The New Orleans Pelicans find themselves in a familiar spot, playing without their best player. Zion Williamson is out again with an injury. This time it is a left hamstring pull, the same hamstring that caused him to miss the last game of the play-in and all four games of the playoff series against the Oklahoma City Thunder to end last season. 

Williamson has shown the basketball world that he has the potential to be a great player. In the Play-In game where he pulled his hamstring last season, he was playing the best game of his career. The former Duke Blue Devil scored 40 points and almost carried New Orleans to a victory before the injury.

The ability of Williamson has never been the issue. It’s the lack of availability that has people questioning whether or not he can be the lead guy for a franchise. He only played more than 30 games in two of his first five seasons. 

The South Carolina native played 61 games in the 2020-2021 season and 70 games last season. Outside of those seasons he has played 24, 0, and 29 games, respectively. So far this season he has played in six of the Pelicans’ 25 games and there is no set timetable for his return. 

How can New Orleans build a winning team and culture when their best player is constantly in street clothes? This is the dilemma they find themselves in. Is it best to cut bait now and reset to build around another superstar or do you ride it out with Zion and hope he can be on the court more?

Trade Options

If the Pelicans want to cut bait with Williamson, the first option would be to trade him. Here are some trade options.

The Fresh Start for Everyone

New Orleans Receives: Jordan Poole, Alex Starr

Washington Receives: Zion Williamson

The Washington Wizards are the only team who may be in worst shape than the Pelicans. Each franchise can use a fresh start, this trade might provide that for both sides.

The Homecoming

New Orleans Receives: Brandon Miller, Josh Green, Grant Williams,

Charlotte Receives: Zion Williamson and a top 10 protected first round pick

Williamson is from South Carolina, so going to play for the Charlotte Hornets would be a homecoming for him. Maybe being at home is exactly what Zion needs to recharge his career.

The combination of Zion and LaMelo Ball could be the right mix to finally get the Hornets into the playoffs. The Pelicans would get Brandon Miller as a building piece for the future.

The Discipline he Needs

New Orleans Receives: Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez, Pelle Larsson, and a first round pick

Miami Receives: Zion Williamson

The Miami Heat are known for their culture of accountability. This may be the best place for Zion to fully reach his potential. Miami has an older roster that needs a jolt of youth.

If they are able to keep Zion healthy, this could be the perfect piece to reset Miami while New Orleans would add some quality pieces and a pick.

The Reality

Now, trading him would be very hard to do because he is an extremely talented player with such an extension injury history. The fact that most of his injuries have been lower body, does not bode well for his body type. 

The worry is that he will always have these issues and will put the Pelicans in a position that is similar to what the Los Angeles Clippers are dealing with right now.

Kawhi Leonard is set to make 49 million this season, 50 million next year, and another 50 million the year after that. He has yet to play this year and his days of playing 60 plus games in a season, look to be long gone.

Teams don’t want to end up in a similar situation with Zion. Zion is much younger than Leonard and that may entice teams to take a chance on him.

The second option is to cut him. Williamson’s contract is not guaranteed after this year, so the Pelicans could cut him without any financial burden. Now, losing a player of Williamson’s caliber while getting nothing in return is not ideal but may be the best option if the Pelicans deem him to be damaged goods. 

Most likely, the Pelicans will ride this out and hope that he can be a big part of successful teams in the future but will have to build their team in a Zion injury proof manner. 

The only problem with that is, Williamson is a unique player in today’s NBA. In order for him to be successful, he needs complimentary pieces that space the floor and can play defense. 

The Pelicans have done a great job of putting players around Zion, like C.J. McCollum, Jordan Hawkins, and Trey Murphy. Their ability to shoot goes hand and hand with Zion’s ability to score around the rim and playmake. That all sounds great but Zion has to be on the court for that vision to be a reality. 

If this season continues to go the way it has to start, New Orleans will be in position to get a top draft pick. That may be the perfect opportunity for the team to move on from Zion Williamson and reset the franchise.