Pelicans surprisingly named trade destination for East superstar trapped on underachieving team
The New Orleans Pelicans, possessing the fourth-highest odds for the 2025 NBA Draft's top pick, are reportedly a potential trade destination for Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. This speculation arises as Zion Williamson, their previous top pick, struggles with injuries despite showing flashes of potential. The Pelicans could offer attractive trade packages, including Williamson or their draft pick, but face challenges integrating Antetokounmpo due to similar playing styles and poor shooting synergy. Trading Williamson to the Bucks would leave the Pelicans short of championship contention unless they bolster their roster significantly. Despite the allure of acquiring a player of Antetokounmpo's caliber, the Pelicans might benefit more from abstaining from the trade, while Antetokounmpo himself might consider pursuing championships elsewhere given his long loyalty to the Bucks.
The Pelicans hold the fourth-highest odds for the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, having previously selected Zion Williamson, whose potential has been hampered by health issues.
Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo is a surprising trade target for the Pelicans due to their strong asset position, including Williamson and their draft picks.
The potential pairing of Williamson and Antetokounmpo is complicated by their similar play styles, which could result in a team with poor outside shooting capabilities.
Trading Williamson to the Bucks might leave the Pelicans without sufficient star power, as their current roster, including players like Bruce Brown and Jose Alvarado, lacks championship contention capability.
While acquiring Antetokounmpo is tempting, the Pelicans may need to reconsider the trade to avoid destabilizing their team balance and missing title opportunities.
Antetokounmpo, loyal to the Bucks since 2013, faces a crossroads where pursuing a championship elsewhere might be more rewarding than remaining with his current team.
The broader NBA landscape sees multiple teams like the Rockets, Grizzlies, and Thunder as well-positioned to make a compelling offer for Antetokounmpo, highlighting the competitive market for his talents.
The New Orleans Pelicans have the fourth-highest odds of securing the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
Last time the Pelicans landed the top selection, they took former Duke Blue Devils superstar Zion Williamson, who has not panned out as most expected. He's shown serious flashes of superstar potential but struggles to remain healthy on a year-to-year basis. This could lead New Orleans' front office to majorly shake up their roster this offseason.
The Pelicans were surprisingly named as a trade destination for Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo by SN's Stephen Noh.
"Every single franchise will be trying to put forth their best offer in order to grab the star. The Rockets, Grizzlies, Pelicans, Thunder, Magic, and Spurs stand out as the best-positioned teams to land him from an asset and fit perspective," Noh wrote.
From an asset perspective, yes, New Orleans has plenty of different packages to offer Milwaukee, highlighted by either this year's first-round pick or Williamson.
The fit Noh speaks of is where Antetokounmpo to the Pelicans becomes shaky.
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Let's say the Pelicans offer a return centered around their pick, then Williamson and Antetokounmpo would be playing together. The two have near-identical styles of play, with a lack of ability to hit shots from the outside and a desire to attack the basket on a regular basis.
Sure, this tandem would produce a ridiculous number of highlight plays, but at what cost? The Pelicans would have one of the worst shooting lineups in the NBA in this scenario.
Alternatively, if Williamson were dealt to the Bucks, the Pelicans simply wouldn't have enough star power to compete for a championship. While Bruce Brown, Jose Alvarado, Yves Missi, and Jordan Hawkins are solid rotational pieces, their roster is not one player away from title contention.
As much as acquiring a player of Antetokounmpo's caliber feels impossible to pass on, it's likely in the Pelicans' best interest to not pursue this blockbuster trade. For Antetokounmpo, he's been loyal to the organization that believed in him since 2013, but it may be time to let go of that feeling and pursue rings elsewhere.
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