The New Orleans Pelicans are not interested in trading Zion Williamson this offseason, according to NBA insider Jonathan Givony of ESPN.
The Pelicans have been exploring the possibility of trading up in the 2023 NBA Draft to select Scoot Henderson, which has led to speculation that they are open to moving on from Williamson.
However, Givony has been told that the Pelicans are not putting Williamson on the trade block.
“I’ve been told New Orleans is not trading Zion,” Givony said on the Zach Lowe Podcast. “And no interest in trading Brandon Ingram. I would be very surprised if anything ended up happening there at two or three. They were the No. 1 team in the West last year when Zion went down with the injury. If he’s healthy, which he rarely is, but when he’s healthy, he is easily one of the best players in the NBA.
“So I don’t see it happening. That was pretty much shut down to me as a possibility of Zion to Charlotte.”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Zion Williamson & New Orleans Pelicans Updates
Williamson signed a five-year, $194.3 million designated rookie contract extension with the Pelicans in July 2022. When he’s been on the court, the Duke product 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 dedication to basketball since the lefty 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.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Zion Williamson & 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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