Outside of perhaps Damian Lillard, no player has generated more buzz of late than Zion Williamson.
Without even getting into the off-floor shenanigans — though, to be fair, there haven't been many on-floor developments to discuss — the Zion rumor mill is ablaze.
In the days leading up to the draft, speculation reached the point where some league insiders actually expected the Pelicans to trade the oft-injured, much-maligned yet obscenely-talented former No. 1 pick.
Would the Blazers trade the No. 3 pick for Williamson knowing that New Orleans was fascinated by Scoot Henderson? Perhaps the Hornets would part with the No. 2 pick in an effort to bring Williamson closer to home (he's from South Carolina and played one year at Duke) and pair him with LaMelo Ball.
But the rumblings never gained traction and for now, things seem to have quieted
MORE: Latest rumors on Zion Williamson and Pelicans
While they haven't been connected with any real news to the Zion whispers, the Raptors are one team that could take a really hard look at swinging for Williamson. They enter this offseason at somewhat of a crossroads with Fred VanVleet entering unrestricted free agency and Pascal Siakam eligible for a big deal with just one year left on his contract.
Enter Masai Ujiri.
The Raptors president and architect of the stunning 2018 blockbuster for Kawhi Leonard is no stranger to risky franchise-altering decisions, and opportunities to add talents of Williamson's ilk don't come around often.
Here's a trade I pitched to two of our NBA writers, Steph Noh and Scott Rafferty. One said the Raptors would say no. One said the Pelicans would say no. To which I say LET'S MAKE A DEAL, BABY!
RAPTORS GET:
- Zion Williamson
PELICANS GET:
- Pascal Siakam
- 3 unprotected first-round picks (2026, 2028, 2030)
RAPTORS RUMORS: Fred VanVleet | Pascal Siakam | Jakob Poeltl
So what would you do?
Here's how Rafferty and Noh broke it down followed by my own take.
Why Raptors say no
I’m higher on Zion Williamson than most, but I’m not sure this deal cuts it for the Raptors.
One, Pascal Siakam and three first-round picks is a lot to give up for someone who hasn’t played much through four seasons because of injuries. While the price would be even higher if he was healthy — Williamson has looked like a legit top 15 player when he has played — the Raptors would have to be very confident that they could get him to where he needs to be physically to green-light this.
As a reminder, Williamson appeared in 61 games in the 2020-21 season. In his three other seasons, he combined to play 53 games. It hasn’t been one specific injury, either. He’s dealt with knee, ankle, toe, thumb and hamstring issues.
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Two, the fit between Williamson and Scottie Barnes wouldn’t be the cleanest. They’d be dynamite in transition and have some funky pick-and-roll potential, but they’re both at their best with the ball in their hands and are limited shooters. They’d likely need shooting at every other position around them to have the space they need to cook, including center, which the Raptors don't currently have.
Knowing how important Barnes is to the future of the franchise, if the Raptors are going to trade Siakam and picks, I think it needs to be for someone who better complements him.
— Scott Rafferty (@crabdribbles)
Why Pelicans say no
Williamson's trade value may be at its absolute nadir. The former No. 1 pick has only played in 29 games over the past two years. But when he has been available, he's been a top-10 player in the league.
If the Pelicans were absolutely dead-set on moving on from Williamson, then three unprotected first-round picks and Siakam would be a good package to get back. They should stay patient with him, though. Teams need an MVP-level player in order to be true contenders. And though he's in the annual All-NBA conversation, Siakam is likely never going to approach that level. Williamson at least has some upside to get there.
The added issue is that Siakam isn't a great fit with the Pelicans. He's seven years older than Williamson and acquiring him would push the young Pelicans' timeline way up. And he's shown how good a team can be with him as their best player. The Raptors have never been serious contenders despite Siakam's All-NBA appearances.
Siakam is up for a new deal next year, which is problematic too. He will make more than Williamson due to his experience level and higher maximum salary. Paying Siakam would cause serious cap problems down the line, given that the Pelicans already have big salaries committed to CJ McCollum and Brandon Ingram. Upcoming extensions to Herb Jones and Trey Jones would push them into financial distress.
— Steph Noh (@StephNoh)
Final verdict
I think it's a win-win.
At this point, the Raptors know what they have in Siakam, who simply isn't a championship-level franchise player. And though he's shown promise, I'm not sold that Barnes is a future No. 1 option either after a relatively stagnant sophomore campaign.
Unless the Raptors opt for a complete teardown, I'm not really sure what path they have for acquiring someone who fits that bill. Which is why the soon-to-be 23-year-old Williamson should be their play.
He's entering Year 1 of a five-year, $197.2 million dollar contract that, while certainly onerous given his injury history, could end up being a bargain with the cap set to go up over the next half-decade. Remember, when Toronto traded for Kawhi Leonard — who played just nine games in his final year in San Antonio — he was far from a beacon of good health and had just one year left on his deal.
MORE: Draft grades for all 30 teams
Trotting out a lineup built around Williamson, Barnes, O.G. Anunoby and Gary Trent Jr. might not be perfect but it certainly elevates the ceiling. And if there's any team with a track record of load managing en route to results, it's the Raptors.
As for the Pelicans, the idea here would be turning the keys over to Brandon Ingram and letting Siakam star as the co-second banana he's more suited to be, alongside McCollum. Siakam can more easily play alongside center Jonas Valanciunas and he immediately makes them a stronger defensive team.
Toss in three unprotected future first-round picks and the Pelicans keep stockpiling their war chest.
New Orleans is a talented roster desperately in need of some stability. And for as electric as Williamson has been when on the floor, we're going on four straight years dominated by talk of him off the floor.
It's time for a fresh start for all parties. Both fan bases probably think they're giving up too much. Which means it's fair on both sides.
