One NBA writer is proposing that the New Orleans Pelicans trade Zion Williamson to the Portland Trail Blazers for Damian Lillard in a blockbuster trade. Ari Schwartz of HoopsHabit proposed that the Pelicans trade Williamson, Dyson Daniels, Kira Lewis Jr. and two top-five protected first-round picks to the Blazers for Lillard, who has requested a trade.
“As great as Zion can be, it may be time for New Orleans to cut their losses and trade Williamson before he’s lost all of his value,” Schwartz wrote in his latest NBA trade column. “A Blazers franchise desperate for someone to jump in on the Lillard sweepstakes and outbid the Miami Heat could be willing to take a chance on Zion, and if so, the Pelicans would benefit. They’d reunite Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum, this time with another star player alongside them in Brandon Ingram, and a well-rounded roster. Lillard may not have the same upside as Williamson at 33 years old, but he will consistently bring star-level production to a Pelicans team that might only be one piece away from contention.
“From the Blazers’ side of things, acquiring Williamson is a huge risk, but it’s one they should be willing to take. It certainly beats Miami’s offer of Tyler Herro and picks, which Portland has been patiently waiting for someone to outbid. Williamson possesses extremely high upside if he can stay on the court and would make for one of the NBA’s most exciting young duos next to Scoot Henderson. Dyson Daniels was a recent lottery pick and maybe Kira Lewis Jr. could revive his career with the Blazers. Add that to two first-round picks and this offer is very hard to say no to.”
Lillard averaged 32.2 points, 4.8 rebounds and 7.3 assists last season for the Blazers. He will make $46.6 million next season. The seven-time NBA All-Star signed a two-year, $121.8 million extension with Portland in July 2022. Lillard wants the Blazers to trade him to the Miami Heat, but Portland hasn’t been impressed with Miami’s offers.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans, Damian Lillard & Portland Trail Blazers Updates
There have been several questions about Williamson’s diet and commitment to basketball since he’s only played 114 out of a possible 308 regular-season games since being drafted by the Pelicans with the first overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft out of Duke. Williamson played in 24 games in his rookie year and 61 games in his sophomore year. The lefty then missed his entire third year and appeared in just 29 games last season.
When he’s been on the court, Williamson has been a superstar. The North Carolina native has career NBA averages of 25.8 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.6 assists while shooting 60.5% from the floor. However, the Pelicans are only 57-57 when Williamson plays.
The odds of the Pelicans trading Williamson to the Blazers are very, very low since everyone in the NBA knows Lillard only wants to play for the Heat. There’s also the fact that New Orleans vice president of basketball operations David Griffin told Sirus XM NBA Radio during Summer League in Las Vegas that the franchise’s relationship with Williamson is “as good as it’s ever been.”
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans, Damian Lillard & Portland Trail Blazers Updates
Most people around the NBA believe the Blazers will eventually trade Lillard to the Heat. However, until it happens, the door is still open for the Pelicans to shock the world and trade Williamson for Lillard.
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