NBA Rumors: Pelicans Considering Blockbuster Zion Williamson Trade

It's been big-time difficult in The Big Easy the past couple of years for Zion Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans. But new reports suggest that Zion could be on the move, IF the Pels are able to land a top 3 pick in next week's NBA Draft.

A “well-placed” source thinks the Pelicans “would indeed consider dealing” Zion to move into the top three and draft Scoot Henderson, per @TheSteinLine pic.twitter.com/cacBKk5la8
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 14, 2023

Plugged-in NBA Insider Marc Stein says a "well-placed source" tells him that the Pelicans “would indeed consider dealing” Zion to move into the top three in order to draft Scoot Henderson. The Charlotte Hornets hold the No. 2 pick and the Portland Trail Blazers have No. 3. Draft pundits seem to be vacillating back and forth between Henderson and Brandon Miller for those two picks, following Victor Wembanyama at No. 1 to the San Antonio Spurs.

"It is not a secret that the Pelicans want to move way up in this draft," noted ESPN NBA Insider Brian Windhorst this morning. "You don't have to be a next-level genius to realize that if they want to move way up in the draft, you're looking at potentially making Zion Williamson available."

With Zion in the lineup to start last season, the Pelicans went 23-13 and were within a game of first in the West. Then he went down again, and the rest is history.

Williamson has played only 114 games out of a possible 318 in his career. That's 36% of his team's games in his first four seasons.

Is it time for the Pelicans to move on? Is it time for Zion to move on? It sounds like it's a distinct possibility, and a blockbuster deal could be coming by next Thursday's draft.

Photo: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports