The New York Knicks have been urged to trade for New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson by an NBA writer.
Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report thinks this is the perfect offseason for the Knicks to acquire Williamson, who could be available in a trade.
“Knicks fans, you’re free to dream about Zion Williamson again,” Buckley wrote. “The New Orleans Pelicans are reportedly mulling moving the oft-injured big man to snag a top-three pick and the chance to select G League Ignite guard Scoot Henderson, per NBA insider Marc Stein. The Knicks, of course, don’t have a top-three pick to dangle, so how could they enter the Williamson sweepstakes? By potentially connecting the dots in a three-team trade. Maybe the teams with top-three picks don’t want all the health risks tied to the 22-year-old.
“Perhaps they’d prefer a package from New York built around some combination of Barrett, Obi Toppin, Immanuel Quickley, Quentin Grimes and a pile of future first-round picks. If the Knicks could grease the gears of a multi-team trade that finally brings Williamson to the Big Apple, they should be all over it.”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans & New York Knicks Updates
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 then missed his entire third year and appeared in just 29 games this past season.
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.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans & New York Knicks Updates
“In this league, you always bet on high-end talent if you can,” Buckley wrote. “The Knicks, who have everything they need to contend for the crown other than a superstar, should wager on Williamson if they get the chance.”
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