Pelicans Announce They Will Keep Zion Williamson for Next Season

New Orleans front office says they have 'no intentions' of trading the star power forward this offseason.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 4:33pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a basketball game or match, with sharp, overlapping planes of color and form representing the complex dynamics of the Pelicans' roster and decision-making.A cubist interpretation of the Pelicans' ongoing struggle to build a winning team around their star player, Zion Williamson.New Orleans Today

The New Orleans Pelicans have announced they will not trade star player Zion Williamson this offseason. Pelicans president of basketball operations Joe Dumars stated the team has 'no intentions of trading Zion this summer' and looks forward to having him back next season. This comes as a surprise to some, as there had been recent rumors about the Pelicans potentially looking to trade Williamson.

Why it matters

Williamson is one of the NBA's brightest young stars, but the Pelicans have struggled to build a winning team around him in his first seven seasons with the franchise. By keeping Williamson, the Pelicans are signaling they believe they can turn things around next season and make a playoff push.

The details

Despite the Pelicans' underwhelming results the past two seasons, including back-to-back sub-30 win campaigns, the team's current front office regime seems content with keeping the core roster intact. Dumars' comments suggest the Pelicans will target a contract extension for Williamson this offseason rather than exploring trade options. The 25-year-old power forward played well this past season, averaging 27.1 points, 7.2 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game.

  • The Pelicans made this announcement on April 14, 2026, at the end of their season.

The players

Zion Williamson

A 25-year-old power forward who has been with the Pelicans since being drafted 1st overall in 2019. He is one of the NBA's most talented young players.

Joe Dumars

The president of basketball operations for the New Orleans Pelicans.

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What they’re saying

“We have no intentions of trading Zion this summer and look forward to him returning next season.”

— Joe Dumars, President of Basketball Operations, New Orleans Pelicans

What’s next

The Pelicans will now focus on signing Zion Williamson to a contract extension this offseason, as well as finding a new head coach to lead the team next season.

The takeaway

The Pelicans' decision to keep Zion Williamson signals their belief that they can build a winning team around the star forward, despite the franchise's struggles in recent years. However, the team's reluctance to make major roster changes raises questions about their long-term vision and commitment to putting the best possible team on the floor.