The New Orleans Pelicans are looking to make a huge upgrade after missing the playoffs, and Zion Williamson could be leaving. This year, the New Orleans Pelicans had a difficult season due to numerous injuries. C.J. McCollum, Zion Williamson, and several other players on their roster lost significant time throughout the regular season. That prevented them from stringing together victories, putting them outside of the Western Conference playoff picture. As the start of the offseason approaches, the Pelicans must pick which path they want to go. New Orleans dealt Brandon Ingram to the Toronto Raptors at the trade deadline, surprising fans throughout the league. Some speculated that the Pelicans are ready for a rebuild.
They have been unable to accomplish anything major since trading Anthony Davis in 2019. Williamson and Ingram couldn’t stay on the court together, and the other players the team brought in couldn’t get them past the first round of the playoffs, assuming they ever made it that far.
At this moment, anything is on the table for New Orleans, including a complete rebuild centered on its young core. Yves Missi, Jordan Hawkins, Herb Jones, and Trey Murphy III all had flashes of brilliance when healthy. However, a rebuild cannot begin until the Pelicans acknowledge that trading Williamson is the only way to move in that direction.
The two-time All-Star is one of the league’s top players when he’s on the court. Since joining the league six years ago, he has missed more than half of his team’s games due to injury. Availability is critical for a Pelicans squad seeking to achieve consistency. Trading Williamson is a hazardous decision, but if he’s available, teams will be calling.
Why would the Miami Heat trade for Williamson?
The Miami Heat defeated the Atlanta Hawks in the second game of the NBA Play-In Tournament to advance to the postseason. Unfortunately, they were thoroughly defeated by the Cleveland Cavaliers in a four-game sweep. Looking at their roster, they desperately need a star coming into the summer.
Pat Riley has a history of bringing major personalities to South Beach, including LeBron James and Shaquille O’Neal. However, those players were brought in through free agency rather than trade. Miami lost their newest star in a protracted journey that culminated with Jimmy Butler’s trade to the Golden State Warriors. Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo have both made All-Star appearances, but they aren’t the top-tier players the club needs to compete. Williamson would fit in perfectly alongside Adebayo in the front court while enhancing the overall talent of the club.
Williamson and Adebayo’s skill sets complement one another quite well. Williamson is the far superior offensive player, adding a vertical threat to Miami’s playbook. On the other end of the court, Adebayo can compensate for Williamson’s inadequacies. The one thing they have in common is a lack of outside shooting, although both have taken steps to improve their deep shooting abilities.
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