Zion Williamson's Trade Value Assessed by NBA Exec in Honest Quote Amid Pelicans' Struggles

The New Orleans Pelicans may have to give up on getting back a significant return for Zion Williamson should the franchise decide to dismantle the roster after Dejounte Murray's reported trade request.

"I was texting with an executive, asking about a potential Zion market," ESPN's Tim MacMahon said Friday on NBA Today (4:10 mark of the video below).

"He says, 'Can you trade Zion? Sure. Can you get a big return for him? No way.'"

Williamson has gotten off to an efficient start to the season so far, shooting 62.2 percent from the field while averaging 21.7 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists and two steals while appearing in 11 of the Pelicans' last 12 games.

He called out his team by saying players and coaches needed to "look in the mirror" after conceding a blowout Wednesday loss to the visiting Brooklyn Nets.

Injury and conditioning issues have impacted Williamson throughout his eight-year career with the Pelicans, although last season he averaged 21 points while playing in 62 games. Pelicans head of basketball operations Joe Dumars said in September he considered Williamson to be "in impeccable condition."

Williamson met games played criteria to make his $42.2 million cap hit for this season fully guaranteed, per Spotrac. He has not yet guaranteed the $44.9 million 2027-28 cap hit remaining on his deal before he is scheduled to hit unrestricted free agency ahead of his age-28 season.

The Pelicans could potentially already have at least one landing spot to consider for Murray, who has been ruled out of Friday's NBA Cup action with a left ankle sprain.

NBA insider Chris Haynes reported the Phoenix Suns had "registered interest" in Murray shortly after The Athletic's Sam Amick reported the franchise is "motivated to swap [Jalen Green] for a proven point guard."

Charania had reported earlier on NBA Today the Pelicans and Murray's agent Rich Paul had been working "for the last several days" to resolve Murray's trade request.

It sounds like Murray is more likely to be immediately on the move than Williamson as the Pelicans look to regroup from a 4-8 start that has left the team sitting 12th in the Western Conference.