New Orleans Pelicans Receive: F Darius Bazley, LAC 2022 1st Round Pick (via OKC), OKC WAS 2023 1st Round Pick (Top-14 Protected, via OKC), HOU 2024 1st Round Pick (Top-4 Protected, via OKC)
Oklahoma City Thunder Receive: F Zion Williamson
At this time, the Pelicans have shown no indications that they would like to move on from Zion Williamson, but things can change in a heartbeat around the NBA and there is no telling what Zion is feeling about his long-term future right now simply because nobody has talked to him in months!
The next few months will be very telling about Williamson’s future in New Orleans and how his teammates interact with him throughout the rest of the season could be all we need to know about his future.
The Pelicans may not want to trade Zion Williamson, but the Thunder can put together a very lucrative offer for New Orleans to highly consider.
Having 35 total draft picks through 2028, the Thunder have an assortment of draft assets they can dangle in front of the Pelicans’ front office, as well as a handful of versatile young talents.
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Other than Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Josh Giddey, and maybe Luguentz Dort, everyone else on the Thunder’s roster is available in trade talks and Darius Bazley is an intriguing player for the Pelicans to bring back in this trade.
Standing 6’8” with above-average athleticism, Darius Bazley is a scoring and rebounding factor at the power-forward position that can stretch the floor as well. He is nowhere close to being on the same level as Zion Williamson, but Bazley is a versatile scorer that can provide frontcourt depth for his team.
The bulk of this trade though truly is the draft compensation New Orleans can receive.
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Three valuable first-round picks is a lot of compensation to turn down for any player, which is why the Pelicans would have to at the very least hear out Sam Presti and the Thunder with this offer.
Maybe Zion Williamson will not be traded at all, but three first-round picks and a former first-round pick still on his rookie deal is a very enticing offer for an injury-prone player with durability issues like Williamson.
