Getty Image / Kevork Djansezian
Over the course of this week, Zion Williamson has become one of the NBA’s most interesting trade candidates.
There have been multiple rumors over the last few days about Zion potentially being traded and the Rockets have already been named as a team that could look to bring him in.
Despite the rumors, it still wasn’t entirely clear how likely it was for the Pelicans to actually move on from the former 1st overall pick just 4 seasons after they drafted him.
A new report has made that possibility sounds a whole lot more likely
Today, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst revealed that Zion Williamson doesn’t have any relationship with the New Orleans Pelicans organization and barely has a relationship with his teammates.
Pelicans' Discussions With Teams Have 'Implied' Zion Williamson Is Available https://t.co/RW0dbtRulW
— RealGM (@RealGM) June 16, 2023
The report on his teammates is nothing new for Zion. JJ Reddick has called him a “detached teammate” in the past and he didn’t reach out to CJ McCollum when the Pelicans acquired him last season until after he was publicly called out for it.
The relationship seemingly hadn’t gotten any better this year as Zion once against missed a most of the season and McCollum seemed to take a shot at him for not being available when the Pelicans were eliminated in the play-in.
It’s not really a surprise that Williamson’s relationships in New Orleans aren’t great right now. The Pelicans have invested heavily in Zion between the 1st overall pick and his hefty contract extension and it looks like those investments will be going to waste.
There are few players in the NBA who have been available less than Zion since he was drafted as he has averaged less than 30 games played per year.
With his lack of availability and seemingly nothing keeping him in New Orleans, it may just be a matter of time before we see Zion Williamson dealt this offseason.