The Detroit Pistons are entering a pivotal offseason after taking a huge leap forward last season. The fanbase is finally energized and filled with optimism for the future. Many hope that the team aggressively pursues star-level players to pair with Cade Cunningham this summer. One popular name that has emerged in these discussions is polarizing superstar Zion Williamson.
Williamson has been a big subject of online Pistons discourse. While many believe that his upside is worth the risk for the Pistons, some fans are worried about his injury history. Whether GM Trajan Langdon should go after Williamson, however, may be a moot point after the latest report out of New Orleans. The Athletic's William Guillory reported on Tuesday that the Pelicans are "very unlikely" to move Williamson this summer.
"It’s very unlikely Williamson gets moved in a trade before the 2025-26 season starts. There’s already been communication between Williamson, his camp and Dumars on several occasions. All parties feel pretty good about where things stand with the Pelicans-Williamson marriage heading into next season."William Guillory, The Athletic
This is certainly a surprising development. The Pelicans were decimated by injuries last season, having to pull the plug on the season before finishing 21-61. They are an expensive team with $30+ million annual salaries for Williamson, CJ McCollum, and Dejounte Murray, while being nowhere close to being a contender in the Western Conference.
One would assume that this would be enough to trigger a rebuild in New Orleans. Guillory's reporting suggests that the Pelicans are willing to go into the 2025-26 season with Williamson as the centerpiece.
Williamson would have been an intriguing fit in Detroit, but the Pistons don't need to make an offer the Pelicans can't refuse. Langdon is better off looking elsewhere and thinking about alternatives. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Devin Booker, and Kevin Durant are all expected to be on the trade block. Not only are they better players than Williamson, but they are probably better fits in Detroit anyway. Whether the Pistons go after any of these names over the summer remains to be seen.