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NO CHANGE: Zion Williamson’s HEALTHY Stretch FAILS to Boost Pelicans’ Trade Position



NO CHANGE: Zion Williamson’s HEALTHY Stretch FAILS to Boost Pelicans’ Trade Position

New Orleans Pelicans face tough questions as Zion Williamson’s trade value remains stagnant—even after a stretch of healthy play. Can the franchise build a winning core around Williamson and rookie Derik Queen, or are defensive weaknesses and a lack of shooting holding the roster back? Jake Madison breaks down Zion’s recent performances, why NBA teams remain wary of max contracts for offense-only stars, and the challenges of pairing two non-shooting bigs. The show analyzes how the Pelicans fare with Queen and Williamson sharing the floor, highlighting troubling net rating and defensive stats. Plus, the controversial process behind the Derik Queen trade comes under scrutiny—did New Orleans sacrifice too much future draft capital for short-term gains? With offseason moves looming and a contender’s blueprint uncertain, Pelicans fans won’t want to miss this reality check on the team’s direction. Is addition by subtraction the only way forward for New Orleans?

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19 Comments

  1. @williamstokes-p9n

    Who has the cap space and want a 6’6” PF that can’t shoot from 3? Sacramento, Chicago, maybe Brooklyn for mic claxton and draft capital. Have Claxton, queen, Herbert, Bey, Trey Murphy iii. Queen is built like cam boozer size wise. If he learns to attack the inside at angles and spinning off people to the bucket he’d have a big year next year at the 4. Next year’s allstar is Trey Murphy iii that can play 1-3.

  2. @williamstokes-p9n

    Sabonis tore his maniscus and is out for the season. Sacramento wants to rebuild trade Zion and Missi for Sabonis and draft capital. Sabonis, Queen, Herbert, Trey Murphy iii, and soon to be Dejounte Murray with Bey as 6th man.

  3. @williamstokes-p9n

    The expansion is being voted on next month, and the pelicans is one of the teams that may move east. Pelicans, grizzlies, or Timberwolves will move east likely in addition to adding teams in Las Vegas and Seattle.

  7. @iykyk-504

    Make no mistake, # 1, contrary to popular belief, misses BI and JV more than anyone wants to admit. Yet Brandon (multi-level offensive game and NBA-tested defense) and Jonas (all those rebounds and reliable workhorse) were the root to the team's problems. Those were the two guys holding the team back…not the guy who, until this year, was more often than not listed as "DNP-Injured" in the box score. SMH!!!

    It's…

    DEFENSE!!! DEFENSE!!! DEFENSE!!!

    …and always will be.

  8. @ScottyBWorld1

    He doesn't shoot, he doesn't play defense, he doesn't rebound. If his name wasn't Zion Williamson, he would be a role player with another team. He's never expanded his game in seven years, he still just does one thing. If he drained two three's a game, it would be a different ballgame, or if he studied SGA and Harden film and learned how to expose the ball and earn more free throws, that would be something, but he can't be bothered. If you were the GM of a team, would that package excite you?

  9. @MikeAhHaulIt

    I know you need something shocking to talk about but regardless of Z trade value to you; he is not going anywhere no time soon! As long as he stays healthy and averages in the 20 plus column he will be a staple in NO

    Trey is not consistent and have not proven anything..Not one individual or team accolade other than making more 3 pointers; but they don’t transaction into wins..
    Fears and queen are not proven and have not won anything so stop trying to convince people the franchise should rest on their rookie shoulders 🤷‍♂️😂

  10. @MikeAhHaulIt

    Nobody playing lock down defense! You keep talking about adding to his game but he averages more than your favorite player so STOP it! NO team can win with only ONE ⭐️!! He need A TEAM of equally talented or consistently 18 plus points who plays defense and we don’t have that and that’s not a Z problem; it’s a Pelican problem…Talk about something REAL

  13. @ndashenyendwa2961

    New Orleans should not trade Zion or queen at all costs. One should be the 6 man. Trading JV,BI and CJ took this team backwards that was the core of this team.

  14. @jamaicafullyactive

    Building around Queen is dumb. I think people just out here making shock value/rage bait statements. Basketball is a system sport. New Orleans just has not created a system to win, regardless of players.

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