The New Orleans Pelicans have reportedly been exploring the possibility of trading up in the draft to select Scoot Henderson, which has led to speculation that they are open to moving on from Zion Williamson. ESPN’s Jonathan Givony has been told that the Pelicans are not putting Williamson on the trade block.
“I’ve been told New Orleans is not trading Zion,” said Givony on the Zach Lowe Podcast. “And no interest in trading Brandon Ingram. I would be very surprised if anything ended up happening there at two or three.
“They were the No. 1 team in the West last year when Zion went down with the injury. If he’s healthy, which he rarely is, but when he’s healthy, he is easily one of the best players in the NBA. So I don’t see it happening. That was pretty much shut down to me as a possibility of Zion to Charlotte.
“Or Portland? Either one,” said Zach Lowe.
“Or Portland,” said Givony. “They haven’t even spoken with Portland. I think New Orleans has made some calls, just to see what it would take to get to one, get to two, but I don’t think it went past that.”
As Williamson enters the first year of his five-year, $194 million extension, he is coming off a season in which he played in 29 games after sitting out the entire 21-22 season.