Dumars: The Pelicans have no intention of trading Zion in the offseason and look forward to his healthy return next season.

New Orleans Pelicans president of basketball operations Joe Dumars reiterated on Tuesday that the team currently has no plans to trade Zion Williamson.

With the 2025/26 NBA regular season concluded, the Pelicans finished 11th in the Western Conference with a 26-56 record. Despite the team's mediocre record, Zion Williamson still possesses excellent immediate impact when healthy: he played a total of 62 regular season games this season, averaging 21.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.0 steals in 29.7 minutes per game, with a field goal percentage of 60.0%.

Dumars spoke highly of Zion's growth this season at the season-ending press conference: "I'm really proud of him this year... There were several times I thought he wouldn't be able to play that night, but he said, 'No, I'll definitely play. I will never miss a game.'"

Dumars then reiterated the Pelicans' stance, stating that they have no intention of trading Zion in the offseason: "Even if you just said 'no' to someone, discussions about trading Zion will still be circulating widely within two hours. We have absolutely no intention of doing so. We look forward to Zion returning healthy next season and shining brightly once again."

Zion Williamson, the 2019 NBA draft's number one pick, has spent six seasons in New Orleans. Plagued by frequent injuries, he has only played 276 games for the Pelicans so far in his career, averaging 31.0 minutes, 23.8 points, 6.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.0 steals per game.

Zion's current contract runs until the end of the 2027/28 season, with his salary for the final two years being $42.2 million and $44.9 million, respectively. Although he is eligible to sign a three-year extension this summer worth approximately $200 million, Dumars did not express a clear intention to do so at the meeting. If the two sides fail to reach an extension agreement, Zion will become a free agent in 2028.

As for Zion himself, he is open to staying with the Pelicans next season: "New Orleans is my home. Many players leave the city during the offseason, but I choose to stay. I will go out and try different things to better understand the city. This is my home. I have lived here since I was 19."

“I do want to stay here long-term. There’s nothing substantial to discuss regarding contract extension negotiations right now. That’s more of a business matter. If the team needs me, I’m willing to stay. This is my home.”

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