NBA Trade Rumors: New Orleans Pelicans Face Pivotal Zion Decision as New Era Begins Under Dumars
The New Orleans Pelicans are entering a crucial offseason, and the biggest question looming over the franchise is the future of Zion Williamson. According to Marc Stein and Jake Fischer, new executive Joe Dumars is expected to take a hard look at the state of the roster before deciding whether or not to actively shop the former No. 1 overall pick.
While no decision has been made yet, the writing may already be on the wall.
Frustration Mounts in New Orleans
Williamson’s immense talent has never been in question. When he’s on the floor, he’s a dynamic offensive force—24.6 PPG, 7.2 RPG, and 5.3 APG this season alone. But that comes with a massive asterisk: he only played 30 games.
That’s now four out of six seasons in which Zion has appeared in 30 games or fewer, including a completely missed 2021–22 season. That level of unreliability is weighing heavily on the organization.
“Organizational exasperation” with Williamson is “plenty tangible,” Stein and Fischer noted.
And if the Pelicans land the No. 1 pick in the upcoming draft, the temptation to reset around Cooper Flagg—the projected top prospect from Duke—may be too strong to resist.
Ownership’s Vision: Trade Zion, Keep Willie Green?
According to NBC Sports’ Kurt Helin, Dumars may have accepted the position with the understanding that Zion could be moved and head coach Willie Green would be retained. Though Green’s name has been floated for other vacancies (notably Phoenix), his standing in New Orleans appears strong.
Still, a trade involving Zion comes with plenty of complications:
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His value is at a low point due to his injury history.
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His max contract extension kicks in next season.
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Other teams may not be willing to part with meaningful assets for a player who can't stay on the court.
It’s a lose-lose scenario if they try to trade him for “pennies on the dollar,” but building around him long-term might no longer be viable either.
What’s Next for New Orleans Pelicans?
Even if the Pelicans move Zion, they won’t be starting from scratch. There’s a decent mix of veteran stability (Dejounte Murray, CJ McCollum, Herbert Jones) and young talent (Trey Murphy III, Jordan Hawkins, Yves Missi) to form a competitive roster.
Add in a top draft pick—they currently have the fourth-best lottery odds—and Dumars could quickly reshape the future without a complete teardown.
But that all hinges on:
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Zion’s market value
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Their draft lottery outcome
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Whether ownership is ready to move on from the franchise’s original cornerstone
Bottom Line
Joe Dumars is stepping into one of the most complicated front-office challenges in the NBA. Zion Williamson still has superstar potential—but his body continues to be the biggest obstacle to fulfilling it. If the Pelicans land Cooper Flagg, a reset may be inevitable.
For now, the franchise is in limbo, and all eyes are on what Dumars does next.
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