When the New Orleans Pelicans selected Zion Williamson first overall in the 2019 NBA draft, he was viewed as the successor to Anthony Davis and a generational talent. Seven years later, that hype hasn’t amounted to any postseason success, and the Pelicans find themselves in the same spot that they were when they drafted him.
A 12-36 record has the Pelicans at the bottom of the Western Conference standings, reigniting trade talk for Williamson among the media and fans. However, it appears the Pelicans front office is preparing to retain Z [through the trade deadline.](https://pelicandebrief.com/pelicans-have-painfully-obvious-zion-williamson-decision-make-before-deadline)
According to Chris Haynes (backed by Jake Fischer), the Pelicans plan to keep Williamson, along with Trey Murphy III, Herb Jones, Jeremiah Fears, and Derik Queen. This was the same thought process that doomed the front office before Joe Dumars and Troy Weaver took over.
Keeping Williamson past the deadline mirrors the approach that ultimately cost the previous front office its jobs. The previous regime tried different rosters, coaches, and schemes around Williamson, and they all failed. And if this current group continues to invest in Williamson, they’ll suffer the same fate.
The cost of refusing to move on
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The Pelicans' front office has already made their fair share of questionable decisions/moves. Whether that be trading their unprotected 2026 first-round pick to acquire Derik Queen on draft night or swapping a team-friendly deal in CJ McCollum for Jordan Poole, who has another year at $30+ salary, these moves raise questions about the front office’s decision-making. Pairing those moves with the poor record and lack of hope this season has brought, not trading Zion Williamson could be the final nail in their coffin.
Trading away Zion would cut the cord that attaches the previous front office under David Griffin to this current one. Giving both Dumars and Weaver a cleaner runway to build out the team's future around Queen, Fears, and Murphy III.
The realization that Z is no longer the future and is now the past is something this front office needs to come to terms with. They traded up to draft Queen. They invested a potential top 5 pick in the 2026 class in him. So clear the front court and let him rock out and focus on building around him.
The beautiful part of taking over the front office of a team that is struggling is that you have zero investment or connection to players from the previous drafts. So it’s time Weaver and Dumars shake their heads, wake up, and realize that making things work with Williamson isn’t their problem—building for the future is.