While the New Orleans Pelicans opted not to trade Zion Williamson at the 2026 trade deadline, that approach could change this summer. With no first-round pick and the Pels holding the third-worst record in the league at 15-41, a change of heart when it comes to Z's future could be on the horizon this summer.
If they do choose that path, the Lakers are beginning to emerge as a logical and intriguing trade destination.
During a recent interview, Lakers Governor Jeanie Buss dropped a bomb about LeBron James and his future in Los Angeles. Buss said that James hadn't given any indication that he plans to return to LA next season, meaning the Lakers could have a massive hole at one of their starting forward spots, an area Williamson could slot into perfectly.
With the expectation that the front office is trying to do everything they can to maximize their new Luka Doncic window, acquiring Z could be in play. Doncic has always thrived while playing alongside players who jump out of the gym and put immense pressure on the rim, two of Williamson's strongest traits.
And if Lakers fans love the lobs Doncic throws to Jaxson Hayes, the ones he could throw to Williamson may make their heads pop off.
The exit Pelicans fans have been begging for
When the Pelicans traded the now-projected third pick in the class of 2026, as well as pick 23, for Derik Queen during the 2025 NBA Draft, fans expected this to be the start of something new. With two blue-chip prospects coming in the lottery, it looked like this would mark the shift from the Zion era to the Fears-Queen era.
But this season hasn't been that, as Williamson survived yet another trade deadline and is continuing to take touches and clog driving lanes for the team's two young studs.
So if LeBron James does hitch his wagon to a new team this offseason (I personally think he goes home to Cleveland), Joe Dumars and Troy Weaver need to call Rob Pelinka.
Williamson would be an attractive add for Pelinka, with him being in his prime at 25 years old and playing the healthiest basketball of his career. Williamson has appeared in the most consecutive games of his career this season, with 30 straight games, and is still posting strong numbers: 21.6 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game.
With the Lakers projected to have upwards of $50 million in cap space, there is no need to match salaries, which makes this deal even easier. The only focus of any trades made this summer by New Orleans should be getting back into the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft, the Lakers' 2026 first, and a flier on Dalton Knecht, who would help fix the team's floor-spacing problems, should get a deal done.
Sending Williamson to LA would kill three birds with one stone—by addressing the team's three-point flaws, acquiring a first-round pick in 2026, and most importantly, ending the Zion era. The only deciding factor is LeBron James and the decision he makes this summer in free agency.