Zion Williamson Trade Rumors: 'No Sense' Pelicans Are Shopping Star at NBA Deadline
January 8, 2025
After a successful return to the court following a two-month absence, Zion Williamson's immediate future is likely going to be with the New Orleans Pelicans.
On Wednesday's episode of Get Up (starts at 1:00 mark), ESPN's Brian Windhorst said there is "no sense" the Pelicans are looking to move the two-time All-Star prior to the trade deadline.
Even if the Pelicans wanted to trade Williamson, the primary issue is the offers likely wouldn't amount to much because injuries make him an unreliable player.
Tuesday's game against the Minnesota Timberwolves was Williamson's first appearance since Nov. 6 due to a hamstring injury. He looked really good with 22 points on 9-of-15 shooting with six rebounds, four assists and three steals.
Williamson has played in 191 out of 427 possible regular-season games in his six seasons. There were also questions in the past about his dedication to keeping himself in peak condition.
There were reports in December 2021 that Williamson's weight got up to 330 pounds. When he signed a five-year, $193 million extension in July 2022, the Pelicans included a weight clause that required him to hit certain benchmarks at multiple times throughout each season.
By all accounts, Williamson has had no problems hitting those benchmarks since signing the contract. He was on track to satisfy the requirement earlier this season, per ESPN's Tim MacMahon and Bobby Marks.
Willamson's contract, which has three years remaining after this season, wouldn't be difficult to trade because so much of his money is tied to his weigh-in benchmarks and games played.
Per Spotrac, Williamson's salary is not guaranteed in each of the next three seasons. It becomes fully guaranteed on July 15 every year through 2027.
Until Williamson proves he can stay healthy and productive, there's nothing for the Pelicans to gain by trying to move him unless they just decide it's time to move on. His return on Tuesday did show that he can be an impact player, which makes it hard to just give up on him.
The Pelicans, whose 7-30 record is the worst in the Western Conference, should be a seller before the Feb. 6 trade deadline. It just doesn't make sense for Williamson to be a player they try to move on from at this point unless a surprisingly strong offer comes along.