Oct 13, 2024; Miami, Florida, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) drives to the basket against Miami Heat forward Nikola Jovic (5) during the second quarter at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

'We’re Gonna Keep Pushing Him' – New Orleans Pelicans’ Joe Dumars Sends Clear Zion Williamson Message

Originally posted on Hardwood Heroics | By Jordan Samar | Last updated Aug 25, 2025 9:06 AM ET

The New Orleans Pelicans have long been urged to move on from Zion Williamson due to his injury history, but head of basketball operations Joe Dumars isn’t planning to give up on his young star just yet.

Speaking during Saturday’s NFL preseason game between the New Orleans Saints and Denver Broncos, the newly minted New Orleans Pelicans exec expressed confidence in the former Duke Blue Devil.

“He is in really good shape… We have been challenging him like, ‘You can’t keep doing the same things that you have done in the past and expect something different.’ He has stepped up to the challenge so far, and we’re gonna keep pushing him,” Dumars said via Pelicans Film Room.

Nov 7, 2022; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) shoots the ball while Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner (33) defends in the first quarter at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Last season, Williamson played only 30 regular-season games for the New Orleans Pelicans, having averaged 24.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.2 steals on 56.7 percent shooting from the field.

New Orleans Pelicans turned down Toronto Raptors forward in Brandon Ingram trade, per insider

NBA insider Jake Fischer recently revealed that the New Orleans Pelicans turned down the opportunity to acquire RJ Barrett from the Toronto Raptors when they shipped out Brandon Ingram last February.

Dec 5, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram (14) dribbles against Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) during the second half at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

“RJ Barrett is certainly a name that I would tell you, and tell Raptors fans, to be on the lookout as a potential trade candidate going out the door,” Fischer said on the Insider Notebook.

“He was someone that the Raptors discussed with the Pelicans in that Brandon Ingram trade conversation, that did not result in RJ Barrett heading out of Canada. He was not someone the Pelicans had much interest in at the time,” he added.