The New Orleans Pelicans are at a breaking point - and this time, it feels different. The Zion Williamson era, once brimming with promise and potential, is now hanging by a thread. What was supposed to be a franchise-defining chapter is quickly unraveling into a cautionary tale of missed opportunities, inconsistent health, and a team that’s lost its way.
The numbers don’t lie. At 3-19, the Pelicans are buried at the bottom of the standings, and the mood around the team reflects it.
Blowout losses, a revolving door of unavailable players, and gut-punch game-winners surrendered in crunch time - it’s all taken a toll. And now, the organization seems to be quietly shifting its focus from building around Zion to figuring out how to move on from him.
Letting go of head coach Willie Green was the first domino. It was a symbolic move, sure, but it also signaled that the franchise is ready to hit reset.
League insiders say the shift is real. The Pelicans are no longer tiptoeing around the idea of change - they’re preparing for it.
And that means tough decisions are on the horizon.
Zion's trade value? It’s no secret - it’s taken a serious hit.
Around the league, teams are hesitant. No one’s rushing to make a deal, and the Pelicans know they’re not holding many cards here.
To get out of the Zion business, New Orleans might have to sweeten the pot. That could mean parting with some of their most desirable role players.
Defensive ace Herb Jones is one of them. He’s been one of the league’s most sought-after two-way wings for a reason - he brings toughness, versatility, and a relentless motor. The Pelicans have turned down plenty of offers for him in the past, but that resolve may be tested if they’re serious about starting fresh.
Then there’s Jose Alvarado. The gritty guard has drawn interest early this season, and his energy off the bench has made him a fan favorite. Rookie Yves Missi also looms as a potential trade chip, depending on how far the Pelicans are willing to go.
But the most intriguing name right now? Trey Murphy III.
Murphy’s stock hasn’t dipped - in fact, it’s held steady or even climbed. His shooting, length, and defensive upside make him a perfect fit on a contender.
He’s the kind of player teams are willing to pay for, and the Pelicans know it. One source said that this past summer, New Orleans asked for a Desmond Bane-level package in return - think multiple first-rounders, a solid veteran, and a promising young piece.
That price tag hasn’t changed.
Internally, there’s growing belief that Murphy could be the next face of the franchise. It wouldn’t be the first time the Pelicans tried to build around a quieter star - they once made a public MVP push for Jrue Holiday.
Murphy might not be the loudest voice in the room, but he plays a winning brand of basketball. And right now, that’s exactly what this team needs.
Meanwhile, scouts from the Pistons, Nets, Knicks, and Hawks have been spotted at recent Pelicans games. That’s not a coincidence. Around the league, there’s a sense that New Orleans is gearing up for a fire sale - and teams are lining up to see what might be available.
This city knows what a rebuild looks like. It’s lived through far worse than a losing basketball season. But what it doesn’t have patience for anymore is half-measures - the kind that leave a team stuck in the late lottery, chasing play-in spots, and never truly contending.
Zion’s game, for all its power and efficiency, remains unfinished. Six seasons in, and the same questions linger.
He still won’t shoot threes. The midrange jumper he once worked on with Teresa Weatherspoon has vanished.
And while he scores at a high clip, it’s become predictable. Defenses know what’s coming - and in today’s NBA, predictability from your highest-paid player is a ceiling you just can’t coach around.
That’s why contenders are steering clear. No one wants to build their offense around a player who can’t stretch the floor or stay consistently healthy.
And for the Pelicans’ front office, led by Joe Dumars and Troy Weaver, that makes the trade calculus even trickier. They’re not aggressively shopping Zion - not yet.
But they’re listening. And they know the clock is ticking.
There’s a quiet inevitability to all of this. The shift isn’t loud or dramatic - it’s a slow, steady pull toward the future.
And the question now isn’t if Zion is moved. It’s when, and at what cost.
Because moving a star at his lowest value is painful. It’s expensive. And it’s a move that can define a front office’s legacy - for better or worse.
The Pelicans have a choice to make. Will they fully commit to a reset, with Murphy as the centerpiece and a new vision guiding the way? Or will they stay stuck in neutral, hoping for a turnaround that may never come?
New Orleans deserves better. The fans deserve better. And the time to act - boldly, decisively - is fast approaching.
Whether it’s December, January, or closer to the trade deadline, the Zion era is nearing its end. The only thing left to determine is how - and how much it’ll cost to close the book.