Amazing how many people say no. I bet everyone would've said yes at the start of the season. All this from people who always wanted Neil to take a risk. Dame/Zion would be amazing.
I think if the Blazers knew there was a high probability of getting a healthy Zion and the asking price was basically Ant and maybe spare change on both sides, the Blazers would make the deal. I've never been on the Zion train because I thought he lacked a defensive position and was going to have trouble playing 82-100 games per season at the weight that allowed him to maximize his biggest advantage, but when he's healthy he's as close to an unstoppable scorer within 15 feet as there is in the NBA.
You have to specify the "risk." Most people wanted Olshey to trade McCollum for a player who complimented Lillard better. I think some people would have wanted it done right after we went to the Western Conference Finals. That would have been a risk for Neil.
No the risk is which player he choses to compliment Lillard. For instance, it was a risk for OKC to trade for PG13 and for Toronto to trade for Kawhi knowing they may only get one season from the guy. It's not a risk unless there is well.. risk. For people worried about health, Embiid missed his first two seasons with injury. Would you have traded CJ for him back then? I guess most of you would've said no from what I'm reading here. That would've been a huge risk but as we can see now, it would've paid off. Embiid is one of the best centers of all time. Trading for Simons for Zion is the risk to end all risks but the payoff is huge. When Zion played last season, he was incredible. Like a year away from being the best player in the NBA incredible.
New Orleans is probably the worst city (food-wise) for him to be living. Good and fattening is not a great combo.
