Zion Williamson was supposed to be the face of the franchise for the New Orleans Pelicans. Unfortunately, he hasn’t been on the court to warrant that title.
To make matters worse, Williamson’s recent actions have really bothered people around the league. His former teammate, JJ Redick, put him on blast while on ESPN’s First Take.
“This just shows a complete lack of investment in your team, the organization, the city,” Redick said. “I get that he’s hurt and away from the team, but you just traded for one of the 50 best players in the league, a guy that’s supposed to be paired with you. Reach out and say hello. This is a pattern of behavior with Zion that we’re seeing again and again.”
If this turns out to be the end of the Zion era for the Pelicans, there are three suitors that make a lot of sense when it comes to a potential blockbuster trade.
Indiana Pacers
(Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
With Tyrese Haliburton now on the roster, an argument can be made that Malcolm Brogdon is expendable. That’d be good news for the Pelicans because he’d fill their need for a point guard.
Not only would the Pelicans receive Brogdon in return for Williamson, they’d most likely land some young pieces like Duane Washington Jr. and/or Oshae Brissett.
Portland Trail Blazers
(Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
Portland and New Orleans have already made a blockbuster trade this calendar yet. Could they do it again? It might not be likely, but it is possible.
The Trail Blazers are desperately searching for a star alongside Damian Lillard. If healthy, Zion Williamson would check off that box.
New Orleans could pursue Anfernee Simmons, Nassir Little and a plethora of first-round picks in return for the former No. 1 overall pick. That doesn’t sound like a great haul, but that would give the Pelicans yet another productive guard, a much-needed backup forward and draft capital.
There’s also a scenario in play where Lillard wants out of Portland. In the event that happens, a trade centered around Lillard and Williamson makes a lot of sense for both parties. The Pelicans would get a star in return for Williamson, while the Trail Blazers would get a worthy replacement to be their face of the franchise.
New York Knicks
(Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
We can’t finish off this list by mentioning the team that thought it would be able to select Williamson in the 2019 NBA Draft, the New York Knicks.
The Knicks ultimately had terrible luck with the NBA Draft Lottery that year. Although the franchise is going through a rough patch at the moment, there’s no doubt that New York has some intriguing trade assets on its roster.
New York probably would like to keep R.J. Barrett so it can pair him with Williamson. That being said, Julius Randle, Obi Toppin, Immanuel Quickley and Quentin Grimes should all be fair game.
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