Zion Williamson to the Hornets

[NYG]

Zion Williamson for Grant Williams, Miles Bridges and 4th Overall Draft Pick

The risk/reward after the top 2-3 picks in this draft is probably equal to Zion. The Hornets take a shot on a more developed product with a crazy high ceiling alongside Ball. The Pelicans decide to pivot off Zion and retool around their two lottery picks.

[Walmart]

Pelicans should take that as fast as they can if it's available considering how many games Zion has missed.

[YayBasketball]

Yea, seems like this is about the value most have for Z now. Would be fun for Pels fans go rebuild mode, but realistically, ownership and Dumars are known to be win-now. They're struggling to get season ticket holders to re up and believe in the team.

This trade selling point is: "come watch a young, hard-working squad with big potential! Trey Murphy and Herb Jones are up and coming! VJ Edgecombe is a dawg and dunks hard! And we're also replacing Zion with a player famous for domestic abuse."

I just don't see it. Maybe as a 3 team trade that nets the Pelicans a lesser talented, but more dependable low-tier "star" like Sabonis, to replace Z.

[HornetJail]

swap Bridges for totally useless players like Josh Green and Salaun and I could be talked into it even though deep down I know that this has like an 80% chance of being a terrible use of the #4 pick

[Myth]

I wouldn’t give up the 4th for Zion, but I guess others have more faith in him somehow putting together a consistent career than me. Averaging 35 games per season at over $40M per season is likely more of a negative despite how good he is on the rare times he plays.

[YayBasketball]

swap Bridges for totally useless players like Josh Green and Salaun and I could be talked into it even though deep down I know that this has like an 80% chance of being a terrible use of the #4 pick

Those different players make more sense for both sides. Olynyk could be thrown in for vet big depth.

As a Pels fan, it would be fun to see them actually pick a rebuild direction like this. The only caveat is-- if Pels do an obvious rebuild, then their lose a looot of leverage for the Bucks' 2026 pick swap. "OH, Pels are tanking, so we don't even have to get the '26 MIL swap back, since NOP's will be high." So if they can cash in on the Bucks'picks before trading off Zion, that's ideal.

Just for fun:

Hornets trade: #4, #34 (NOP 2nd), G. Williams, Josh Green, Salaun, '27 MIA 1st (lotto prot.)

Pelicans trade: Zion

Hornets take a calculated risk to push for playoff contention in a weak East. They get very marketable and fan fun, and could be good with good health and rounding out the roster with veterans.

Pelicans go in rebuild mode, moving on from the Zion roller-coaster. They take high upside players with 4 and 7 (Tre Johnson at 4, Fears at 7) and hopefully have already dealt the Bucks picks to get involved in potential Giannis deals, or just keep them and roll with it. CJ can stick around as a vet mentor or moved in the right deal. They let Murray rehab to regain some value, poised for a top pick in 2026.

Nurkic/ Mark-Will/ Diabate
Bridges/ vet
Zion/ Okogie
Miller/ vet
Ball/ vet

Missi/ Olynyk
Murphy/ Karlo
Herb/
*TreJ/ Hawkins/ Reeves
CJ/ *Fears/ Jose (Murray)

[HornetJail]

swap Bridges for totally useless players like Josh Green and Salaun and I could be talked into it even though deep down I know that this has like an 80% chance of being a terrible use of the #4 pick

Those different players make more sense for both sides. Olynyk could be thrown in for vet big depth.

As a Pels fan, it would be fun to see them actually pick a rebuild direction like this. The only caveat is-- if Pels do an obvious rebuild, then their lose a looot of leverage for the Bucks' 2026 pick swap. "OH, Pels are tanking, so we don't even have to get the '26 MIL swap back, since NOP's will be high." So if they can cash in on the Bucks'picks before trading off Zion, that's ideal.

Just for fun:

Hornets trade: #4, #34 (NOP 2nd), G. Williams, Josh Green, Salaun, '27 MIA 1st (lotto prot.)

Pelicans trade: Zion

Hornets take a calculated risk to push for playoff contention in a weak East. They get very marketable and fan fun, and could be good with good health and rounding out the roster with veterans.

Pelicans go in rebuild mode, moving on from the Zion roller-coaster. They take high upside players with 4 and 7 (Tre Johnson at 4, Fears at 7) and hopefully have already dealt the Bucks picks to get involved in potential Giannis deals, or just keep them and roll with it. CJ can stick around as a vet mentor or moved in the right deal. They let Murray rehab to regain some value, poised for a top pick in 2026.

Nurkic/ Mark-Will/ Diabate
Bridges/ vet
Zion/ Okogie
Miller/ vet
Ball/ vet

Missi/ Olynyk
Murphy/ Karlo
Herb/
*TreJ/ Hawkins/ Reeves
CJ/ *Fears/ Jose (Murray)

nah we're definitely not adding onto Zion for 4+trash. if anything an asset needs to come from the other way because the overwhelmingly likely scenario is Zion stays a 40 game per season player

[Astaluego]

Zion on the Hornets looks great on paper, but after season after season of injury problems, forming a core of Lamelo/Miller/Zion/Williams... it's not just risky, it's irresponsible.