As the trade deadline approaches, the New Orleans Pelicans’ position on Zion Williamson has become clearer. Senior NBA insider Chris Haynes reports this that Williamson is one of the front office’s five untouchables, making it appear the former No. 1 pick in the 2019 draft will remain with the team past the Feb. 5 trade deadline.
This is a position by the Pelicans that I have been very open about and disagree with, as it is now year seven of Zion Williamson in New Orleans and has resulted in two playoff appearances, both of which Williamson missed due to injury. Combine that with the current state of the team – sitting last in the West at 9-32 – and it makes even more sense to sell the former All-Star forward.
If the Pelicans were to change their plans regarding Williamson, I think there is one team that could be a match made in Heaven: the Phoenix Suns.
Why Phoenix could be the perfect landing spot for Zion
The Phoenix Suns did a fantastic job rebounding from Kevin Durant’s turnover this season, sitting sixth in the Western Conference with a 24-15 record.
Dillon Brooks has been phenomenal this season and continues to prove to the story that he can be a true culture changer. Brooks was one of two big players brought to Houston this summer via Durant, the other being Jalen Green. While Green was good in the two games he played for the Suns, he is still dealing with a hamstring injury that could make him someone Phoenix looks to move at the deadline.
This season we’ve seen Collin Gillespie, Jamaree Bouyea, Jordan Goodwin and Mark Williams all become true rotation players for the Suns after being written off by most of the league. This has become part of this team’s identity as they find players that no one else values and find a role where they can maximize them. So who’s to say they wouldn’t be interested in doing the same with Zion Williamson, especially if it doesn’t take away from anyone actively playing.
Essentially, the Suns are yielding 22.8 points per game with Williamson for someone not playing in Green, and someone averaging 5.3 points per game with Oso Ighodaro. Acquiring Williamson at this low price tag would give them a true third scoring option alongside Brooks and Devin Booker and boost their ranking as far as Western Conference contenders go.
Why the Pelicans do it:
No. 1: It helps fully usher in the new era of Pelicans basketball centered around Trey Murphy III, Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen.
No. 2: Selecting a former second overall pick in Jalen Green is a low-risk, high-reward move.
No. 3: Oso Ighodaro is the perfect offensive player to pair with Derik Queen because he excels as an rim protector, is very positionally aware, and is a very solid rebounder and screener, all of which would complement DQ.
No. 4: Acquiring any draft capital in the 2026 class is a win, as the Pelicans currently own no capital of their own.
A Zion Williamson for Jalen Green trade could be extremely beneficial for both parties, although the Pelicans would certainly be giving up more value than they receive. That’s just the new reality of trading a star that teams no longer value highly in today’s NBA, and the Trae Young trade saga was living proof of that.
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