Pelicans Keeping Zion Williamson Through Trade Deadline

Merlin sees the Pelicans telling the league they plan to keep Zion Williamson along with Trey Murphy III, Herb Jones, Derik Queen and Jeremiah Fears past the 2026 trade deadline. New Orleans sits 8-31 and last in the West, yet the message to other teams is clear: the front office prefers holding its core instead of engineering a midseason fire sale. Merlin senses a strategic choice. Keeping the pieces preserves trade value and gives the roster a chance to gel, but it also risks extending a painful stretch for fans. This looks like a patience play by management: protect the blueprint now and hope internal fixes or development change the club’s course.