Zion Williamson might be sticking around The Big Easy.
Despite trade rumors, NBA insider Chris Haynes reported Friday that the Pelicans are informing other teams that the 2019 No. 1 overall pick “will remain with the organization” through the trade deadline.
In addition to Williamson, New Orleans is also saying it will hold onto Trey Murphy, Herb Jones, Derik Queen and Jeremiah Fears through Feb. 5, per Haynes.
With few teams looking to sell, the Pelicans are “disappointing the market,” Haynes added, by holding onto their talented stable of trade assets.
The news comes amid yet another disappointing season for the Pelicans and Williamson.
Heading into Friday’s play, the Pelicans sit at 8-31, which is the worst record in the Western Conference and second-worst record in the league.
Making matters worse, the Pelicans don’t own their first-round pick this year, having traded it away to the Hawks to move up in last June’s draft to select Queen.
Williamson has been limited to just 23 games with a hamstring injury and later an adductor strain, adding to the long list of injuries he’s sustained during his NBA career.
He’s played in just 237 regular season games since being drafted by New Orleans nearly eight years ago.
When on the court this season, Williamson has looked like himself, averaging near career averages with 22.4 points and 5.9 rebounds per game on 56.2 percent shooting in 28.8 minutes a contest.
With his disappointing tenure in New Orleans dragging on, Williamson has repeatedly found himself in trade rumors, including before last season’s deadline, when the Pelicans instead opted to trade away longtime running mate Brandon Ingram.
