Pelicans Should Trade Zion Williamson Now Amid Team's Struggles, NBA Rumors

The New Orleans Pelicans are a 2-10 basketball team, ranked last in the Western Conference, with no signs of digging their way out of the cellar anytime soon. The abysmal start to the 2025-26 season understandably led some to question whether Zion Williamson should be traded.

An NBA executive told Brian Windhorst, "To be honest, their move might be a win-now trade, not a Zion trade. His trade value isn't there and they are facing some pressure to win."

The problem is that there is no evidence that Williamson's value will actually go up.

The Pelicans are 109-110 with him in the lineup and 0-5 this season when he starts. He is a ball-dominant forward who is a subpar defender and has never evolved his game to include perimeter shooting, which has become such an important element of today's game.

That he has not proven an ability to stay healthy and has had questions about his conditioning at different points only enhances the idea that Williamson's value is, arguably, as high as it is going to get.

He is averaging 22.8 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 4.6 assists in his five appearances this season but again, has been hampered by an injury that has cost him time.

This is despite telling reporters entering the season that he was in the best shape of his career.

Those numbers and his raw, physical gifts may appeal to front offices looking for one more piece to put their team in playoff or NBA title contention.

It would be irresponsible for the Pelicans front office not to take what they can get for him now, look to the future, and consider another rebuild focused on Derik Queen and Trey Murphy II.

Otherwise, New Orleans could be stuck waiting for increased trade value that has not and may never materialized.

Especially with another hamstring injury that has caused him to miss time.