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A new trade prediction has Zion Williamson going to the Chicago Bulls ahead of the NBA trade deadline.
Some teams are trying to win now, while others are looking to build for the future. At the NBA trade deadline, the smartest teams will do a little of both.
Zion Williamson is a player on the trading block who could help a team reach the postseason this year and become a franchise cornerstone in the years to come. The former No. 1 overall pick is playing arguably the best basketball of his career since returning from an adductor strain in November and is still just 25 years old.
One contender who could make a move for Zion? The Chicago Bulls. In a new article with trade predictions for the 10 biggest names at this year’s NBA trade deadline, CBS Sports’ Sam Quinn has Williamson going from the New Orleans Pelicans to Chicago to be a running mate alongside Josh Giddey.
Who says yes to a deal for Zion? Who says no? Let’s see it through and find out:
Why Chicago Bulls Make A Trade
The Bulls, as they have been for the last few seasons, are stuck in the middle. Chicago is good enough to make the Play-In Tournament, but not to make a deep playoff run. Adding Williamson this year is a move that won’t break the bank, but could pay dividends next season.
Giddey has been fantastic for the Bulls for two years now, but he needs better players around him in order for Chicago to truly contend. Williamson has one of the highest upsides of any player in the NBA and would form one heck of a lob combination with the point guard. Chicago would have to keep adding talent, but a Giddey-Williamson duo is certainly a good place to start.
As Quinn wrote, Williamson would probably cost one first-round pick and some expiring contracts, which are assets the Bulls have at their disposal. Zion is under contract for two more seasons, but neither is fully guaranteed (Williamson must play 61 games this season and meet specific conditioning requirements to guarantee his salary for next season). If Chicago acquires him, it would be a low-risk, high-reward move.
Why New Orleans Pelicans Make A Trade
Despite his resurgence this season, the Pelicans don’t see Williamson as part of their long-term future as they look to mold their team around guards Jeremiah Fears and Trey Murphy III. Their biggest need right now is a big man who can provide rim protection opposite rookie center Derik Queen, and Zion does not fit the bill.
The first round pick coming back, assuming it is for 2026, is massive for New Orleans, as the team is likely to lose its own first round pick this year to the Atlanta Hawks (which was part of a trade to move up and select Queen in the 2025 NBA Draft). Recouping draft capital and using it to add younger players on less expensive contracts is vital for the Pelicans’ rebuild.
The Williamson era in New Orleans has been mostly underwhelming due to the forward’s inability to stay on the court. Trading him away would allow the organization to officially turn the page and look to the future, and a deal with Chicago may be the best New Orleans is going to find.
Colin Capece is an NBA Contributing Writer at Heavy. His work has appeared in The Sporting News, The Dallas Morning News, USA Today and The Arizona Republic, where he covered everything from Caitlin Clark mania to a burgeoning cricket league. Capece received his master’s degree from Northwestern University and his bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame. He roots for all the long-suffering New York sports teams. More about Colin Capece
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