The former Duke Blue Devils star is reportedly not thrilled at the prospect of ending up in New Orleans and not the Big Apple.
Likely first overall pick Zion Williamson rumoredly preferred playing in New York over New Orleans.
Per Marc J. Spears of ESPN, Williamson was “whisked out” of the room after the Pelicans landed the first pick in next month’s NBA Draft.
Zion Williamson was QUICKLY whisked out of the room after Pelicans were announced the winner of the draft lottery. Source said the former Duke star was rooting to go to New York, but now is going to New Orleans.
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpearsESPN) May 15, 2019
The Knicks, meanwhile, landed the third overall pick behind the No. 2 Memphis Grizzlies.
Now, truly anything can happen.
The most popular theory seems to be New York trading the pick to New Orleans for Anthony Davis. Or, perhaps, GM Scott Perry can put together a megadeal to land the first overall pick and, by extension, Zion Williamson.
However, suppose Williamson goes full Steve Francis and just refuses to play in New Orleans? Francis did the same when drafted by the then-Vancouver Grizzlies in 1999 and was later dealt to the Houston Rockets. It would be an unlikely outcome, sure, but not entirely unprecedented.
Either way, the Pelicans have their work cut out for them if Williamson is disappointed. If Davis is traded, Williamson loses further incentive to stay with the team long-term regardless of how well he performs there.
At this point, until Williamson’s name is called by the Pelicans on June 20, anything can happen.
In which case, Perry should be working the phones with New Orleans right now.
Stay plugged into this story for future updates, Knicks fans. The Zion Williamson saga appears far from over.
