The New Orleans Pelicans are open to trading Zion Williamson this offseason if they can move up in the 2023 draft and select Scoot Henderson, according to NBA insider Marc Stein. The Pelicans are less inclined to consider trading Brandon Ingram in the same scenario.
“I heard this week from one well-placed observer who is convinced that the Pelicans would indeed consider dealing Williamson away if it meant they could draft Henderson, pointing to a rising level of exasperation within the organization regarding Williamson’s ongoing availability issues and overall approach,” Stein wrote. “My read, at this juncture, is that the Pelicans are less inclined to consider trading Brandon Ingram in the same scenario.”
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, Brandon Ingram & New Orleans Pelicans 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.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram & New Orleans Pelicans Updates
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.”
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