Zion Williamson is regarded as one of the biggest star players in the NBA league. He was one of the top players on the trading block in the 2019 draft. The New York Knicks were running after him, but Williamson joined hands with the New Orleans Pelicans.
But he became an unreliable player due to frequent injuries. The Pelicans could not get the best out of him. Could the Pelicans send him to the Knicks as a result?
The Zion Williamson Trade Proposal
- The New Orleans Pelicans will receive forward Julius Randle, center Isaiah Hartenstein, the 2024 first-round draft pick (New York Knicks), the 2026 first-round draft pick (New York Knicks), and the 2028 first-round draft pick.
- The New York Knicks will receive forward Zion Williamson.
Williamson was a superstar, like LeBron James, until he became injury-prone. The Knicks were after him when he was healthy, but they couldn’t acquire him. Zion is not readily available to play, so the Pelicans are considering trading him to the Knicks. Here’s why!
Why Do the Pelicans Want to Trade Zion Williamson to the Knicks?
Zion Williamson signed a 4-year contract with the New Orleans Pelicans, but he has barely played any matches throughout his contract. The Pelicans are tired of his injuries and waiting for him to get fit.
The Pelicans have a talented roster, so it is difficult for them to acquire players by trading Williamson. But if they get Julius Randle from the Knicks in exchange, he will keep them relevant.
The Pelicans will receive plenty of valuable draft picks in this trade deal, 3 to be precise. This deal will help them increase their draft capital and improve their asset base. But should the Knicks acquire the unfit Williamson?
Could the Knicks Acquire Williamson from the Pelicans?
The Knicks couldn’t acquire Williamson in a trade in 2019, and they ended up trading for RJ Barrett, who eventually came out to be a better value than unfit Williamson.
Barrett was available to play most of the time since he didn’t have health issues like Williamson. However, due to his inconsistency, the Knicks couldn’t obtain the best value out of him.
Throwback to Zion Williamson causing WW3 with a 360 windmill dunk 😭 pic.twitter.com/VgWw6xyG0H
— 𝙈𝙀𝙇𝙊 (@SpaceMelo) September 17, 2023
Williamson and Barrett are college teammates, so reuniting them may be a good idea for the Knicks. If this chemistry works out for the Knicks, then they could be serious contenders for the upcoming season.
Above everything, if Williamson alone becomes healthy, he is a potential MVP candidate. But if he isn’t available to play, the Knicks might regret considering him.
