Reporting for The Stein Line and The People’s Insider on Substack, Marc Stein and Jake Fischer wrote the New Orleans Pelicans were open to offers for everyone other than Trey Murphy, Herb Jones and, obviously, Yves Missi. That presumably puts Zion Williamson in play.

Later intel from ESPN’s Tim MacMahon and Bobby Marks disputed this notion. But the Pelicans have nothing if not entered consider-almost-everything territory. After many failed to form a healthy-enough contender around him, the promise of another high draft pick this year could prompt them to flip his contracts (and non-guarantees) for as much first-round and prospect equity as they can get.

Absent a tentpole of the future already in place, the Utah Jazz could decide to roll the dice on Zion’s health and upside and absurdly good fit with Lauri Markkanen. He shouldn’t impact this year’s lottery odds much, if at all, and the chance to bag someone boasting his conceptual peak without including elite draft picks is arguably can’t-miss.

That’s especially true when you have first-rounders to spare. The Jazz have those in ample supply even after their three-for-one trade with the Phoenix Suns, along with digestible matching salary to send New Orleans’ way.