NBA Trade Idea Involves Pelicans Star Zion Williamson In Three-Team Deal

Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo and his team's season ended abruptly after another first-round exit in the NBA playoffs. The Bucks have lost three straight playoff series in the opening round since 2022. Now, rumors are circulating that the former NBA Finals MVP could ask for a change of scenery this offseason.

Antetokounmpo expressed his desire to win earlier this season when speaking with reporters about his future in the NBA. "Will my individual athlete be more important than the championship?', the superstar asked. "This is a thing that maybe some players make a mistake. They stay in a place maybe too long."

Whatever package you think is rich enough to obtain Giannis Antetokounmpo, it will need to be much larger.

But if he ends up on the trade market, he’ll have no shortage of suitors.

One potential deal to explore? A three-team trade with the Bucks, Spurs and Pelicans 👀 pic.twitter.com/Q71AymEQ2r
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) May 2, 2025

The Athletic's Eric Nehm conjured a three-team deal involving the Bucks, Pelicans, and San Antonio Spurs that could benefit each team. Antetokounmpo would team up with Spurs young phenom Victor Wembanyama in what could prove to be an almost unstoppable frontcourt. Williamson would go up to Milwaukee to give the Bucks a young star after Antetokounmpo's departure.

New Orleans would be a full rebuild after trading Williamson away. Zion played in just 30 games this season and has played less than 50% of his team's games since being drafted by the Pelicans in 2019. The Pelicans finished the season at 21-61, the second-worst record in franchise history. Most of the reasons for the stuggles this year were the Pelicans inability to stay healthy. New Orleans projected starting five before the season never played a single regular season game together.

Zion Williamson in the 2024-25 season: 24.6 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 5.3 apg, 1.2 spg, 56.7 FG percentage pic.twitter.com/T71J9Nj83O
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) April 21, 2025

Swift moves were made to the Pelicans' front office, letting go of former executive vice president of basketball operations David Griffin. New Orleans replaced him with Joe Dumars and also brought in former Detroit Pistons GM Troy Weaver to join the organization. Now, the Pelicans must retool the roster to try to be contenders in the conference next season.

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