The New Orleans Pelicans have been stuck in mediocrity for years. Whether they've had superstar Anthony Davis or Zion Williamson at the helm, there have been major issues restraining them from being a contending squad.
Williamson was the No. 1 overall pick in 2019, though he's only played more than 60 games in two seasons. His unavailability has posed major issues for the club, keeping them mediocre.
With Brandon Ingram signing with Klutch, the club being open to trading CJ McCollum and Herb Jones and more poor results -- could a major shakeup be on the way?
The Athletic recently pitched a string of moves that the Pelicans could make as a path forward -- and plenty of trades could be made as New Orleans looks to turn a new leaf.
"Due to the games Williamson has missed, the Pelicans have the freedom to waive him ahead of the 2025-26 season and remove the rest of his contract from their books," The Athletic wrote. "That's highly unlikely to happen, given Williamson's upside and what he has meant to the team. The only way this adds up is if Williamson gets traded."
There are likely loads of teams that would trade for Williamson. Sure, he's got a lingering hamstring injury that will leave him sidelined indefinitely, but his trade value will be low compared to the upside and potential he adds to a franchise.
"Williamson's near-constant injury issues have left the Pelicans in limbo for years as they've waited for all of their young talent to finally put it together. Moving on from Williamson could be the reset that he and the franchise need," The Athletic continued. "It will remove a lot of the anxiety the franchise feels going into every season, wondering how long he'll be able to stay on the court."
The Pelicans could use a total roster reset. They've tried so many different variations of rosters just to continually fall short of building a contending squad.
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This story was originally published December 11, 2024, 9:25 AM.