Derik Queen’s recent emergence as a potential star could mean that the New Orleans Pelicans decide to move on from Zion Williamson, and if they do, the Utah Jazz should take interest. They are in an awkward spot, and with how many draft picks they have, taking a chance on a guy like Williamson could be worthwhile.
Ace Bailey, Walker Kessler (when healthy), Keyonte George, and Isaiah Collier seem like solid pieces of their core, and Lauri Markkanen has been elite this season, too. Taking a swing on Williamson with some of their bigger contracts as salary filler could be an intriguing idea for them to consider.
It would be weird, but perhaps the Jazz should be willing to get weird.
Should Jazz trade for Zion Williamson?
When healthy, Williamson is one of the most talented players in the NBA. If he were to play an entire season, he could be a legitimate MVP candidate in the right situation.
His efficiency around the rim is incredible, and the number of doubles that he draws per game is insane. He just needs to be healthy enough to stay on the court consistently.
Two years ago, when Williamson appeared in 70 games for the Pelicans, he averaged 22.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 5.0 assists while shooting 57.0% from the floor.
Placed in Will Hardy’s system next to Markkanen, George, and Kessler, when he’s healthy, Williamson could be positioned to succeed in a low-pressure environment. Maybe a new situation is what he needs.
The Jazz could put together a pretty decent trade package of non-rotation players, too. A deal that includes Jusuf Nurkic, Kyle Anderson, and Taylor Hendricks gets the Jazz to Williamson’s salary total.
If they threw in a few first-round picks, or maybe even just two, perhaps they could get the Pelicans to bite on a deal that would see them get out of the Williamson business.
With how many extra picks the Jazz have accrued over the years, throwing a couple around to take a chance on a talent like Williamson could be a very interesting idea.
Plus, Williamson has some non-guarantees in his contract, which means that should the Jazz decide that they want to rid themselves of the star forward, they probably could fairly easily at some point.
It’s a very imperfect idea, but if the Jazz wanted to take a risk and attempt a step forward, a deal for Williamson could be pretty intriguing for Utah.