After a tough year that saw them finish with the second-worst record in the Western Conference, Zion Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans find themselves in offseason mode earlier than hoped. The early exit offers time to reflect, reset, and evaluate what went wrong in a season filled with inconsistency, injuries, and underwhelming results.
While Williamson put up solid numbers when on the floor, the former No. 1 overall pick suited up for just 30 games due to recurring injuries. It’s become a concerning trend for the Pelicans, who have been waiting for a fully healthy season from their franchise cornerstone since he entered the league in 2019.
Now in offseason mode, Williamson appears to be blowing off some steam. Recently, he was spotted enjoying some time on the golf course, perhaps using every swing to release a bit of the frustration built up from a difficult campaign. He also debuted fresh ink on social media — a striking new tattoo — as fans continue to keep tabs on his every move.
View this post on Instagram
But while Zion enjoys his downtime, the rumor mill is heating up. His name is once again circulating in trade talks — this time, with growing buzz around a potential move to the Milwaukee Bucks.
Zion Williamson could be Milwaukee’s last hope to keep Giannis
Following the Pelicans’ front office shake-up, with David Griffin out and Detroit Pistons legend Joe Dumars reportedly stepping in, Williamson’s future in New Orleans seems increasingly uncertain. Reports have surfaced that Dumars has already met with Zion to discuss his role and commitment, which may indicate the team is exploring trade options.
According to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints, the Milwaukee Bucks are keeping an eye on Williamson’s situation. The team is reportedly interested in pairing him with Giannis Antetokounmpo, especially as the Bucks face playoff elimination and look ahead to retooling for another championship push.
“The Bucks were known to have previous trade interest in Williamson,” Siegel reported. “Whether or not that interest still exists after trading Middleton and adding Kuzma is unknown heading into the offseason.”
With Damian Lillard’s latest injury — possibly involving his Achilles — Milwaukee may need to pivot fast. If “Dame Time” is coming to an end, Zion could be the high-upside star they need to convince Giannis to stay and make another serious run at a title.
For more sports content:
Follow us @HardwoodHeroics for your NBA and college basketball reading fix. You can reach out to Dan Agulto through email at [email protected]. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest sports news, click here!
Dan has been active in sports since 2016 and has worked behind the scenes as a scriptwriter for basketball, volleyball, and other sports. At a time, Dan has also been working as a sports commentator for CBA Pilipinas. During the pandemic, he has also been actively writing betting articles for CashBet and BetNow.
