NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) – The New Orleans Pelicans are “very unlikely” to trade franchise star Zion Williamson this offseason.
That’s according to a recent report by The Athletic’s Will Guillory.
Guillory reports that it was “no accident” that Williamson was chosen to represent the franchise at the recent NBA Draft Lottery in Chicago. He also said that there have been ongoing discussions between Williamson’s camp and new Pelicans executive Joe Dumars.
There were previous rumors that Dumars was hired by New Orleans with the understanding that he’d have Williamson traded this summer. Dumars denied those rumors in his introductory press conference.
“I read that last week,” Dumars said of the reported mandate, per The Athletic’s Will Guillory. “If I did, nobody told me.”
Williamson was taken at No. 1 overall in 2019 by the Pelicans to become the cornerstone of the franchise. However, numerous injuries have limited the star’s time on the court.
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In his career, Williamson is a two-time All-Star with averages of 24.7 points, 6.6 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1 steal per game while shooting 60 percent from the floor.
Williamson is an elite league talent when available to play, but has yet to appear in a playoff game.
The same can be said about his supporting cast. The Pelicans have a solid core featuring Herb Jones, Trey Murphy, and center Yves Missi. If this group can stay healthy, they’ll add a No. 7 overall pick to the mix on Wednesday, June 25.
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