NBA Trades: 12 stars that will likely change teams by next season

NBA Star #7: Zion Williamson

In a surprising development, it seems that the New Orleans Pelicans are open to trading star Zion Williamson. Offseason drama aside, most expected the Pelicans to hold onto Zion and hope that he could finally get healthy.

However, the Pelicans are looking to move up in the NBA Draft to select Scoot Henderson, and trading Zion is their best way to do so. Even if they don’t ultimately move up the draft board and take Henderson, their willingness to move him implies that they could listen to other offers for him.

Zion has only played 114 games over his first four years in the NBA. That is concerning, to say the least, especially for a player who relies heavily on his explosiveness and brute strength to bully opponents. What happens if he isn’t nearly the athlete that he once was? His lack of a jumper becomes a much bigger issue in that scenario, and perhaps the Pelicans know something that we don’t, leading to them kicking the tires on a trade before word gets out.

If they are indeed open to dealing Zion, Charlotte and Portland appear to be two possible teams given that they have the second and third overall picks in the NBA draft. If there isn’t a deal on draft night, it wouldn’t necessarily close the door on a trade, but it would probably decrease the chances of him being moved in the short term.