicans as well.

[DukieTiger]

The chatter around swapping picks with Memphis and sending Bledsoe out also involve some thinking that Memphis would send Grayson to the Pelicans as well.

This is a great draft in which to trade back, for anyone out of the top 5 or so. It’s be a huge win for the Pels to do so and dump Bledsoe, no matter the other pieces they might gain.

[JasonEvans]

Zion getting some help according to the latest Woj bomb: https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1419756065625972747

BREAKING: Memphis is finalizing a trade to send Jonas Valanciunas and 2021 Nos. 17 and 51 picks to New Orleans for Steven Adams, Eric Bledsoe, 2021 picks Nos. 10 and 40 and a protected 2022 first-round pick via the Lakers, sources tell ESPN.

Valančiūnas is a nice upgrade on Adams, for sure. I guess this is further proof that New Orleans wants no part of playing Zion as a small ball 5. Nice of Memphis to also take Bledsoe's $37 mil and Adams' $34 mil over the next 2 years off of New Orleans cap table.

-Jason "Valančiūnas is on an expiring deal too... just $14 mil this season and then a free agent. So, if he does not work out..." Evans

[scottdude8]

I saw this and initially loved it. Initial reports were the Pels we’re going to basically pay their first round pick to get rid of Bledsoe’s contract for essentially nothing in return. To do that and get a real upgrade and C is a win. Jonas is very underrated IMHO and was a nice part of the Grizzlies success sneaking into the playoffs. A solid first step to reshaping the roster I think.

[RetireVergaJersey]

Peels will never get over the hurdle until they can dump Ball.

[brevity]

Zion getting some help according to the latest Woj bomb: https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1419756065625972747

The uniform level of sarcasm in the tweet's comments is surprising to me. (At least I think it's sarcasm.)

It may be a litmus test of college vs. pro loyalty, but this local resident (and mock Pelicans GM) considered the Duke effect first. What happens to Tyus Jones on a roster with Ja Morant, De'Anthony Melton (on a rookie contract), and now Eric Bledsoe? And why weren't any of the Duke Grizzlies traded to New Orleans?

As for the Pelicans, I approve of the cost cutting, but those draft picks were a cheap way to get some players that can shoot. Maybe they'll package #35, #43, and #53 to move into the 20s, where there seem to be a lot of capable guards and wings.

[RetireVergaJersey]

The Pelican fan forum has threads about 2 interesting roster possibilities. Ingram and picks to Portland for Damon and signing Kennard as a Duncan Robinson type 6th man. Jonas is a good mid range shooter at the center position. He should open the lane up better than Adams for Zion. Having 2 good 3 pt shooters on the floor w Jonas and Zion would be a tough match up for defenses.

[fraggler]

The Pelican fan forum has threads about 2 interesting roster possibilities. Ingram and picks to Portland for Damon and signing Kennard as a Duncan Robinson type 6th man. Jonas is a good mid range shooter at the center position. He should open the lane up better than Adams for Zion. Having 2 good 3 pt shooters on the floor w Jonas and Zion would be a tough match up for defenses.

Kennard would have to be traded for.

[brevity]

If Eric Bledsoe (age 31) and Steven Adams (28) are gone, the oldest Pelicans under contract next season are Wesley Iwundu (26) and Wenyen Gabriel (24), and both are on minimum salary deals.

[fraggler]

If Eric Bledsoe (age 31) and Steven Adams (28) are gone, the oldest Pelicans under contract next season are Wesley Iwundu (26) and Wenyen Gabriel (24), and both are on minimum salary deals.

Valanciunas would be coming in for those two and is 29.

[Steven43]

Peels will never get over the hurdle until they can dump Ball.

How do you figure? Make the case, please. Or is it just a feeling you have? Thanks.

[RetireVergaJersey]

Ball is not a threat to drive the ball to the basket and he does not get to the FT line. If his 3 pt shot is not on [and in big games it is not] teams leave him open and double Zion or BI. I compare him a little to Ben Simmons. Both have too many weaknesses to be a superstar. Yes. This is my opinion.

[Duke79UNLV77]

Ball is not a threat to drive the ball to the basket and he does not get to the FT line. If his 3 pt shot is not on [and in big games it is not] teams leave him open and double Zion or BI. I compare him a little to Ben Simmons. Both have too many weaknesses to be a superstar. Yes. This is my opinion.

I think the best way to limit your NBA team is to pay non-star players like they are stars. It's possible Lonzo could develop into a star, but I wouldn't bet on it. His 3-point shooting has improved quite a bit but remains streaky. I've heard his defensive potential praised, but I saw him very disinterested and frequently out of position on that end last year. He makes some spectacular passes, but his assists aren't as high as one might think. You are correct that he is not good at getting to the line and not as good at driving as one might think. In the abstract I'd take him on the team, but I think the time and money commitment will be too high.