According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the New Orleans Pelicans may not trade Zion Williamson anymore.
“One of the more underrated and undercovered storylines of last Monday’s lottery: The Pelicans asked Zion Williamson to be their on-stage representative,” Stein wrote. “It didn’t lead to anything more than New Orleans scoring the seventh overall pick, but league sources insist that it was a significant development.
“Amid no shortage of speculation about the Pelicans deciding to outright shop Williamson for the first time after six frustration-filled seasons, sources say that the lottery assignment was indeed intended to convey the message that New Orleans’ new front office, now headed by Louisiana native Joe Dumars, wants to try again to make things work with Williamson as the team’s centerpiece.”
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 playoff 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.
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