Zion Williamson was once hailed as the savior of the New Orleans Pelicans, but now he’s on the verge of being traded as the Pels re-evaluate their future. Williamson, while talented, has been unreliable for New Orleans. Due to his failure to stay in shape and his inability to stay healthy when he’s on the court, the Pelicans star has missed more games than he’s played despite being just 22 years old.
For the Pelicans, this has turned into a serious problem. Zion has now wasted three seasons for the organization, and his lack of communication continues to leave the franchise completely in the dark. Things have gotten so bad in New Orleans that the Pelicans may just move on from Zion altogether if it means they can draft a guy like Scoot Henderson.
“There has been frenzied speculation about New Orleans dealing with Williamson. The Athletic reported that the Pelicans want to move up in the 2023 draft to select guard Scoot Henderson,” wrote Ian Begley. “Williamson would, presumably, be a key part of a trade up to the top 3 in the draft. Also, high-ranking members of the organization have been dismayed by recent off-court developments around Williamson, as other outlets have noted. The organization recently fired assistant coach Teresa Weatherspoon, a Naismith Hall of Famer who was instrumental in the development of several young Pelicans, including Williamson. Those reading the tea leaves may surmise that Weatherspoon’s firing was related to the team’s issues with Williamson.”
In four seasons with the Pelicans, Zion has played just 114 games and has nothing to show for it. Right when the team found something this past season, Zion again went down with an injury that sidelined him for months.
Truth be told, it’s been hell on earth for the Pelicans in the Zion Williamson era, but it may be coming to a close faster than we all thought.
Will The Pelicans Trade Zion?
It’s no secret that NOLA covets the chance to draft Scoot Henderson in the draft this year, but they’ll have to move up in order to make that happen. As it stands, no deal is imminent, but that could change if Zion is made available in trade talks…
“The Zion thing is a real subplot,” said Bill Simmons. “I had somebody tell me yesterday that I trust, he will not be on that team come Thursday.”
On paper, the Pelicans have loads of talent and they could still be a major threat in the West with a summer of growth and work to bring everybody together. As of right now, however, New Orleans looks closer to starting another mini-rebuild than being a legitimate championship team.
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