Pelicans Confirm Zion Williamson Not on the Trade Block

Executive VP Joe Dumars says team has 'no intentions' of trading star forward

Apr. 14, 2026 at 11:10pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A cubist-style painting depicting the explosive movements and energy of a basketball player, with sharp geometric shapes and planes in a vibrant color palette.The Pelicans' faith in Zion Williamson's potential is reflected in their commitment to keeping the young star, despite his injury history.New Orleans Today

The New Orleans Pelicans have no plans to trade All-Star forward Zion Williamson, according to executive vice president of basketball operations Joe Dumars. Dumars acknowledged receiving trade inquiries about Williamson but stated the team is looking forward to Williamson returning next season and playing 'great again'.

Why it matters

Williamson is one of the NBA's most talented young players when healthy, but has struggled with injuries throughout his career so far. The Pelicans' commitment to keeping Williamson signals their belief that he can be a franchise cornerstone if he can stay on the court.

The details

Williamson averaged 21.0 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 62 games (55 starts) this past season for the Pelicans, who finished 26-56. The 62 games played were the second-most of his career since being drafted No. 1 overall by New Orleans in 2019. Williamson has two seasons remaining on a five-year, $197.2 million extension he signed in July 2022.

  • Williamson's comments came on Tuesday, April 14, 2026.
  • The Pelicans' season ended with a 132-126 loss at Minnesota on Sunday, April 12, 2026.

The players

Zion Williamson

A 25-year-old All-Star forward for the New Orleans Pelicans who was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft.

Joe Dumars

The executive vice president of basketball operations for the New Orleans Pelicans.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I'll get those calls. And even when you say 'no' to people, like, 'No, we're not moving Zion,' within two hours it's out that you've had conversations about trading Zion.”

— Joe Dumars, Executive VP of Basketball Operations

“Listen, we have no intentions of doing that. We're going into the offseason looking forward to Zion coming back next year and playing great again next year.”

— Joe Dumars, Executive VP of Basketball Operations

What’s next

The Pelicans will look to build around Zion Williamson and get him healthy for the 2026-27 season after he played in a career-high 62 games this past year.

The takeaway

The Pelicans' commitment to keeping Zion Williamson shows their belief that he can be a franchise-altering player if he can stay on the court and healthy. Despite his injury history, the team sees Williamson as a cornerstone they want to build around moving forward.