NBA Trade Idea Sends Zion Williamson To Pistons In Offseason

April 22, 2025

One NBA analyst proposed that the Detroit Pistons trade for New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson this offseason.

Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report proposed the following trade idea between the Pistons and Pelicans:

Detroit Pistons Receive: PF Zion Williamson

New Orleans Pelicans Receive: G Jaden Ivey, F Tobias Harris, 2027 first-round pick (top-5 protected), 2027 second-round pick, 2027 second-round pick (via Milwaukee Bucks)

Williamson has played in just 45% of his possible games with the Pelicans since being the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. The lefty has never played in a postseason game.

Williamson appeared in 30 games for the Pelicans this season. He averaged 24.6 points, 7.2 rebounds and 5.3 assists while shooting 56.7% from the field and 65.6% from the free-throw line.

A two-time All-Star, Williamson has career averages of 24.7 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.3 assists in 214 games.

The Pelicans signed Williamson to a five-year, $197 million extension in 2022. Williamson will make $39,446,090 next season, $42,166,510 in 2026-27 and $44,886,930 in 2027-28, the final season of his contract.

“The Pistons should be aggressive in improving the team this summer coming off 44 wins and a trip to the playoffs,” Swartz wrote. “Cade Cunningham looks like a No. 1 offensive option (26.1 points, 9.1 assists per game) although no other healthy Detroit starter averaged more than Harris’ 13.7 points per game. Cunningham needs a No. 2 option, someone he can feed the ball to on a regular basis and help cut down the amount of times he’s double-teamed.

“Williamson (24.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 5.3 assists) has perhaps the highest potential of any trade target that may become available and at age 24 can still grow with a young core of Ausar Thompson, Jalen Duren and Ron Holland. David Griffin, the now former executive vice president of the Pelicans, was the one who drafted Williamson in 2019. Following another lost season where Williamson was once again limited with injuries, now seems like the perfect time for New Orleans to clean house.”