The New Orleans Pelicans slipped to the seventh overall pick in the draft lottery, but it means Zion Williamson is here to stay. The 24-year-old star represented the Pelicans on the stage, and New Orleans is in a tricky spot. The seventh pick does not project to have significant trade value. The Pels want to win and have no real hope of trading Zion for an upgrade.
New Orleans will likely add another young talent to their core with the seventh selection. Zion, Herb Jones, Trey Murphy, and another top selection gives the Pelicans a strong base to build on. Their new front office led by Joe Dumars needs to move on from CJ McCollum and let the young talent take over.
It seems extremely unlikely a franchise would choose their star player to represent them on the lottery stage before putting him on the trade block. Dumars has clearly made up his mind.
Zion Williamson is staying with the Pelicans
Pels fans have a right to be frustrated with Zion. He has played just 214 games in his first six NBA seasons. He has appeared in 30 or fewer contests four times, and it is getting difficult to count on him. Williamson is elite when healthy, but New Orleans needs him on the court to be a serious threat.
Trey Murphy III had a star breakout amid a nightmare season in New Orleans. All their top talents missed time, and the Pelicans finally moved on from Brandon Ingram. The seventh overall pick in 2025 may be Ingram’s replacement. Herb Jones is an elite defender, so New Orleans just needs another key piece and health to quickly climb the standings.
Zion is a unique talent. Dumars must build the team around his skill set. They have strong perimeter defenders but need an inside presence. Getting a starting center and a versatile guard or wing are necessary. The best teams put pieces around their star to amplify their talents. It is on the Hall of Famer to do that around Williamson.
The New Orleans Pelicans face a crucial offseason. It started with slipping in the lottery, but fans received needed clarification on Zion Williamson’s future. The rumors were swirling, but those can be put to rest after Monday night. Zion will stay in the Big Easy. Can he lead the Pels back to the playoffs in 2026? It will take health and roster upgrades for New Orleans. Stay tuned to see how it all plays out.