New Orleans Pelicans Could Still Trade Zion Williamson

The Pelicans were interested in trading up in the 2023 draft to select Scoot Henderson. There were rumors about New Orleans trading Williamson to the Portland Trail Blazers, who drafted Henderson. However, no deal was made.

Williamson has only appeared in 114 out of possible 308 regular-season games since being drafted by the Pelicans with the first overall pick in the 2019 draft out of Duke. The lefty played in 24 games in his rookie year and 61 games in his sophomore year. Williamson then missed his entire third year and appeared in just 29 games last season.

When he’s been on the court, Williamson has been a superstar. The North Carolina native has career averages of 25.8 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.6 assists. However, there have been questions about Williamson’s diet and commitment to basketball.

According to Brian Windhorst of ESPN, Williamson doesn’t have a relationship with the Pelicans organization or his teammates.

“There is no relationship between Zion and the organization,” Windhorst said on his podcast. “And minimal relationship between Zion and his teammates, from what I understand. … It’s surprising to me how out there it is in the league that the Pelicans are discussing Zion business.

“I want to be very careful about the word ‘offer’ because that word is a dangerous word. I’m not sure the Pelicans have ‘offered’ Zion to anybody, but every day that passes over the past five or six days, I hear different discussions the Pelicans have had that implies they are going to make Zion available. Him or Brandon Ingram. I wouldn’t rule out anything I guess, but the events of the last six months with Zion are what they are.”

Williamson signed a five-year, $194.3 million designated rookie contract extension with the Pelicans in July 2022. Clearly, his future with the franchise is going to be something to continue watching closely.