NBA Rumors: What’s Next For Pelicans, Zion Williamson?

January 1, 2025

In a tense moment of the New Orleans Pelicans’ first-round NBA play-in game, Zion Williamson tied the score with a driving floater over Los Angeles Lakers big man Anthony Davis, thrilling the home crowd at the Smoothie King Center.

It was a flash of the talent the Pelicans envisioned when they selected Williamson No. 1 overall in the 2019 NBA Draft. His fourth basket in just four minutes marked a team-high 40 points, a dazzling display of his potential.

But in a cruel twist, Williamson landed awkwardly and limped off the court shortly after, towel draped over his head. He didn’t return for the rest of the game, nor the postseason.

The familiar hamstring injury that had kept him sidelined for stretches earlier in the year ultimately ended another promising Pelicans campaign. New Orleans, without their star, was swept by the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round.

All of this was captured in a telling article by Bobby Marks and Tim MacMahon of ESPN, covering the possibilities regarding Williamson’s future.

As a player, Williamson’s dominance is unquestionable when healthy, but his availability has been an ongoing issue. He played a career-high 70 games last season, but the second playoff appearance he missed due to injury underscores a troubling trend: six seasons into his career, he’s yet to play in an actual playoff game.

“He’s dominant when he plays,” an anonymous rival general manager told ESPN. “But when’s the last time you’ve seen him play?”

The most recent answer came on Nov. 6, when Williamson posted 29 points in just 29 minutes in a loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. That game marked his last appearance, as a left hamstring strain has kept him out since.

It’s hard to deny that injuries—and questions about his conditioning—have defined his career to date more than his flashy dunks or aggressive drives.

With just 190 career games played (plus one abbreviated play-in appearance), Williamson has become a cautionary tale about talent not always translating into availability. His history of injuries was a key factor in the structure of his current contract, a five-year, $197 million extension loaded with escape clauses and protections for the team.

Williamson’s $36.2 million salary for this season becomes fully guaranteed on Jan. 7, setting the stage for New Orleans to evaluate the long-term outlook with their star forward.

As the Pelicans sit at a disappointing 5-28 this season—largely due to injuries throughout the roster—the organization is now weighing significant decisions. Sources told ESPN that the Pelicans’ front office is prioritizing a trade for Brandon Ingram ahead of the Feb. 6 deadline, with Williamson’s future possibly hanging in the balance.

Recently, Williamson changed representation, hiring WME’s Bill Duffy, who also represents stars like Luka Dončić and Anthony Edwards.

Sources told ESPN that Duffy has no intention of pushing for a trade before the deadline, instead focusing on ensuring Williamson’s return to form, either for New Orleans or a potential future team.

While Williamson recovers, a crucial dynamic is the structure of his contract, which includes non-guaranteed salary if he fails to meet certain criteria, like playing a specific number of games and achieving certain weight thresholds.

This gives the Pelicans some protection if injuries continue to derail his career, but it also creates a potential trade chip if the team decides to move on. If Williamson’s struggles persist, New Orleans could ultimately explore the trade market, likely targeting a financial restructuring rather than a pure talent swap.

The big question: could the Pelicans part ways with a talent as rare as Williamson? While no team has shown clear interest in offering a premium return, his potential remains tantalizing, and teams are starting to look at his contract as a potential asset—especially if the Pelicans opt to explore trade talks.

Teams like Golden State, with expiring contracts and draft capital to deal, could become a logical suitor, according to several executives.

As one Eastern Conference executive put it, “It’s really hard to see anybody paying a ton for him right now, but there are a very limited number of players in the league when healthy who are at or near the franchise-player tier.”

The willingness to gamble on Williamson’s health could define whether he remains in New Orleans or ends up elsewhere—perhaps with a new team willing to invest in his incredible talent, and hope he stays on the floor long enough to fulfill it.