Since entering the league in 2019 as the No. 1 overall pick, Zion Williamson has carried sky-high expectations. In the aftermath of the Anthony Davis saga, the New Orleans Pelicans and their fans believed they had finally found their franchise cornerstone, a generational talent that would lead them into championship contention and beyond, but the road has been anything but smooth.
Injuries and inconsistency have plagued Zion throughout his career, making it impossible for the team to reach its full potential. Now, with Brandon Ingram having been traded to the Toronto Raptors and the Pelicans facing some difficult financial decisions on the horizon, the organization is at a crossroads.
The History of No. 1 Picks: Boom or Bust?
The history of No. 1 overall picks in the NBA presents a complex picture. While some become franchise-altering superstars, others struggle with injuries, team fit, or external factors that prevent them from ever achieving long-term success.
Since 1990, only two top picks, Tim Duncan and Kyrie Irving, have won championships with the team that drafted them, and you could make a strong case that Irving wouldn’t be on the list if LeBron James didn’t return to the Cavaliers as a free agent. Just eight of the 30 players taken at the top of the draft between 1990 and 2019 even made an NBA Finals appearance with their original franchises. On top of that, all eight made their trip to the Finals by the end of their fifth season.
| Player | Team | Drafted | Reached Finals |
| Shaquille O’Neal | Orlando Magic | 1992 | 1995 |
| Allen Iverson | Philadelphia 76ers | 1996 | 2001 |
| Tim Duncan | San Antonio Spurs | 1997 | 1999, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2013, 2014 |
| Kenyon Martin | New Jersey Nets | 2000 | 2002, 2003 |
| LeBron James | Cleveland Cavaliers | 2003 | 2007* |
| Dwight Howard | Orlando Magic | 2004 | 2009 |
| Kyrie Irving | Cleveland Cavaliers | 2011 | 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| Deandre Ayton | Phoenix Suns | 2018 | 2021 |
The Pelicans, one of four teams to have the first pick more than once, understand the burden of unmet expectations as well as anyone. Anthony Davis (2012) played seven seasons in the Crescent City without advancing past the second round of the playoffs. Williamson is about to finish his sixth, and though the Pelicans have reached the postseason twice, he’s yet to appear in a single playoff game.
Just going by the math, the Pelicans are running out of time to make a run with Zion on the roster. Number one picks have spent an average of 5.85 seasons with their original teams over the past 20 years, with only eight playing at least seven seasons, five reaching season eight, and just two players (John Wall, Karl-Anthony Towns) playing a ninth season for the team that drafted them.
This pattern highlights how being a No. 1 pick does not guarantee long-term stability for the franchise or the player. Zion Williamson’s situation follows a familiar trajectory—immense talent overshadowed by concerns about injuries, fit, and organizational direction.
Zion’s Dominance: A Superstar When Healthy
Despite the setbacks, Williamson remains one of the league’s most dominant forces when healthy. He recently became the third-fastest active player to reach 5,000 career points, trailing only LeBron James and Luka Doncic. This milestone underscores his incredible scoring efficiency and elite ability to finish around the rim. Currently averaging 24.7 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.2 assists on nearly 59% shooting over 204 career games, Zion has proven that his presence on the court is a game-changer.
Still, some of the excitement over Williamson’s achievement was dampened by the fact that he’s played at least 40 games in a season only twice in his career. Zion will have to play in 20 of the Pelicans’ final 25 games this season to increase that total to three.
The good news is that over his last ten games, Zion is playing as well as he ever has, averaging 27.1 points on 61.8% shooting while pulling down 6.7 rebounds in just over 27 minutes per contest. Zion is also in the best physical shape of his career, looking better than he did when he arrived in New Orleans out of Duke.
His recent performances have not only solidified his status as a premier talent in the NBA but have also sparked debate over his long-term future with the Pelicans. So, is now the time for the Pelicans to double down on building around Zion or should they sell high and consider a full rebuild for the fourth time in franchise history as they did after the trades of former centerpieces Davis, Chris Paul, and Baron Davis?
The Pelicans’ Salary Cap Crunch: Can They Afford Zion?
Compared to other small-market teams, New Orleans has limited financial flexibility, making it crucial for them to manage their cap space wisely. The recent trade of Brandon Ingram signaled a shift in direction for David Griffin and the front office, and it raised the question of whether the team will continue building around Zion or look to take more drastic changes.
Reports have indicated that teams have inquired about Zion’s availability in the past, and league insiders suggest the Pelicans are willing to listen to offers. Although Zion is not officially on the trade block, the team’s willingness to listen indicates that his future in New Orleans is far from secure.
New Orleans has 11 players under contract for next season, with that number likely to increase to 12 once Brandon Boston Jr. has his two-way status removed. Griffin has indicated that he’d like to retain Bruce Brown, who will become an unrestricted free agent at the end of this campaign.
Rising star Trey Murphy III isn’t going anywhere. Defensive stalwart Herb Jones and Dejounte Murray are near locks to return, as is newly acquired forward/center Kelly Olynyk. However, Jones and Murray will likely miss the start of the season as they recover from injury. The Pelicans will also add what should be a top-three pick in one of the deepest NBA Draft classes in recent memory. With Williamson, New Orleans would have an interesting core group, but would still need reinforcements.
Zion is at his best when surrounded by a mix of long, athletic players who can defend and get out in transition with him. He also needs enough shooters (who doesn’t?) to allow him to operate around the basket in the half-court. Unfortunately for the Pelicans, if they move their most tradeable asset in the offseason, the $30 million expiring contract of CJ McCollum, they would lose one of the few shooters the team has on the roster.
The Pelicans will not become a tax-paying team unless they feel they are truly in a position to make a run at a title. That means Griffin & Co. are faced with some difficult decisions at season’s end to be fiscally responsible and to get more competitive on the court.
Trading Zion: High Risk, High Reward
Trading Zion Williamson would be one of the most significant moves in franchise history. The potential upside of a trade lies in the ability to reset the roster, accumulate young talent, and acquire valuable draft capital, following the model of the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Pelicans could use those assets to build a more balanced team that aligns with their long-term vision.
However, moving a player of Zion’s caliber comes with complications. You don’t just give away a player like Williamson, perhaps the most talented player in franchise history. The Pelicans would need to ensure they receive a return that justifies making that type of move.
The franchise has not done well with these types of deals in the past. After trading Chris Paul in 2010, it took four years for the Pelicans just to get back to the playoffs, while CP3 has been a postseason mainstay, including a Finals run with the Suns in 2021. New Orleans has nothing left from the war chest amassed following the AD trade, and just two postseason victories to show for it, while Davis won a championship in the bubble following the 2020 season.
Any trade would have to weigh the risks of his health against the possibility of him thriving elsewhere, potentially making New Orleans regret their decision…again.
Zion Williamson’s talent is undeniable, and his recent performances suggest he can still be the cornerstone the Pelicans envisioned. However, with the team facing luxury tax concerns, a likely high draft pick, and uncertainty about Zion’s long-term durability, major changes are on the horizon. If Zion remains healthy and continues to dominate, the Pelicans may find themselves reconsidering any trade discussions. But if the right offer comes along, they may have to make the difficult choice of parting ways with one of the most electrifying players in the NBA.
For all our sakes, let’s hope that this time they make the right decision. Only time will tell what that may be.
For more content, visit HITP Sports on YouTube or HITP Sports online.
READ MORE
- Pelicans rally past Spurs with dominant second half
- Can Pelicans take advantage of Wembanyama-less Spurs in home return?
- CJ McCollum’s 43 leads Pelicans past Kings in OT thriller
- Pelicans fade late as Kings’ hot shooting hands New Orleans 10th straight loss
- Pelicans host Kings hoping to avoid 10-game skid
- Pelicans struggle as Thunder set franchise record for threes in blowout loss
- Pelicans face red-hot Thunder looking to snap 8-game losing streak
- Can undermanned Pelicans end road losing skid in Sacramento?
- Porter, Jokic, too much to handle as Pelicans fall to Nuggets, 144-119
- Report: Pelicans trade Brandon Ingram to Raptors
- Pelicans seek to tie season series tonight vs. Nuggets
- Deal or no deal: It’s time for Pelicans to trade Brandon Ingram
- Murphy’s 41 not enough as Pelicans drop 6th consecutive game
- Injuries, trade rumors, tough road ahead for Pelicans
- Another Tough Loss, Another Brutal Injury for the Pelicans
- Pelicans buried under avalanche of threes, fall to Mavericks for fourth straight loss
- Pelicans host Mavericks aiming to snap three-game losing streak
- Pelicans fall to Raptors as frustrations boil over in tough road loss
- Pelicans look to salvage road trip in Toronto
- Bounce-back battle in Charlotte as Pelicans visit Hornets
- Second-half collapse ends Pelicans’ win streak in Memphis
- Pelicans look to extend 3-game winning streak with repeat performance against Jazz
- Pelicans soar past Jazz behind Zion’s double-double and hot shooting from deep
- Surging Pelicans look to leapfrog Jazz in the West
