The 2025-26 NBA campaign is an important season for several teams, but that statement may be most true for the New Orleans Pelicans. After moving on from Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum over the past year, the Pels are intent on seeing what they have at their disposal in star forward Zion Williamson.
The story with Williamson has been the same throughout his career. When he’s on the court, Williamson is one of the most dangerous players in the league. The problem is that staying healthy is the most difficult part of the game of basketball for Williamson. Trade rumors have continued to swirl around him to begin the new year, but one NBA executive recently dropped a blunt truth bomb on the possibility of New Orleans trading its best player.
NBA Executive Shoots Down Zion Williamson Trade Rumors
The Pelicans selected Williamson with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, and the belief was that he would become a franchise cornerstone for the team. When Williamson has played, he’s been a star, but he has been among the least available players during his time in the league. In his seventh NBA season now, Williamson has taken the court for just 219 of 500 possible regular-season games for New Orleans.
And yet, the front office further committed to Williamson over the past few months by trading Ingram and McCollum, opting to build the roster back up around the talented small forward. Williamson is averaging 22.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 4.6 assists per game while shooting 48.7% from the field, but he’s already missed three games along the way for the Pelicans.
With the team crawling out to a 2-6 start, the trade rumors surrounding Williamson haven’t exactly gone away. However, would it even make sense to trade Williamson at this stage of the game? One NBA executive doesn’t think so, largely because Williamson’s trade value simply isn’t high enough to get the sort of return New Orleans is looking for.
“To be honest, their move might be a win-now trade, not a Zion trade,” an NBA executive said, per Brian Windhorst of ESPN. “His trade value isn’t there and they are facing some pressure to win.”
Should the Pelicans Trade Zion Williamson?
GettyMEMPHIS, TENNESSEE – OCTOBER 22: Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans reacts during the first half against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum on October 22, 2025 in Memphis, Tennessee. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)
The Pelicans simply cannot seem to get on the right track with Williamson. Even when he’s healthy and on the court, the front office has struggled to surround him with players who fit alongside him, leading to a seemingly endless cycle of struggles. At some point, the team may be better off cutting bait with Williamson and starting from scratch.
If the front office can’t get a return that is in line with what they are looking for, though, does it make sense to move Williamson? They could gamble that he stays healthy this season and reassess, but given how his career has played out, that’s obviously a risk. New Orleans appears to be stuck in the same holding pattern with Williamson, but if the team keeps on losing, it may have to answer some big questions about his future sooner rather than later.
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