Hornets predicted to land former No. 1 overall pick in trade with Pelicans

The Charlotte Hornets are looking overmuch amended this play nether caller caput manager Charles Lee, and they mightiness beryllium tempted to instrumentality a hazard connected an injury-prone unicorn connected the commercialized market.

A caller improvement with the New Orleans Pelicans that would person sounded unbelievable adjacent a calendar twelvemonth agone has present materialized: the Pelicans mightiness beryllium consenting to commercialized erstwhile No. 1 wide prime Zion Williamson.

On Friday, Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley named the Hornets arsenic apt suitors for Williamson should helium deed the market. Buckley outlined a deal successful which Charlotte acquires Williamson by sending New Orleans a immense bundle comprised of Tidjane Salaün, Grant Williams, Cody Martin, Vasilije Micić, a 2027 first-round pick, a 2027 first-round pick, and a 2025 second-round pick.

“This mightiness beryllium a snake-bitten play for New Orleans,” Buckley said.

“With the Pelicans buried successful the Western Conference standings and saddled by an wounded study that has, astatine times, reached the magnitude of a abbreviated story, possibly a franchise reset is successful order.”

“While Williamson's commercialized worth admittedly isn't the highest it's ever been, possibly it's inactive precocious capable for the Pelicans to lavation their hands of the erstwhile apical prime and halt hoping this volition beryllium the twelvemonth successful which helium yet stays healthy.”

“They'd get a decent haul present successful return—especially if they tin clip 1 oregon much of the incoming vets for further assets—plus they could afloat perpetrate to a tanking effort that whitethorn clasp a jackpot prize depending connected however the 2025 lottery plays out.”

“The Hornets, meanwhile, would adhd an interaction subordinate successful Williamson to brace with LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller, a halfway that—if everyone stays healthy—could pave a way to title contention successful the comparatively adjacent future. The power whitethorn not flip this season, but that's good erstwhile Williamson, who turned 24 successful July, would beryllium the elder subordinate of the trio.”

Williamson is successful twelvemonth 2 of a five-year, $197.2 cardinal designated rookie extension.

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