The NBA runs on star power. Every team needs a franchise player. With that in mind, players with that level of talent are beginning to recognize their worth to NBA teams.
Welcome to the player empowerment era. Superstar players know their worth. They act accordingly. In recent years, we’ve seen more trade requests from the league’s best players than ever before.
As a result, we see more players in trade rumors. Take LaMelo Ball of the Charlotte Hornets and Zion Williamson of the New Orleans Pelicans. They’re both young, but neither is a stranger to trade rumors. Could they be swapped for each other this summer?
NBA Trade Proposal
Charlotte Hornets Receive: F Zion Williamson
New Orleans Pelicans Receive: G LaMelo Ball
Yet, we don’t see these types of trades very often. If either of these guys gets moved, it’s more likely that their team will receive a bundle of first-round picks in exchange. Why?
Well, it partly owes to the player empowerment era. In the old NBA, players would typically accept their fate. The team they were moved to was their team. Now, players have a say in where they land. They’ll make it clear that they only want to join a handful of teams.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans, Charlotte Hornets Updates
So, drafting your franchise player has become more prudent than ever. It’s a way to earn a player’s loyalty. Still, there are exceptions to every rule. Should the Pelicans swap one superstar for another?
Why The New Orleans Pelicans Do The Deal
It’s been rumored that the Pelicans may choose between Williamson and Brandon Ingram. They’re both forwards who like to score from similar spots on the floor. If they fail to make a deep playoff run this year, one of them may be out the door.
The Pelicans will struggle with this decision. Williamson surely has a higher ceiling. At the same time, Ingram is the more reliable player of the pair. If the Pelicans could pair him with the right star, he could be a strong second option.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans, Charlotte Hornets Updates
Why not Ball? He has a vastly different shot profile. Ball is a high-volume three-point shooter and a tremendously efficient one. His injection of playmaking could be exactly what New Orleans are missing. Should the Hornets part with him?
Why The Charlotte Hornets Do The Deal
Williamson is extremely injury-prone. That’s the major knock on him. At the same time, Ball is developing a reputation for getting hurt in his own right.
Meanwhile, Brandon Miller is emerging as a rookie. He looks like he’ll be an elite two-way wing before long. He’s a sensible pairing with Ball, but it is worth noting that the Hornets have struggled to generate rim pressure even when healthy.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans, Charlotte Hornets Updates
Williamson would solve that dilemma. He’s a walking paint touch. Guarding him would be impossible with Miller spacing the floor. In other words, he may be the star that the Hornets need.
