Zion Williamson’s Trade Value Soars: Will the Pelicans Move Their Star Forward?

NBA Trade Rumors: Zion Williamson’s Trade Value Soars: Will the Pelicans Move Their Star Forward?

New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson is turning heads across the NBA, sparking speculation about his future. After returning from injury, Williamson’s stellar performances have reportedly drawn “significant interest” from multiple teams, according to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon on Brian Windhorst & The Hoop Collective.

NBA Teams Eyeing Zion Williamson as Trade Talks Loom

The Pelicans’ strategy when Williamson was injured was to restore his trade value—and it appears to be working. However, the biggest question remains: Is New Orleans willing to trade their franchise star?

A rival NBA general manager told ESPN’s Brian Windhorst that despite Williamson’s improved play, the Pelicans may not get a strong enough return to justify moving him this offseason:

"The question about the Pelicans is whether they would consider trading Zion. It hasn't really been an option over the last couple of years because he's been injured, and his value hasn't been high enough. Even now, I don't think they could get great value. So they will probably see if he can carry this play over into next year."

Zion Williamson’s Dominant Play Since Return from Injury

After missing 27 consecutive games from November to January due to a hamstring injury, Williamson has stayed relatively healthy, appearing in 22 of the Pelicans' last 31 games.

His impact has been undeniable, averaging:
✅ 24.6 points
✅ 7.1 rebounds
✅ 5.3 assists
✅ 1.4 steals per game
✅ 59.5% shooting from the field

When healthy, Williamson is among the league’s most dominant interior forces. However, staying on the court has been a persistent challenge.

Durability Concerns & Long-Term Contract

Since being selected No. 1 overall in the 2019 NBA Draft, Williamson has only played 60+ games twice in his six-year career. Injuries have plagued him, including missing:

• The entire 2021-22 season
  All but 24 games in his rookie year (2019-20)
  All but 29 games in the 2022-23 season

Despite these concerns, the Pelicans committed to Williamson long-term, signing him to a five-year, $197.23 million extension in 2022, which keeps him under contract through 2027-28.

Should the Pelicans Trade Zion?

At 18-49, the Pelicans are heading toward another rebuild, and the biggest decision they face is whether to build around Zion or move on.

Trading him could bring in significant assets, but keeping him means banking on his health and potential. Any team willing to trade for him would be taking a risk, but they’d also be acquiring a superstar-caliber player under contract for three more seasons.

With the offseason approaching, Zion Williamson’s future will be one of the NBA’s biggest storylines to watch. Will the Pelicans finally pull the trigger on a blockbuster trade, or will they bet on Williamson staying healthy and leading them forward?

Stay tuned for the latest NBA trade rumors and Pelicans news as the saga unfolds.