The Los Angeles Lakers are always in the mix for a big move. It’s in their DNA. With LeBron James still performing at an elite level, Luka Doncic on the roster as a top-five player, and a supporting cast that feels a piece short when compared to the OKC Thunder, it’s time to ask the question: What if LA swings for the fences?
Enter the New Orleans Pelicans, a team brimming with star talent but lacking a clear direction. They traded Brandon Ingram before the trade deadline, and Zion Williamson’s time is likely up as well, as Herb Jones and Yves Missi are the building blocks of the team moving forward.
That is why we propose a crazy trade idea involving the Purple and Gold yet again. Could the Lakers and Pelicans come together for a deal around Zion Williamson that shakes up the league?
The Lakers get their Showtime 2.0 moment with a long-term replacement for the departed Anthony Davis, and the Pelicans get a fresh start. Let’s break down how and why this blockbuster trade could become a reality.
Proposed Trade Details
Los Angeles Lakers Receive: Zion Williamson
New Orleans Pelicans Receive: Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, 2031 First-Round Pick, 2026 First-Round Pick Swap
Showtime 2.0 Is Created With A Big Three
The Lakers have always thrived with superstars. From Magic, Kareem, and Worthy to Kobe and Shaq, history tells us that when LA goes all in, banners follow. Adding Zion Williamson to LeBron James and Luka Doncic creates a modern-day version of that dominance: size, skill, and raw dominance.
Zion, despite durability concerns with only 30 games played this season, remains one of the league’s most efficient scorers, averaging 24.6 points per game on 56.7% shooting this season. His rim-wrecking athleticism alongside LeBron and Luka’s playmaking would make him unstoppable.
The fit is seamless. Zion thrives in transition, and who better to get him easy buckets than two of the greatest passers of all time? LeBron and Luka’s court vision would unlock a new level of dominance for Williamson, who already feasts in the paint.
The Lakers would instantly become one of the most physically imposing teams in the NBA, and the team might need a dominant interior presence instead of another ball-handler in Austin Reaves. Zion is the perfect player for them.
Of course, questions remain, particularly around spacing. Zion has yet to develop a consistent three-point shot (career 32.7%), and the team already struggles with their shooting (12.9 makes on 36.0% per game this season).
However, with a new Big Three, the Lakers won’t have issues signing shooters in free agency. The real gamble here isn’t fit—it’s health. But if Zion stays on the court, the Lakers’ championship window extends well beyond LeBron’s final years.
New Orleans Pelicans Finally Blow It Up
For years, the Pelicans have hovered in NBA purgatory – too talented to tank, yet never quite good enough to contend. This trade signals a long-overdue reset, and moving Ingram was the first step. While parting with Zion Williamson isn’t easy, the reality is that his availability has always been a concern.
Over the past six seasons, he’s only played 214 games and was even suspended for a game this season, leaving New Orleans in a constant state of uncertainty. Moving him now allows them to reshape their roster.
Austin Reaves gives the Pelicans an ascending guard (26 years old) who thrives both on and off the ball. He has shown significant growth this season, averaging 19.9 points and 5.9 assists per game while proving to be a high-IQ player capable of handling playmaking duties.
Rui Hachimura, meanwhile, offers much-needed versatility in the frontcourt. He is posting 13.0 points and 5.1 rebounds per game this season and is only 27 years old. Neither player is a direct Zion replacement, but both fit New Orleans’ need for depth and floor spacing.
Perhaps most importantly, this deal provides draft capital. A 2026 first-round pick swap ensures flexibility, and the 2031 first-round pick could be a major asset, especially given the uncertainty of the Lakers’ long-term future.
A Blockbuster Trade That Would Make LA The Team To Beat
If the Lakers pull this off, they are making a statement. The Western Conference remains a gauntlet, with Oklahoma City, Denver, and Minnesota all boasting hungry squads with elite superstars.
But a fully operational Zion-LeBron-Luka trio elevates LA to contender status overnight. Health permitting, this move gives them the most dominant inside scoring presence in the NBA.
Zion’s ability to collapse defenses would open up countless opportunities for LA’s perimeter shooters, creating a modernized version of the inside-out game that made Shaq and Kobe so unstoppable.
LeBron, Luka, and Zion would be the epitome of Showtime 2.0, and it would do the big man wonders to train with the most conditioned athlete in NBA History. If the Lakers make it happen, they might as well build a statue of Rob Pelinka outside Crypto.com Arena.
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