2026 Draft optimism post.

You are right. My bad.

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Is anyone hopeful in Troy weaver scouting that he will find a way to enter this stacked class and draft a good player? Alot of bad things can be said about Weaver but drafting isn't it.

Im kinda anticipating for him to fall for a player and put the pressure on Joe to get back in this draft.

Probably wont be because of Zion value, but i think a really good player could be had outside the lottery

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Just depends on which current Pels' players we are willing to trade if our objective is to get back in the 1st round. Should know if we're going that route...or not... before the trade deadline in early February...and fwiw...I think we will attempt to get back into that 1st round...somehow or other.

If we make a trade with OKC they will rape us on the return. Im terrified of Dumars and Weaver making more draft day trades.

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can’t believe there’s still people that think Zion is worth anything. He’s a negative asset

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This is not a static situation. It varies quite a bit on the prevailing narrative surrounding him, and how people perceive him. He's not really injury prone, in that most of his injuries are contributed to his weight issues and horrible training habits. There are many, many people that believe that he can be re-habbed and turned into an consistent all-star level player. I think it's possible, as I've seen tons of players turn their carers around. But it'd not likely and the odds are against him.

It's imperative we get him back and showcase him for 10-12 games. If he can put up 25+ and show that freakish athleticism, there will be a market for him. It's not going to be huge, probably matching salary and heavily protected future selections. But we won't have to get up assets to move him..

As long as the salary coming back is expiring, I would take a 2nd or 2 for Zion. Just end it already. We need to start shedding salary. We have 100 million in basically dead salary between Poole, Zion and Dejounte. Gotta get one of those off the books at the deadline and Zion should be the easiest.

Some people are so desperate to be in the club with a franchise in NOLA, they are utterly incapable of any critical thought.

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As long as the salary coming back is expiring, I would take a 2nd or 2 for Zion. Just end it already. We need to start shedding salary. We have 100 million in basically dead salary between Poole, Zion and Dejounte. Gotta get one of those off the books at the deadline and Zion should be the easiest

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I'm not trading zion for a 2nd. All it takes is one good stretch and someone will give up some value for zion.

I'm not defending his injuries. They are self-inflicted. But he's not inherently brittle and he doesn't have lingering issues. Honestly I think most of his injuries and missing time is fake and made up. Like right now, I do not think he is injured and he can play if forced. He's spoiled and coddled.

When I think injury prone, I think of guys missing time over and over for the same injury or same type of injuries, like a bad knee, foot or back. Zions are all over the body and never medically confirmed to any great degree.

Plus how much time has he missed just do to "return to conditioning" state, being sick, minutes restricted, or for any other phantom reason? The season he supposedly broke his foot, he missed half being in fat camp up in Portland. It's too easy to say he's "injured". I don't think thats the case at all..

How many of those do you believe are legit and not exaggerated to a great extent?

If put into the right situation and with the proper guidance, do you believe any of those injuries would be habitual?

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His entire lower body has been injury prone.

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Almost all of that can be blamed on his weight and horrible conditioning.

I'm not giving him a pass. I'm very much taking the other side of that point. His injuries are self inflicted and mostly made up. If Zion was in shape, professional, and held to a standard, I don't think he misses that much time. Given that structure, I don't consider him "injury prone". As in an injury risk. He's a character risk. There's a difference..