The situation has gotten dire for the New Orleans Pelicans, who finished 14th in the West this season at 21-61. In the aftermath of another failed campaign, the franchise is considering a clean slate, which means an uncertain future for their star, Zion Williamson.
The 24-year-old swingman was drafted first overall out of Duke, where he became famous for his size, power, and hyper-athleticism. As a 2x All-Star, he was slated to be the face of Pelicans basketball with career averages of 24.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game on 56.7% shooting.
Unfortunately, Williamson has struggled with weight issues throughout his career due to poor conditioning habits that have limited his success. Despite signing a five-year, $231 million contract in 2022, his availability has only gotten worse, and there are fears that his health will never be reliable. Still, with his size and specialized skillset, Williamson can provide a major boost in the right situation. The question now is, which teams are best-suited for Zion as they approach a historically competitive NBA offseason?
Miami Heat
Following the Jimmy Butler trade, the Miami Heat have been desperately searching for someone to take his place. With Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro, and Andrew Wiggins, they already have the groundwork for being a contender, but they lack the alpha-level superstar required to get the job done.
Zion Williamson could be that guy for them if he’s willing to put in the work. Under Pat Riley’s guidance and the direction of Erik Spoelstra, Zion will have some of the best mentors in the league holding him accountable, and it’s the best bet for fixing some of his worst habits.
If the Heat want to avoid giving up Tyler Herro or Andrew Wiggins in the trade, they can use Nikola Jovic and Jaime Jaquez Jr. as the main trade chips and package them with Duncan Robinson and picks to pull off the deal. Zion’s arrival alone would not make the Heat favorites in the East, but it would be the start of getting back to a competitive state after such a disappointing season.
Charlotte Hornets
Zion Williamson likely wants to play in a big market, but not every team is willing to take on the risk associated with his contract right now. One team desperate enough, however, may be the Charlotte Hornets, who have their own disgruntled star to consider.
With another three years and $120 million on his contract, LaMelo Ball’s situation has become increasingly unclear as the Hornets consider a major overhaul this summer. Since Ball and Zion make roughly the same, Charlotte can actually pull a clean swap with the Pelicans and trade one superstar for another in hopes that something will change.
With Zion and Brandon Miller, Charlotte can build toward a better future and move on from LaMelo Ball, whose leadership and maturity have been criticized before. At the very least, the Hornets can offer Williamson a fresh start to rebuild his career without added pressure or high demands.
New York Knicks
Fresh off losing in the Eastern Conference Finals, the Knicks believe they are just one or two moves away from winning a championship. This summer, with limited flexibility, the Knicks will have to give up one of their own in order to make any major changes, but they might be willing to give up a lot for Zion Williamson.
It’s no secret that Zion wanted to get drafted by New York in 2019, and there’s no doubt that he’d be happy there playing for a big market team in the world’s most famous arena. Alongside Jalen Brunson, OG Anunoby, and Mikal Bridges, Williamson could thrive as a Knick and take them to brand new heights in the East.
By offering Karl-Anthony Towns in the deal, New York could solve their issues at center and free up space for Mitchell Robinson while adding Zion and Herb Jones. It’s a risky move for New York, but it could be the one that finally takes them over the edge as an NBA champion.
Trade interest will be somewhat limited in Zion given his underachieving career and history of health problems, but he’s the kind of talent that can change the NBA hierarchy, and the Knicks are one of several teams that are bound to consider a move. Only team President Leon Rose knows what the plan is now, and he’s going to keep it under wraps until it’s time to make the reveal.
