If Zion Williamson was beginning to plan for life in a new city, a career away from the New Orleans Pelicans, a new report may prompt him to rethink any of those plans.
Williamson, in the final guaranteed season of his five-year contract in New Orleans, has been prominent in trade speculation as the 8-31 Pelicans figure out their next steps as a franchise. Despite missing 16 games, Williamson is enjoying a productive season for a rebuilding team; the two-time All-Star is the Pels' leading scorer at 22.4 points per game.
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However, the Pelicans have put their foot down on Williamson's immediate future. According to Chris Haynes on X, New Orleans will not trade Williamson before the NBA's Feb. 5 trade deadline.
In addition, coveted forward Trey Murphy III will be staying put until the end of the season in New Orleans, as the Pelicans' brain trust of Joe Dumars and Troy Weaver takes stock of the team they've inherited.
Sources: New Orleans Pelicans are disappointing the market in informing teams that Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy, Herb Jones, Derik Queen and Jeremiah Fears will remain with the organization past Feb. 5 trade deadline.
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) January 9, 2026
The Pelicans appear to have a star of the future in rookie Derik Queen, and 25-year-old Williamson is still young enough to form part of a potential playoff core in New Orleans.
But it remains to be seen whether the former #1 overall pick can stay healthy enough to deliver.
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