Chicago Bulls Emerge as Strong Contenders for Zion Williamson Trade

The Chicago Bulls have been rumored as a potential landing spot for New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson in recent years. However, those rumors have hit a new high. According to a report from Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times, the Bulls have shown interest in a potential trade with the Pelicans for Williamson. “The Sun-Times confirmed a report that the Bulls have had ongoing talks with the Pelicans about players such as forward Zion Williamson and center Yves Missi,” Cowley wrote. “While the chatter around Williamson has quieted on the Pelicans’ end, there has been momentum around Missi. The question is, at what cost?” Williamson has never been able to live up to the hype of being the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. At that point in time, he was expected to be one of the top superstars in the NBA in short order. Due to injuries and other factors, that hype has not panned out for Williamson. He is still just 25 years old with time to turn things around, but his time with the Pelicans could be nearing an end. Chicago Bulls Should Take the Risk on Zion Williamson If New Orleans actually is open to the idea of trading Williamson, Chicago should take a chance on him. From a pure talent perspective, Williamson has the potential to be a top-five NBA player. He is more than capable of dominating offensively. Williamson is also a capable rebounder and playmaker. Health has been one of the biggest concerns for him. If he can stay healthy, the sky is the limit for Williamson’s future. However, that is a big gamble to take. Right now, Williamson is in the middle of a five-year, $197.2 million contract that runs through the 2027-28 season. If things didn’t work out for him with the Bulls, Chicago would owe him a lot of money for the next few seasons. That being said, Williamson has played well this season. He has appeared in 29 games and made 22 starts this year, averaging 22.5 points per game to go along with 5.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 1.2 steals. Williamson has also shot 58.5 percent from the floor. At this point, the Bulls need a true franchise face. Taking a chance on Williamson would give them a chance of finding that. Chicago Has to Find a Direction Over the last few years, Chicago has been trying to figure out how to get back into contention. While the Bulls have had talented players, they simply haven’t been able to work their way back to where they want to be. That isn’t to say that a trade for Williamson would fix the issues, but he could be a nice step in that direction. Finding a franchise star is a must for Chicago. The team already has nice pieces, especially with Josh Giddey who has developed quite nicely with the Bulls. Adding Williamson could give them exactly what they need. Expect to hear more rumors surrounding Williams and Chicago as the deadline approaches. For now, this is going to be a situation worth monitoring closely.