Except this would only make sense if he was from New Orleans. He's from Spartanburg, SC so that will never work. Unless he tries to team with Ja and RJ to form a new super team in about 6 years or so, this won't work.
Yall act like teams from smaller markets can't be contenders and haven't built contending teams. The NOP are getting more draft picks, whose to say RJ wouldn't want to come to NOP to play with Zion and a more stable organization? The point being is that stars were willing to go to Cleveland to play for Lebron. I think star players get less picky about destinations when they want to win. Lebron didn't go to Miami because of it being some major market (It is not) he went because they had a plan for him to play with two other all-star players. I just think the narrative about star players going to NY and LA are mostly hyped up by guys like SAS that WANT that to happen and tell star players through the media that their brand will only grow being on a team like that (Which is also a lie, Durant became household name in OKC of all places...) and there are a variety of factors at play here. The Clippers are just NOW relevant despite playing in LA, that hasn't helped them at all has it? What has helped them is getting better ownership that can convince players that they can win there. That's what matters the most, having a respectable ownership so a star player doesn't feel like they would be wasting their careers. One thing I'll say is that right now most of the small market teams outside of OKC, SAS, IND, just aren't run well... But while it may be harder to build a super team in a smaller market it is far from impossible. This thing with Zion has been going on for a while. During draft lottery when the Pels won it ESPN completely shat out a false story of "Zion may be contemplating returning to college as to avoid going to the Pelicans" because they were salty he wasn't going to Chicago or NY and the story was a clear suggestion to Zion and his group that "Hey, you can pull out right now and avoid going to this small market team." And this won't be the first time we hear about it too. All through his NOP career (if he is as good as his hype) we will hear from SAS and others that he should leave the Pelicans and go join the Warriors or Nets or Boston because they try to will this stuff into existence.
I'm sure if that were the case they would opt to head to NY. If I recall correctly, the big 3 could of easily joined Lebron in Cleveland (at least Bosh could of) but no one wanted in on Cleveland. Stop acting like these guys wouldn't prefer to play in LA, BOS, NY, MIA, CHI, or any other major market team that has a trademark organization in the league. The Cavs already had Kyrie in place so bringing in Lebron in FA and trading for Kevin Love was much easier than outright signing two big name players as the Heat did. No big star is going to play in N.O. with Zion.... it's just the way it is.
Giannis Antetekounmpo, Trae Young, Ja Morant, Zion Williamson WILL BE FORCED BY MEDIA PRESSURE TO LEAVE. See Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving in Cleveland, Boston Kyrie is so odd in Small and Big Markets, media members hate him. Media did build up tension everyday between Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. Kevin fell for it. He is still bitter at media members. Shocked he went on First Take, since Stephen A Smith drove a feud between Durant and Westbrook.
Miami's been an irrelevant franchise before Wade, they had some good years sure but before Wade they were just another NBA franchise. Same as the Clippers. Same as the Nets. Chicago hasn't had a big named signed for them in.......it's been a long time, yeah? Miami would still be irrelevant if it weren't for Pat Riley, it has little to do with Miami and everything to do with having a good front office. The Knicks keep getting turned down by big name stars. Giannis already said he doesn't like how they treated his brother, so that big chase is looking like it's going to end up in a fail too. Yall act like NBA players don't live in these cities anyway or visit them when they get a chance to? Like they can't retire at 35 and spend the rest of their lives in Miami or LA...which is what they will do anyway.
Yeah, if you watch ESPN enough you see it quite clearly. That whole Zion thing during the draft lottery was funny as hell to me. They pulled that **** out of the air. "Zion may go back to college!" because they were upset NYK didn't get the #1 pick and they try their best to get these players out of their small market teams by always suggesting how much better it will be if the player leaves. The promises of being a superstar (although they can accomplish that in any city) if only they go play on another team in a bigger market.
Yes, some of those cities have gone through droughts from lack of star power or horrid management. I guarantee you if someone like Harden, Curry, or Giannis decides to jump ship and run to Chicago or NY there will be many others that would attempt do the same. Obviously that's not happening until they get their s**t together. If the Knicks weren't such a s**t show of a franchise they would most likely have Kyrie, KD, and whoever else, instead of Julius and RJ. If the Lakers didn't already have their superteam formed with Lebron and AD, you know that Kawhi and PG would have been in the piss and purp colors as well. Hell Lebron LEFT Cleveland just to get back to a major market team that allowed access to more time in the spotlight and more Hollywood opportunities. And yes they can live (and probably do live) in these major U.S. cities during the offseason or throughout. That doesn't mean the appeal of having a big named organization won't help your odds of becoming somewhat of a more attractive destination site. I'm not saying these small market teams CAN'T EVER win in free agency, but the likelihood of the Pelicans signing the next AD over drafting the next AD are next to none. They couldn't build anything around him throughout his tenure there in FA, what makes you think these players will consider them a top destination even now.
Well, I never said it is the same as smaller markets, just that smaller markets have it harder but it is not impossible. NOP accomplished the first step...if Zion is what we think he is, a superstar franchise player...then that is the first step. The 2nd step is having a capable FO. The reason it never worked with AD is because AD, while great, never led that franchise anywhere. If you look at Harden he's been able to get a few star players here because guys see him losing in the WCF and think they can win here. I think the Pels could do it if Zion is the generational player he was projected to be and he's adamant of not leaving then guys are just going to have to come there to play with him. That's the final step is getting a guy that's loyal.
