The New Orleans Pelicans faithful were ecstatic Tuesday night after learning they had the rights to the No. 1 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, or to reveal the elephant in the room, Zion Williamson.
The question is: Does Zion want to play in New Orleans?
If body language is an indicator, one can’t be too sure.
Here's Zion's reaction when the Pelicans won the No. 1 pick ? pic.twitter.com/RdPCL1eJ59
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 15, 2019
ESPN reported that Williamson was “quickly whisked out of the room” after it was announced that the Pelicans were the big winners. Sources said the Duke star was “rooting to go to New York,” according to Marc J. Spears.
Zion Williamson was QUICKLY whisked out of the room after Pelicans were announced the winner of the draft lottery. Source said the former Duke star was rooting to go to New York, but now is going to New Orleans.
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpearsESPN) May 15, 2019
New Orleans media seem to be convinced that the phenom will be drafted by the Pelicans.
HOLY ZION! The New Orleans Pelicans have won the NBA draft lottery and the right to select the Duke superstar. Today’s Times-Picayune sports section cover. ?? pic.twitter.com/fyoJlQFrWG
— PelicansHoops (@PelicansHoops) May 15, 2019
And the fans seem to be sold on it, too. It’s been reported that they’ve literally bought-in.
The Pelicans, I'm told, have sold in the neighborhood of 3,000 season-ticket packages for next season in the wake of winning last night's NBA lottery and the chance to draft Zion Williamson No. 1 overall
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) May 15, 2019
Not so fast. Zion has yet to select an agent, which means if he doesn’t like where he’s headed, he can opt to return to Duke.
.@WindhorstESPN explains the unlikely, yet real possibility of Zion returning to Duke instead of entering the NBA. pic.twitter.com/eYcQUUIShz
— ESPN (@espn) May 15, 2019
@WeberStateFan Would be one hell of a ballsy move to not only delay free agency by a year, but to pass up the $15m+ he’d make next year to instead go play somewhere for free.
— Henry Williams (@HenryWilliams74) May 15, 2019
Also there’s the whole Anthony Davis debacle. Does the superstar big man want a chance to play with one of the most highly-touted draft prospects since LeBron James and, well — him?
Davis reportedly still wants out.
If I'm Zion, I'm staying at Duke. You just saw the @PelicansNBA waste 7 years of AD, you really want to be irrelevant right out the gates of your career? Unless he can go Eli and demand a trade on draft day.
— 31 Savage (@AaronTheEra) May 15, 2019
Two wildest #1 pick scenarios: Lakers trade LeBron and the #4 pick to the Pelicans for the #1 pick. LeBron and AD team up in New Orleans under Gentry and Griffin, Zion plays in LA as homegrown Laker OR Zion returns to Duke to avoid New Orleans and chases a title for Coach K.
— Tate (@tatefrazier) May 15, 2019
