New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson. Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

Pelicans shouldn't rush a Zion Williamson trade

By Adam Taylor | Last updated Dec 24, 2024 5:19 PM ET

Zion Williamson's future continues to be a question mark for the New Orleans Pelicans. The All-Star forward has struggled with a string of injuries during his six seasons with the franchise and has only played six games this season.

Due to Williamson's limited availability, the Pelicans are expected to field trade offers for him ahead of the Feb. 6 deadline. According to The Athletic's Jovan Buha, all three members of the Pelicans' star trio are available for the right price.

"Based on the reporting intel, Trey Murphy and Herb Jones are at a certain level for them. They want to keep them," Buha said via his "Buha's Block" podcast. "Those are two guys that are going to have a high price to give up, similar to L.A. with Austin Reaves. Seems like Zion and Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum are the three guys they've been shopping more in terms of their core starters, and Dejounte Murray has not."

While it makes sense to move on from Williamson, the Pelicans should be cautious about rushing into a deal. Right now, his value in the NBA is low. Most teams would be cautious about his inability to stay healthy, which would undoubtedly limit his value on the trade market.

Still, if the Pelicans remain patient, there will undoubtedly be a franchise that can talk itself into a reclamation project. Williamson is still young enough to develop into one of the premier talents in the NBA. Therefore, New Orleans should play the waiting game rather than rushing into a trade ahead of the deadline. The Pelicans could have far greater success in the summer.

Accepting that Williamson's tenure has run its course likely means New Orleans is pivoting toward a full-scale rebuild. Moving on from Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum, along with Williamson, should guarantee a steady influx of draft assets and young talent. If the franchise plays things right, it could be well-positioned to emerge from its current situation in a strong position for future success.

Of course, that opportunity will only come if the front office can stay the course and wait for the right opportunity to present itself. Right now, any offer for Williamson will be low-ball.

Adam Taylor

Adam Taylor is a sports journalist based out of the UK. Adam has been covering the NBA for nearly a decade with a core focus on the Boston Celtics. He currently holds bylines with Yardbarker, SB Nation and USA Today

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