It has been eliminated from playoff contention, but New Orleans has a major decision to make.
The Pelicans selected Zion Williamson as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, yet the electrifying talent has had more injuries than production in his first five seasons. He has yet to play a full 82-game season and had his second-lowest amount of matchups played this year (30). Williamson averaged 24.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 56.7 percent shooting from the field when he was healthy. The 24-year-old signed a five-year rookie extension worth $193 million guaranteed on July 6, 2022.
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He has two years remaining on the extension; however, it will be interesting to see if the Pelicans feel it’s worth it.
Stephen A. Smith labels Zion Williamson a ‘bust’ after another injury setback
Carmelo Anthony, who is one of the latest inductees to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame for the 2025 Class, has the ideal program he wants to see Williamson in for next season. Anthony shared on his podcast, 7PM in Brooklyn, he would love for Williamson to team up with Lamelo Ball and the Charolette Hornets. Ball, 23, had successful surgeries on his right wrist and right ankle to prepare for his sixth NBA season. He was having a career year in scoring, averaging 25.2 points per game.
He was also leading the Hornets in assists, totaling 7.4 per game.
If Zion gets traded, Melo has the perfect destination & running mate for him ????
“I would like to see Zion with LaMelo in Charlotte.” pic.twitter.com/CaJUKtvouK
— 7PM in Brooklyn (@7PMinBrooklyn) April 4, 2025
“I would love to see him in Charlotte with Lamelo and some other young excitement,” Anthony said about Williamson.
“I want to see him with some excitement. I want to see him play with somebody that is young like him, somebody who is coming up, somebody who we can grow together.”
Williamson and Ball are in the same age group, so it will awesome to pair them together.
The Hornets have a idea to pursue if they want Williamson.
Stephen M. Smith is a writer for Ball Exclusives. You can follow him him X via @CoachingMSmith.
