The NBA saw the return of one the league’s most talented stars this week, taking to action for the first time this season.
While a lot of talk this season was about Joel Embiid’s battle with load management, two NBA stars got to early January without playing a single game.
Kawhi Leonard made his return for the LA Clippers – days before Zion Williamson made a comeback for the New Orleans Pelicans.
Williamson put in an electrifying 22 point performance – including a spectacular 360 windmill dunk – which may have sparked some extra trade interest in him, demonstrating he is both talented and importantly, fully healthy.
Former NBA star Paul Pierce was among those impressed with Zion Williamson’s performance.
Speaking on the KG Certified podcast, he got thinking about landing spots for the 2019 NBA first overall draft pick.
Pierce exclaimed: “If I’m the Knicks I’m trying to get him right now.”
Asked how exactly the New York Knicks might be able to facilitate a trade for Zion, he suggested giving up one of their starters, Josh Hart.
Pierce said: “They got a lot of cats expendable, they could get rid of Josh Hart, [and] what’s the shooter’s name?”
But then Kevin Garnett pointed that if Pierce could not name the ‘shooter’ he wanted to include in the trade, the New Orleans Pelicans would not bite on a deal like that.
Pierce then conceded that if he was the general manager on the Knicks proposing the trade, he would give it up, admitting: “We ain’t got enough for you all.”
Pierce was impressed with Zion Williamson’s comeback in a losing effort to the Minnesota Timberwolves, and is keen to see him get a fresh start.
After some thought, he settled on a proposed move to the Philadelphia 76ers – to send Joel Embiid in the other direction.
He said: “I’m trying to find a spot for Zion, from what I saw, somebody got to take that chance.”
“I got one… Zion for Joel Embiid, pair him with Maxey.”
The 76ers are not ready to give up on Embiid just yet, who is still a force to be reckoned with when he is on the court.
Embiid would not be enthused about a potential move in the other directions to New Orleans, you would imagine too.
Williamson meanwhile has been suspended for one game by the Pelicans for a ‘violation of team policies’, causing him to miss the game with the 76ers.
Related Topics
