if healthy, that's most definitely a playoff team -- especially if they keep the play-in format. key for them is to get a good combo guard for the bench or better yet a better starting PG
Yeah, Someone like Ball would be a good fit. Yeah, maybe tenth... Mostly because of how awful the teams below them are. But not really good...
You're underestimating the offensive firepower in that group. They won't stop anybody but they'll win a lot of shootouts. And I wouldn't really call any of them me-first scorers - they can all play off-ball when necessary and they can all make plays for others. So I don't think the "only one ball" problem would hit them like it has, say, the Knicks. I actually really like that team offensively if Zion ever gets healthy.
Defense is an issue, and it might make sense to trade JV for some defense and spacing. But that's a fun group IMHO.
If your goal is the 10th spot year after year it's good group.
My man, they're tenth right now - with Ingram missing time this season, no Zion, and with CJ yet to suit up for them.
You don't think that team at full power would be better than they are right now? I don't know what to tell you.
I think Zion, Ingram, McCollum is a very solid top 3. It is to be seen of course if Zion can stay on the court but if he can, he is MVP caliber. Compare this to Giannis, Middleton, Holiday. Not suggesting that Zion is better than Giannis, at least not right now, and durability is a major concern, but he put up 27/7 last season at age 20. Giannis didn't start putting up those kinds of numbers until he was 23/24. I think in the end, Zion is going to leave but this trade makes that decision harder. Sure, they will need to add some depth but that is true of every team these days. The Bucks are trying to add Grant Williams because they have no PF depth.
I score this a great trade for NOP.