The Chicago Bulls are stuck in the middle of the NBA, clearly looking to avoid tanking and becoming a bottom-feeder, but also unable to find ways to get better to be a bonafide Playoff franchise. Adding Josh Giddey in the summer didn’t lead to a major improvement, as the Bulls sit No. 10 in the East with a 10-15 record, once again looking like a Play-In franchise.
The New Orleans Pelicans season ended before it got started as a series of injuries to almost every player reduced their competitive standing to nothing in the first month of the season. They have the worst record in the West so far this season, going 5-20 to open the year with fans already accepting this won’t be a Playoff season for the franchise.
Zion Williamson has been injured once again and it might be time for the Pelicans to cash in on his value before he picks up more injuries and loses all market value.
Trade Details
Chicago Bulls Receive: Zion Williamson, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl
New Orleans Pelicans Receive: Nikola Vucevic, Patrick Williams, 2025 First-Round Pick (POR), 2027 First-Round Pick (CHI)
The Bulls give up only two first-round picks in this deal on account of Zion’s poor injury track record, but if they can get Zion healthy for even a season and a half, it might allow the franchise to progress back into the competitive spheres they haven’t sniffed in years.
The Bulls Land A Superstar Attraction
The Chicago Bulls front office has made it abundantly clear that they do not want to be a tanking franchise, so instead of accepting things the way they are, it might be time to take a big risk to facilitate winning.
Acquiring a power forward like Zion could transform the team and especially unlock Josh Giddey’s playmaking even further while giving shooters like Zach LaVine and Coby White more space on the perimeter as Zion tends to draw defenders to him. Williamson was averaging 22.7 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 5.3 assists before injuring his hamstring this season.
His return date is unclear, but the Bulls could make a move to acquire Zion and then justify a season’s worth of tanking by claiming the team would be competitive next season with the young players taking a step up and Zion being available. Hopefully, the Bulls training staff can keep Zion on the court longer the the Pelicans.
If Zion is healthy and capable of playing, the Bulls would become a major threat in the East and will have good reason to hold onto the unattractive contract extension they handed Zach LaVine, as his perimeter scoring would be crucial in making this work. He’ll pack out the house, make iconic highlights, and with any luck, stay healthy for a whole season.
The Pelicans Move On
It’s been a rough six years for the Pelicans and Zion, as he was drafted into the franchise with high hopes that he’ll take them back to contention as Anthony Davis left the same summer Zion joined. Despite that, through three Playoff appearances the team has made with Zion on the squad, the powerful forward has yet to play a postseason game, because he can never stay healthy.
Zion is a superstar talent, but what he’s put the Pelicans through cannot be worth it. With this season all but slipping away from them, it might be a good time to consolidate for future assets by acquiring Zion and two future picks. These could come in handy if the team is unable to find a trade suitor for Brandon Ingram and he walks as a free agent next summer.
Vucevic addresses a major hole at center for the franchise, and is averaging 21.0 points and 9.8 rebounds this season. He would complete the roster for New Orleans, who have backcourt members like McCollum and Murray, while the frontcourt has guys like Ingram, Herb Jones, and Trey Murphy III still at their disposal.
Patrick Williams would join their young frontcourt core, averaging 9.9 points and 5.0 rebounds this season as a two-way forward who’s shooting 39.4% from three.
The Pelicans Make A Long Overdue Move Bulls Can Benefit From
The Pelicans have needed to move off Zion for years but his talent is undeniable to anyone who’s watched him play. He can be a game-winning offensive force when healthy and locked in, but getting that out of him consistently is a major issue, just like keeping him healthy. But moving off him was inevitable, as he’s a franchise player who’s never there for the franchise in big moments.
New Orleans can land a proper center like Vucevic alongside multi-positional wing defender Jeremiah Robinson-Earl. The Pelicans could still be competitive with this roster, but it’s better off they wait until next season when they get their entire roster healthy.
The Bulls aren’t under pressure to make the Playoffs this season, so letting Zion heal up from another set of injuries could be something they prioritize this season before setting him up to fail at the start of 25-26. Williamson will make $133 million over the remaining four years of his contract, so the Bulls will expect a star player to emerge as the years go on.
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