The Houston Rockets could trade for New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson this offseason, according to NBA insider Rafael Barlowe.
Barlowe wrote in his Substack column that Williamson has come up as a potential trade target for the Rockets, who have the fourth overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft. Houston also has more than $60 million in cap space.
“In my conversations, the name Zion Williamson has come up as a potential trade target for Houston,” Barlowe wrote. “The Rockets hold the No. 4 pick in the draft, are already one of the youngest teams in the league and are potentially interested in moving the pick for a win-now player (or players).”
Williamson has only appeared in 114 out of possible 308 regular-season games since being drafted by the Pelicans with the first overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft out of Duke. The lefty played in 24 games in his rookie year and 61 games in his sophomore year. Williamson missed his entire third year and appeared in just 29 games this season.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans & Houston Rockets Updates
Zion signed a five-year, $194.3 million designated rookie contract extension with the Pelicans in July 2022. When he’s been on the court, Williamson has been a superstar. The North Carolina native has career averages of 25.8 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.6 assists.
However, there have been questions about Williamson’s diet and commitment to basketball. According to Christian Clark of NOLA.com, Williamson’s relationship with New Orleans vice president of player care Adrian Nelson became strained during his rookie season and the forward refused to work with Nelson sometimes.
“Williamson’s relationship with Nelson became strained during his rookie season,” Clark wrote. “At different points, Williamson refused to work with him. It was a rocky first few months for Nelson, whose arrival to the Pelicans was trumpeted with a glowing 1,800-word profile on their team website.”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans & Houston Rockets Updates
The Rockets could trade the fourth overall pick in this year’s draft to the Pelicans for Williamson.
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