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Has there ever been another team that tried to build around a mediocre player for so long?

Posted on 1/21/26 at 3:09 pm
Posted by iwyLSUiwy
I'm your huckleberry
Member since Apr 2008
41244 posts
Posted on 1/21/26 at 3:09 pm
Zions highs were pretty high, we know that. SVG briefly had Zion looking like a super star but we've known what Zion is for quite some time. Just a decent player that is never healthy. It is what it is, there are plenty of decent players throughout the league. But teams aren't building around them for 5+ years.

I cannot think of another instance where a team has tried to build around a guy like Zion for so long. He's on his fourth head coach, second GM, countless failed draft picks that were selected to fit with him, trades made just for him, training staff changes for him (was much needed), and the team no matter who is in charge seemingly doesn't even consider trading him.

Doing all of this while the guy who is now in his 7th year has given you ZERO playoff success.


Posted by supe12sta12z
Tiger Town
Member since Apr 2012
13085 posts
Posted on 1/21/26 at 3:21 pm to
LeMelo and probably LaVine.
Posted by Snipe
Member since Nov 2015
16308 posts
Posted on 1/21/26 at 3:59 pm to
Insofar as I can tell, Zion's biggest issue is he just doesn't have the head to be a professional NBA player.

He's missing that piece that makes him want to be the best every time a basketball touched his hands. That's something you can't teach and unfortunately something that doesn't really rear it's ugly head until they hit the pros because up to that point it's all come easy for them.

Zion is a guy that got drafted #1 overall, got paid and considered himself as having made it.

Posted by iwyLSUiwy
I'm your huckleberry
Member since Apr 2008
41244 posts
Posted on 1/21/26 at 4:07 pm to
LaMelo is the one guy that popped to mind but Hornets have been shopping him for a while and just haven't found the suitors. They also have been content tanking and not making win now trades around him. But I think for sure the closest comparison.

LaVine I'm assuming you mean Chicago? Minnesota sent him off pretty quick. Never got the vibe Chicago was building around laVine, more of just seeing him as a important piece. DeRozan, Lonzo, LaVine, Vucevic was good in theory.
Posted by Broski
Member since Jun 2011
79757 posts
Posted on 1/21/26 at 4:52 pm to
quote:

Zions highs were pretty high


He's never been close to an MVP-caliber player.

His potential was astronomical, his actual output, even when healthy has never surpassed borderline All-Star.

As for the question at hand, Atlanta with Trae Young.
This post was edited on 1/21/26 at 4:53 pm
Posted by unctiger4
Member since Mar 2015
2380 posts
Posted on 1/21/26 at 5:34 pm to
quote:

He's never been close to an MVP-caliber player. His potential was astronomical, his actual output, even when healthy has never surpassed borderline All-Star.


But his scoring efficiency! - non ball knowers
Posted by iykyk985
Member since Dec 2025
71 posts
Posted on 1/21/26 at 6:34 pm to
quote:

LeMelo and probably LaVine.


And Charlotte and Chicago are still sucking eggs,

Add

Bradley Beal has a losing record
Gilbert Arenas had a losing record
Bernard King had a losing record
Dave Bing had a losing record
Pistol Pete had a losing record

Posted by nicj4
Guadeloupe
Member since Jan 2020
772 posts
Posted on 1/21/26 at 6:41 pm to
Hawks did conf finals with Young.
Beginning of 2023-2024 season wasn’t bad. Pels was 1st before Zion’s injury in December.
Posted by Broski
Member since Jun 2011
79757 posts
Posted on 1/21/26 at 6:42 pm to
quote:

Pels was 1st before Zion’s injury in December.


Yay.
Posted by nicj4
Guadeloupe
Member since Jan 2020
772 posts
Posted on 1/21/26 at 6:47 pm to
They still did PO.
Pels have no PO appearances with Zion...
Posted by Macintosh
Lane State University
Member since Sep 2011
56236 posts
Posted on 1/21/26 at 9:15 pm to
quote:

Pels was 1st before Zion’s injury in December.
for 3 hours
Posted by iwyLSUiwy
I'm your huckleberry
Member since Apr 2008
41244 posts
Posted on 1/22/26 at 9:05 am to
quote:

He's never been close to an MVP-caliber player.


Never mentioned he was.

quote:

His potential was astronomical, his actual output, even when healthy has never surpassed borderline All-Star.


Well that just isn't true. His sophomore season he looked like he could take his game to a pretty elite level. 27/7 on %61 shooting is really good and you'd like to think he'd get better... he just didn't.

quote:

As for the question at hand, Atlanta with Trae Young


Nah. Trae looked like he could be the #1 on a legit team. Numerous all stars, stayed pretty healthy, and got the team to the conference finals early in his career. Certainly a lot more reasons to build around him that Zion.

Posted by shel311
McKinney, Texas
Member since Aug 2004
112677 posts
Posted on 1/24/26 at 8:27 am to
quote:

He's never been close to an MVP-caliber player.
Don't think the OP mentioned MVP caliber, but it is said a lot, I think I quoted one such post a week or 2 ago.

In a world where Luka doesn't have an MVP, Zion has never remotely sniffed being an MVP caliber player.
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