NBA Draft Rumors: Zion for Scoot trade, Top 50 prospect withdraws, green room invites

NBA Draft Rumors: Pelicans could trade Zion Williamson to move up for Scoot Henderson

Whether you choose to believe it or not, things could be getting spicier than good jambalaya with the New Orleans Pelicans.

A recent report from Shams Charania of The Athletic indicated that the Pelicans are trying to trade up to the No. 2 pick in the draft with the Charlotte Hornets with G-League Ignite star and prospect Scoot Henderson being their target in the draft. It’s also been noted that it would take a significant package to secure that deal.

In that same report, courtesy of FanDuel TV, Charania also mentioned the notion that New Orleans could discuss including their mercurial and oft-injured star, Zion Williamson, in such a trade, which is highly intriguing after other reports indicated the Pelicans were exploring trade options internally regarding Williamson.

Since being drafted first overall in 2019, Williamson has been a dominant force when on the floor, but his availability has been the bigger issue, playing just 24 games as a rookie, 61 in his sophomore campaign, missing the entirety of the 2021-22 season and then playing 29 games this past year.

Despite that, the talent of the soon-to-be 23-year-old is still extremely enticing. If the Hornets are married to either Henderson or Brandon Miller at the No. 2 pick, then it might take Williamson being in any trade package to even start dealing with the Pelicans. And the potential of a LaMelo Ball-Zion pairing is surely enough to make Charlotte consider that.

Of course, Pelicans fans have been skeptical about the possibility of trading up in the draft given the organization’s (See: David Griffin’s) tight-lipped nature and these recent rumors. One thing that’s certain, though, is that Zion Williamson being traded leading up to or during the draft would send some shockwaves throughout the league.