Zion Williamson might be going from The Big Easy to The Windy City.
The New Orleans Pelicans star forward Williamson is being scouted by the Chicago Bulls ahead of the Feb. 5 trade deadline, Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints said during a recent livestream. Siegel adds that the Bulls would have plenty of assets with which to make a run at Williamson.
“I’ve heard that there’s been some smoke there about Chicago scouting New Orleans in recent weeks,” said Siegel. “Zion would be the ideal buy-low candidate for a team like the Bulls, who have a lot of expiring contracts.”
The Pelicans are once again in the toilet this season at 8-31 on the year (dead last in the Western Conference). With New Orleans trading away their unprotected first-round pick in 2026 to the Atlanta Hawks as a part of the Derik Queen deal last summer, the time may be ripe for the Pelicans to replenish their cupboard of assets by selling off some of their current roster pieces.
As for Williamson, who is still only 25 years old, his baggage is very well-known at this point. A chronic struggler with weight and injury woes, Williamson has played in just 23 of a possible 39 games for the Pelicans this season. His stats are down on the year as well (22.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game), and Williamson has dealt with some troubling off-court scandals in recent months too.
The Bulls, meanwhile, are 17-20, which places them squarely in the play-in tournament zone at 10th in the Eastern Conference. With Nikola Vucevic, Zach Collins, Kevin Huerter, and Coby White all on expiring contracts at $13 million or higher, some combination of those may be enough (along with draft capital) to entice New Orleans to finally part ways with Williamson, who remains signed through 2028.
