New Orleans Pelicans executive vice president of basketball operations Joe Dumars wants Zion Williamson to remain with the team for the foreseeable future.
A day after Williamson said he wants to remain a Pelican, Dumars doubled down, saying the feelings are mutual. The former player turned executive turned down any idea of trading Williamson this summer.
“We have no intentions of doing that,” Dumars said. “We are going into the offseason looking forward to Zion coming back next year and playing great again next year.”
The 25-year-old has been the subject of trade rumors this past season. However, that will be far from the case this offseason. The former No. 1 overall pick expressed his love for the franchise and city on Monday.
“I would say they kind of understand that this is where I want to be,” Williamson told reporters. “New Orleans is home for me. I don’t say that because I’m sitting in front of these cameras or I’m talking to y’all. A lot of guys, when the offseason hits, a lot of guys leave the city. I live here. I stay here in the city. I go out, I do different things to try to get to know the city more. Like, this is home for me. I’ve been here since I was 19 years old.
“I do want to be here long-term. As far as extension talks, that’s not anything that can really be brought up at this moment. I think that’s more of a business side of it. If the team wants me here, then yeah, this is where I want to be. Like, this is home. So that’s as far as I can go on that matter.”
Zion Williamson Continues to Flash Star Potential
It’s been a whirlwind of a career for the former Duke Blue Devil. He’s missed a ton of time on the court due to injuries, but this season has been his most durable yet, playing in 62 games.
Nonetheless, it is just his third time in seven NBA seasons where he’s played in at least half of New Orleans’ games.
This past season, Williamson averaged 21.0 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.2 assists in 29.7 minutes.
