The Washington Wizards could be a dark-horse candidate to trade for New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson ahead of the Feb. 5 deadline, according to The Athletic’s Josh Robbins.
Robbins reported Tuesday that “league sources speculated… Williamson would be someone the Wizards would have to consider if the price is right.”
He described a Wizards trade for Williamson as an “extreme long shot.”
“But it was mentioned as a possibility by enough league sources that it at least should be mentioned here,” Robbins wrote.
Robbins noted that it is seen as unlikely that the Wizards will move one of their own first-rounders, but that the team also has control over potentially less valuable first-round picks.
That includes the least favorable first-rounder from either the Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City thunder and Los Angeles Clippers in the upcoming 2026 draft.
According to Robbins, one source speculated another team’s pick owed to Washington “might satisfy the Pelicans’ goals.”
The report comes after NBA insider Chris Haynes reported earlier this month that the Pelicans had informed teams that Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy, Herb Jones, Derik Queen and Jeremiah Fears wouldn’t be traded this season.
Robbins wrote that league sources expressed doubt about that report, specifically regarding Williamson.
The news comes after the Wizards traded Corey Kispert and CJ McCollum to acquire Trae Young from the Atlanta Hawks on Jan. 9.
Young, who had played just 10 games this season due to right leg injuries prior to his trade from the Hawks, has yet to make his debut with the Wizards.
Head coach Brian Keefe said last week that Young would be re-evaluated after the All-Star break.
That recovery timeline might not be a problem for the Wizards, who at 10-32 and 14th place in the Eastern Conference could earn better odds in the 2026 draft lottery by losing down the stretch.
The franchise could then hope to get Young back fully healthy to help their young core reach the next level in 2026-27.
Should the Wizards ultimately target Williamson, the team could potentially hope for a similar bounce-back next season from a player who has struggled to stay healthy during most of his NBA career.
Williamson has so far appeared in 29 of the Pelicans’ first 45 games, averaging 22.5 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists when available.
The 25-year-old is signed for two more seasons at cap hits of more than $42 million.
The Wizards have multiple expiring contracts that could be moved, most notably Khris Middleton’s $33.3 million deal, per Spotrac.
Robbins wrote Tuesday that the most likely path for the Wizards at the deadline involves “absorbing other teams’ multi-year contracts if potential trade partners attach sweeteners such as future draft picks or intriguing young players.”
If the Pelicans are interested in moving on from Williamson ahead of the final two years of his contract, the Wizards could consider using that cap space to instead bring in another star who could help the team take a step forward in their rebuild next season.
