An NBA trade idea sending Zion Williamson from the New Orleans Pelicans to the Charlotte Hornets has been created.
NBA writer Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report created the following trade idea between the Pelicans and Hornets:
Charlotte Hornets receive: Zion Williamson
New Orleans Pelicans receive: Miles Bridges, Tidjane Salaün, Liam McNeeley, a 2028 first-round pick (top-three protected), a 2029 first-round pick swap and a 2027 second-round pick (via NOP or POR)
Williamson will make $39.4 million next season since the Pelicans didn’t waive him on July 15. The lefty appeared in just 30 games for New Orleans in 2024-25, averaging 24.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.9 blocks while shooting 56.7% from the field and 65.6% from the free-throw line.
A two-time All-Star, Williamson has career averages of 24.7 points, 6.6 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.6 blocks in 214 NBA games. He has played in only 45% of his possible games with the Pelicans since being the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft.
This blockbuster NBA trade idea would pair Williamson with LaMelo Ball. The two players are friends and would certainly be fun to watch together on the Hornets, who haven’t made the playoffs since 2016.
Charlotte would have a “Big 3” of Williamson, Ball and Brandon Miller if the Hornets traded for Williamson, who doesn’t have a no-trade clause in his contract.
“Trading for Williamson would be a dice roll, sure, but there’s never been a better time for Eastern Conference teams to gamble,” Buckley wrote. “The conference was just conquered by a 32-loss, superstar-less squad, and it has grown even more vulnerable since. If Ball can’t win with the Hornets when the East is in this bad of shape, he could have serious hesitations about it ever being possible.”