It has almost become a tradition for Pelicans fans: every trade season, Zion Williamson is in trade rumors, only to end up still wearing a Pelicans jersey when the 2 p.m. CST deadline buzzer sounds. This year appears to be no different, as the Chicago Bulls, who were widely viewed as Williamson’s most logical suitor, made a pair of moves that may have quietly closed that door.
The Chicago Bulls made two moves today. First was a three-team deal that saw them land Jaden Ivey and Mike Conley. They then landed Anfernee Simons and a second-round pick by sending Nikola Vučević and a second-round pick to the Boston Celtics.
Together, these two trades share similarities that suggest the hope of trading Williamson to Chicago is out of the question.
Zion Williamson will survive yet another trade deadline
For the last several months, the Bulls have been linked to Zion in numerous ways. First, it was connecting the dots on how Williamson could fit into a team-building idea the Bulls had. Then, it was a report from ClutchPoints Brett Siegel that Chicago saw him as a buy-low target. And most recently, Bulls reporters reported hearing about a discussion between the two front offices. But now it appears the Bulls' deadline plans are focused on cap flexibility and young talent, meaning they likely no longer have interest in swinging for the fences for an All-Star caliber player.
While Conley still has another season remaining on his contract at just north of $10 million, the expectation is that he could be rerouted again before the deadline or potentially bought out. Meanwhile, the additions of Simons and Ivey make the Bulls younger while maintaining financial flexibility this offseason, as both players are in the final years of their deals.
After years of being a team to make lateral moves and building mediocre cores, this trade signals the Bulls are finally ready to commit to a rebuild. This is the right direction for them, but it also serves as a heartbreaker for Pelicans fans who hoped this would finally be the year a Williamson trade would materialize.
Williamson's production continues to be solid, averaging 21.4 points per game this season, and he recently played his 26th consecutive game, the most of his career. There may still be room for optimism if another playoff-hopeful team decides to take a swing at the former two-time All-Star. However, with Chicago now likely out of the picture, the chances of Williamson being in a Pelicans jersey for the team's first post-deadline game Friday against Minnesota seem more likely than ever before.