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Amid a dreadful begin to the season, the New Orleans Pelicans may search for a contemporary begin by exploring commerce alternatives involving Zion Williamson.
Per ESPN’s Tim MacMahon and Bobby Marks, the Golden State Warriors and Chicago Bulls had been cited by NBA executives as potential matches for Williamson if the Pelicans determine to commerce the 24-year-old.
The Warriors and Bulls are actually polar opposites in terms of what they’re making an attempt to perform proper now.
Golden State is desperately searching for gamers who may help maximize the remaining years of Stephen Curry’s prime. The entrance workplace has already made one transfer to amass Dennis Schröder from the Brooklyn Nets with the hope he would add extra scoring punch.
Chicago has been caught between eager to be a playoff contender and needing to rebuild. The answer offered to MacMahon and Marks by one basic supervisor had the Bulls and Pelicans constructing a deal round Williamson and Zach LaVine.
“I guess Chicago would try this,” the final supervisor mentioned of that hypothetical situation. MacMahon and Marks did observe the identical GM added he would decline that provide if he had been working the Pelicans.
LaVine is in the same place to Williamson as being strong gamers, but additionally very vulnerable to accidents and making extra money than his on-court efficiency is price.
One profit of getting LaVine as an alternative of Williamson is his contract solely has two years remaining after this season for those who embody his $49 million participant choice for 2026-27.
Williamson’s wage may very well be far more team-friendly as a result of his contract is structured in a method that his ensures are tied to video games performed and hitting sure weight checkpoints at varied factors throughout the season.
If Williamson, who has already sat out 27 video games this season attributable to a hamstring damage, misses 15 extra video games, solely 20 % of his $39.4 million wage in 2025-26 can be assured if he meets his weigh-in benchmark.
This additionally makes Williamson a sexy commerce chip for many groups due to the way in which that they’ve began to function amid the brand new apron restrictions.
MacMahon and Marks famous the Warriors have $40 million in expiring contracts on their books and as much as three future first-round draft picks they might use in a commerce.
Though Williamson could be an enormous threat due to his damage historical past, it may be price it for a workforce just like the Warriors to take if they’re determined sufficient given the upside he nonetheless has.
It was solely eight months in the past when Williamson was the very best participant on the court docket in a play-in match sport between the Pelicans and Los Angeles Lakers. He had 40 factors, 11 rebounds and 5 assists in 36 minutes earlier than leaving within the fourth quarter with a hamstring damage.
