The NBA draft always comes with excitement. Fans around the league will anticipate the arrival of fresh young talent. With that said, there are levels to that excitement. Fans of lottery teams will especially feel it – and even then, every lottery isn’t the same either.
Take the 2019 draft. Zion Williamson was not your ordinary first-overall pick. He was going to be special. Williamson wowed audiences with a rare blend of size and speed. It was easy to envision Williamson as a walking paint touch at the NBA level. When healthy, that’s exactly what he’s been.
Unfortunately, health doesn’t come easily to Williamson. Perhaps that’s why it’s been rumored that the New Orleans Pelicans could be open to moving him in the past. Could they send him to a team that wanted to draft him back in 2019? How about the New York Knicks?
The Trade Proposal
New Orleans Pelicans Receive: G/F Evan Fournier, C Mitchell Robinson, 2026 First-Round Pick (NYK), 2028 First-Round Pick (NYK), 2029 First-Round Pick (Swap – NYK)
New York Knicks Receive: F Zion Williamson
Williamson was the most anticipated NBA prospect since LeBron James. That held true until this summer. Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs is the most anticipated prospect since James. The hype around the talented Frenchman has surpassed even Williamson’s.
Should Wembanyama turn to Williamson as a cautionary tale? To an extent. There are concerns about Wembanyama’s body – as there were about Williamson’s. On the other hand, sometimes, players simply make good on their promises. Need an example? Here’s one: LeBron James.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans & New York Knicks Updates
Is it too late for Williamson to make good on his promise? Not at all. Williamson is still young. He needs to find a way to preserve his body, but if he can, Williamson could win MVP awards. Should the Pelicans cut ties with him already?
Why The New Orleans Pelicans Do The Deal
If you’re a Pelicans fan, you may feel like this is a lowball offer. We understand. At the same time, if the Pelicans don’t move Williamson soon, and he gets injured again, this will look like a fortune. At this point, Williamson is a depreciating asset on the trade market.
Here, the Pelicans are selling low before they’re forced to sell even lower. It’s not all bad. Allegedly, the Pelicans are interested in adding a defensive big man. Robinson is one of the best in the NBA. He could be a building block for this team moving forward.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans & New York Knicks Updates
Otherwise, New Orleans is adding two unprotected first-round picks and a swap here. That’s a good return for a player with Williamson’s history. Meanwhile, the Pelicans would have one of the best collections of draft capital in the NBA following this year in addition to Brandon Ingram and a number of good young players. That’s a pretty good situation. Should the Knicks put the Pelicans in it?
Why The New York Knicks Do The Deal
The Knicks do this deal to land Zion Williamson. Skip to the next article. There is nothing to see here.
Jokes aside, this isn’t a no-brainer for the Knicks. They could have several concerns. For starters, Williamson is not an ideal fit alongside Julius Randle. They’re both offensively gifted, ball-dominant 4s with defensive limitations. Moreover, surrendering this much draft capital for a player with Williamson’s injury history is a risk. We understand all of that. At the same time, the Knicks are acquiring Zion Williamson here.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans & New York Knicks Updates
Trade Randle. Put some faith in Wiliamson’s body. When he’s been healthy, he’s looked like an MVP candidate. The Knicks can’t say that for anybody else on their current roster. If they acquired Williamson, they’d have plenty to be excited about, even if they couldn’t draft him.
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