New Team Linked to Potential Zion Williamson Trade

An Eastern Conference team has emerged as a sleeper to potentially acquire New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson

Mar 11, 2025; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) reacts after a dunk against the Los Angeles Clippers during the fourth quarter at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images | Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images

The Milwaukee Bucks lost their first-round playoff series with the Indiana Pacers and lost a ton this offseason to trade and free agency. Many felt a lot was riding on the Bucks' future based on what happens in the playoffs. Superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo has expressed his desire to compete for championships, but Milwaukee has not won a playoff series since 2022.

The former NBA Finals MVP added speculation to his future with comments he made to reporters earlier this season. "Will my individual athlete be more important than the championship? This is a thing that maybe some players make a mistake. They stay in a place maybe too long."

Giannis is the first player in NBA history to open a postseason with three straight games of 30+ PTS, 10+ REB and 60% FG. pic.twitter.com/3cTWeLXCFu

— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) April 26, 2025

Antetokounmpo signed a three-year extension in 2023 that keeps him under contract with the Bucks until the 2027-2028 season, but another first-round playoff exit would intensify trade rumors this offseason. NBA insider Brett Siegel revealed that New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson was on the Bucks' radar before this year's trade deadline.

Williamson's future in New Orleans remains uncertain, with the two-time all-star playing only 30 games this past season. This year marked the fourth time in the last six seasons that Williamson has played under 40 games in a year. His injury history, combined with some of the off-the-court issues, has many thinking the Pelicans may shop the former No. 1 overall pick during the season.

Zion’s season thru the lens 📸 pic.twitter.com/n0I9K3qCL8

— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) April 21, 2025

Milwaukee could trade for Zion as a last-ditch effort to keep Antetokounmpo, pairing the uniquely talented players in the Bucks' frontcourt. Williamson averaged career-highs in rebounds, assists, steals, and blocked shots this year despite his limited time on the court.

The Pelicans now must figure out whether their future consists of retooling the roster around the talented but injured Williamson or trading the dynamic forward for a complete rebuild. New Orleans finished the season with a 21-61 record, the second-worst in franchise history.

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