Zion Williamson is one of the most talented players in recent memory because he combines supreme explosiveness and power at 6’6″ and over 280 lbs. A player at Zion’s height normally doesn’t weigh that much, but he brings a ton of bulk and power to his game which could be affecting his joints. Regardless, he is an excellent all-around player who made his second All-Star Team after averaging 26.0 PPG, 7.0 RPG, and 4.6 APG on 60.8% shooting from the field. These are superstar numbers, and when healthy, Zion is a superstar player.
However, it seems that the 2019 No. 1 overall pick wants a trade out of New Orleans and the fact that his contract is no longer fully guaranteed means that a trade could be brewing. Williamson is only 22 years old yet has two All-Star Teams under his belt and a career average of 25.8 PPG and 7.0 RPG is certainly impressive. Unfortunately, Zion does not seem to be motivated to compete for the New Orleans Pelicans franchise, and the team could be looking for a way to get out from under the often-injured star forward.
There could be three surprising teams that could land Zion Williamson in a blockbuster trade. It is not often a 22-year-old superstar with elite impact ends up on the trading block, but the reality is that Williamson could be available for a trade before the 2023 NBA Draft. These three teams have a great chance to acquire one of the most hyped prospects in NBA history, and we could be seeing the powerful forward play for a new franchise next year.
Atlanta Hawks
The first major destination for Zion Williamson is Atlanta with the Hawks. The Hawks already have an All-Star point guard in Trae Young, but adding a superstar forward would take this team to the top while giving New Orleans a rebuilding roster.
New Orleans Pelicans Receive: John Collins, Bogdan Bogdanovic, No. 15 Overall Pick, 2024 First-Round Pick from Sacramento Kings
Atlanta Hawks: Zion Williamson
The Atlanta Hawks made the playoffs on the back of All-Star point guard Trae Young, who posted 26.2 PPG and 10.2 APG in the regular season. However, the Hawks did not have much of a chance against the favorite Boston Celtics, and they lost in the first round despite Young posting 29.2 PPG and 10.2 APG. Young is clearly a star on the offensive side of the court, but the Hawks need to give him a better teammate to actually create efficiently. Remember, the Hawks reached the Eastern Conference Finals in the 2020-21 season but have not built on that.
No doubt, a duo of Trae Young and Zion Williamson would be almost impossible to stop. Young has the range to hurt defenses (35.1% career 3-PT FG) but also the passing ability to feed Zion off the pick-n-roll. It will be picking your poison for defenses in terms of closing out on Young or protecting the rim against a rampant Williamson. There is no doubt that Young and Zion would create the best pick-n-roll duo in modern memory, possibly since John Stockton and Karl Malone.
To bring Zion on board, the Hawks need to let go of two starters and two first-round picks for a chance to have the best little-big duo on the offensive end in the NBA. The Pelicans can rebuild with two solid starters and two first-round picks while allowing Brandon Ingram the chance to lead a team around players who actually want to be there. If the Hawks acquire Williamson, the team could get back to the Eastern Conference Finals with the likes of Dejounte Murray, De’Andre Hunter, and Clint Capela, creating the best starting lineup in the NBA.
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls can also be in for Zion Williamson by trading Zach LaVine, a player who could be on the trading block, and also adding in defensive guard Alex Caruso. No doubt, both the Bulls and Pelicans rebuild in some way with this deal.
New Orleans Pelicans Receive: Zach LaVine, Alex Caruso
Chicago Bulls Receive: Zion Williamson
The Chicago Bulls could be sellers this summer because Zach LaVine is currently being shopped to gauge interest. No doubt, the Pelicans would not mind acquiring a 28-year-old All-Star who will form a dynamic offensive partnership with Brandon Ingram. Unlike Zion, LaVine is in tremendous shape and can help New Orleans immediately with something to prove if he does get traded. Meanwhile, the Bulls finally finish from their pseudo-Big Three once and for all.
The Bulls will pair budding superstar Zion Williamson with All-Star DeMar DeRozan and any other pieces that fit together. Whether Chicago trades Nikola Vucevic or not remains to be seen, the Bulls will have a 22-year-old star who will be the biggest name since prime Derrick Rose won the MVP. Remember, the Bulls have been looking for their next Michael Jordan, and Zion could become the (poor man’s) version in terms of impact, jersey sales, and all-around impact for the franchise. Of course, DeRozan and Zion would form one heck of a duo.
Chicago struggled this season, finishing 22nd in PPG and 24th in offensive rating, so clearly, they need a go-to player in the post who can create easy baskets. Vucevic has become an outside shooter for some reason, and that means Chicago relied too much on LaVine and DeRozan to go one-on-one. With Zion, the Bulls can diversify their offense and also complete their search for a franchise cornerstone for the foreseeable future. Williamson might also like the chance to play in Chicago, a town known for their sports, history, and of course food.
Dallas Mavericks
Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving need help to actually make the Dallas Mavericks a contender, and luckily, they could trade for Zion Williamson if Mark Cuban and management can do some heavy convincing. The key is to create a Big Three with Zion Williamson in a blockbuster deal.
New Orleans Pelicans Receive: Christian Wood, Davis Bertans, No. 10 Overall Pick
Dallas Mavericks Receive: Zion Williamson
What a steal it would be if the Dallas Mavericks acquired Zion Williamson to form the most talented Big Three in NBA history. Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic did an atrocious job leading the team following the trade deadline, although growing pains were expected. However, nobody expected the Bulls to completely fall out of the playoffs, especially after one season removed from making the Western Conference Finals. Luka did his thing on the stat sheet (32.4 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 8.0 APG), and so did Kyrie (27.1 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 5.5 APG), but the team was awful.
Looking ahead, the Mavericks need to give the superstar backcourt an elite big man who can finish inside and run on the break. With Zion, the Mavericks can diversify their offense and complete the rest of the starting lineup with shooters. Kyrie, Luka, and Zion are superstar offensive players who will have control of the offense, so 3-and-D players will be the key for the team. Regardless, acquiring superstar talent is the key for the NBA, and having a core of Zion (22 years old) and Luka (24 years old) means the next 10 years are secured.
Meanwhile, in case the Pelicans want to strike a deal immediately before the trade deadline and have other plans, they can take back Christian Wood, Davis Bertans, and the No. 10 overall pick. New Orleans already has the No. 14 pick, so a quick rebuild could be in the cards in case the chance for better picks does not come along. The Mavericks need to form a Big Three by all means, and if they were to acquire Zion Williamson, Dallas would become the favorites in the Western Conference next year.
