After making one signature move this season, is another blockbuster deal involving Zion Williamson the right move for the Washington Wizards?
While the Wizards were linked to a pair of superstars this week, the headlines surround the latest Zion Williamson speculation after recent reporting from The Athletic pointed to Washington as a long-shot suitor for the former top overall pick and New Orleans Pelicans star.
The report comes less than one month after Washington pulled the trigger on what has proven to be the blockbuster trade of the season with Trae Young headed to the Wizards in exchange for CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert. A possible Williamson acquisition would mark the next stage of the rebuild in what would be as arguably an impactful of a trade as the Young deal, but is it the right time? And is it the right contract? Further details point to a possible trade as maybe more appealing than initially believed.
News also emerged late in December 2023 that the final three years of Williamson's contract were no longer guaranteed after playing in 29 games in 2022-23.
Ben Strober highlighted on the latest episode of Locked On Wizards that of the $85 million remaining over the next two years on his contract is non-guaranteed with a stipulation that Williamson plays in at least 50% of his games to receive 40% of his salary. He also has weight incentives stipulated in his contract where if the sum of his weight and body fat percentage is not below 295, the amount of guaranteed money in his contract can be reduced.
20% guaranteed if he passes six weigh in checkpoints, a clause that also allows Williamson a chance to re-guarantee portions of his salary in both 2026-27 and 2027-28. Those stipulations also call for Williamson to play in at least both 40% and 51% of games for additional guarantees, a testament to the Pelicans' mid-contract maneuvering to protect themselves for unavailability.
Williamson left Wednesday's game against Detroit and was ruled out due to illness after being ruled questionable ahead of tipoff. He's played in 29 games this season - just over 63% of the Pelicans' games through 2025-26 - while matching his rookie average with 22.5 points per game along with 5.8 rebounds on 58.5% shooting from the field.
If the Wizards were to pull the trigger on a Zion Williamson trade, what would that look like? Reports pointed to the Wizards first-round pick that will the least favorable of the Houston Rockets’ (top-four protected), LA Clippers and Oklahoma City Thunder’s 2026 first-round picks as enough draft capital to pair with Khris Middleton, who has remained a continued deadline mover candidate whether via trade or buyout. ESPN's trade analyzer points to zero impact on either team's win total in a Middleton-Williamson trade, but with Washington still focused on retaining its top-eight protected first round pick, analyzing Williamson's impact on this season might not be the best outlook.
How the Wizards move, and how serious the Zion Williamson trade speculation ramps up ahead of the Feb. 5 deadline, remains to be seen with clear interest in the former Duke star. But will it be enough for general manager Will Dawkins to make his second signature move?