At nearly the halfway point of the 2024-25 season, the New Orleans Pelicans have been by far the most disappointing team in basketball. After making the postseason a year ago and acquiring All-Star guard Dejounte Murray in the offseason to pair with their other stars, Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram, the Pelicans had hopes of competing in the West. However, they now sit at the bottom of the conference. This rough start has forced New Orleans to ask tough questions regarding their future. We have known for a while that they have been taking calls on Ingram, but now it's time to ask: Have we reached the point where the Pelicans should move on from Zion Williamson?
On the flip side, the San Antonio Spurs have been one of the early surprises in a positive way over the first few months of this season. In his second season, Victor Wembanyama has taken a jump and has his team in the fight for the playoffs. The Spurs really don’t have any All-Star caliber players outside of Wembanyama, which is why I think now is a great time to buy-low on Williamson, if possible, and potentially pair up the most hyped number-one overall picks of perhaps the last decade.
Wembanyama is already one of the NBA's best players thanks to his remarkable ability to playmake for others and score on the offensive side of the ball, while also being undoubtedly the league's best defensive player due to his shot-blocking abilities. Wemby's skill would be well complemented by Zion's rare athleticism and power in the paint. Zion dominates down low, giving Wemby more room to operate and facilitating his transition into a larger role as Wemby extends the floor and changes shots defensively.
Of course, the risk of acquiring Williamson would be his injury concerns. However, the Spurs could potentially buy low on him as part of this. Given the Spurs' situation, with their boatload of picks and controllable cap space, this could present a rare opportunity to pair up these two unique talents. When healthy, Zion's potential is evident, as he has shown himself to be one of the best players in the NBA when on the court. With the Spurs' strong medical staff and development program, Zion could potentially return to his best sooner rather than later and help lead the team to a championship alongside Wembanyama.
For the Pelicans, a Zion trade would be a tough pill to swallow, as it would mean waiving the white flag on an era that began with so much hope upon Williamson’s arrival in 2019, following the trade that sent Anthony Davis to the Lakers. However, it may simply be time for both parties to have a fresh start. For the Spurs, it would mean making a substantial move now to solidify their future. While the return might be underwhelming for New Orleans, a potential package could involve a combination of players like Keldon Johnson, Tre Jones, Zach Collins, or Harrison Barnes, along with a small number of draft picks.
Zion and Wembanyama would have the opportunity to form an explosive duo that, as long as they are both healthy, could be at the forefront of a consistent championship contender for years to come. Although San Antonio would be taking a calculated chance, this move could put them in serious contention very soon. By making the most of their youthful superstar pair, the Spurs would have be considered among the NBA's elite in the near future. Given San Antonio's reputation for bringing out the best in their players, Zion’s addition could be the catalyst that helps the franchise return to the top of the NBA once again.
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