Zion partnered with Harden? The Rockets, Clippers and Pelicans are planning a three-party deal?

After the Clippers were eliminated by the Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs, the proposal to introduce a third superstar has been put on the table. Zubac has made obvious progress, but he is a blue-collar center after all, and cannot attract defensive firepower; Powell has rich offensive methods, but he is easily targeted by the opponent on the defensive end; Derek Jones Jr. is a high-quality 3D, but does not have the ability to attack independently. No one can really share the pressure for Leonard and Harden. This is the key to the Clippers' difficulty in the playoffs. Even if they can defeat the Nuggets in the tiebreak and pass the first round of the playoffs, it will be difficult to reach the championship moment. The physical fitness problems caused by Harden's excessive consumption and the fragile knees of Kat are the main factors that restrict the Clippers' continued progress, and head coach Tyron Lu has to bear this risk.

Recently, the US media "Fadeaway World" suggested that the Clippers management bet on the Pelicans star Zion during the offseason this summer. Because of the injury caused by excessive weight, the Pelicans management was worried about his health. In addition, the Pelicans' poor record this season, Ingram has been sent to Toronto, and the team has no hope of winning the NBA championship. So the boss Tom Benson made a noise that the Pelicans have no non-sale products, and as long as the price is reasonable, anyone can use it to trade. The media provided a three-party trading offer to the Clippers, Rockets and Pelicans. The specific trading plan is:

1. The Clippers gave Norman Powell + Bogdan Bogdanovic + Zion Williamson in the first round of the Clippers in 2031;

2. The Rockets gave Cameron Whitmore + Jock Randale + Aaron Holiday + the 10th pick in the first round of the 2025;

3. The Pelicans gave Zion Williamson got Bogdan Bogdanovic + Cameron Whitmore + Jock Randale + Aaron Holiday + 2 future first round picks.

Zion is also at risk of injury, but his talent and ability are worthy of the Clippers' bold attempt. As the first post-00s player to be selected into the All-Star lineup, his physical condition is impressive. Even the strongest inside player in the league, he does not have any advantage in the confrontation with Zion. This season, he contributed 24.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.2 steals per game, and his shooting percentage was 56.7%. Zion's blasting ability happens to be the trait needed by the Clippers. He plays unreasonablely, often away from the tactical system and is good at launching attacks independently. These can all play a role in disrupting the opponent.

The Rockets management has a long-standing interest in Powell. He is a shooting guard with a style of play similar to that of Lloyd (the Rockets once had the best sixth man). He has superb three-point shooting skills and diverse scoring methods. During the rest of Leonard's injury, he supported the Clippers' offense with Harden, and averaged 21.8 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game, and his three-point shooting percentage is as high as 42%. The Rockets' mid- and long-distance shooting performance this season is not good, and Powell is expected to become the offensive core of the Rockets' second team. When Jaylen Green is in poor form, he can also top the starting position. The Pelicans rank second to last in the West this season, and Zion is unable to lead the team to the playoffs, so it is natural to be abandoned. The two precious first-round picks and the talented White Devils meet the trading expectations of the Pelicans management.

All views refer to authoritative American media and are for reference only. Click to follow and recommend fans first.