Stephen A. believes Smith is an NBA star looking for a trade.
According to the First Take host, Zion Williamson is looking for a way out of New Orleans.
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Williamson has been a member of the New Orleans Pelicans since he was drafted in 2019.
However, Williamson's career has been filled with injuries and other drama.
He only played more than 60 games in a season twice during his six-year career.
So far this season, Williamson has played in just eight of the Pelicans' 40 games.
Despite not having a major impact on the team, Stephen A. Williamson wants to be part of a different franchise.
“Zion doesn’t want to be in New Orleans,” Stephen A. said.
“He doesn't want to be there. He wants to be in a big market like Los Angeles and New York…
“He wants marketing.”
NBA fans were not happy with Stephen A's suggestion and shared their concerns about Williamson's play.
“Stop trying to keep stars away from small markets,” one fan said.
Another fan said: “He doesn't need to be in a big market, he needs to play more.”
“He's already having trouble showing up to practice on time in NOLA, what does he think will happen in LA or New York?” said a third fan.
A fourth fan said: “He's only played 8 games this year. No matter what city he's in, you have to play to be marketable.”
A fifth fan said: “He's good, but not good enough to justify this salary at 26 games a year.”
The NBA trade deadline is still weeks away, so teams have plenty of time to inquire about a potential trade for Williamson.
New rights deal
The NBA has signed an 11-year contract with three networks for the rights to the league starting in the 2025-26 season.
There will be no games on TNT for the first time since the network launched in 1988.
The Walt Disney Company will continue to show the league with 80 regular season games on ESPN and ABC.
They will also feature approximately 18 first- and second-round playoff games, conference finals series for 10 of their 11 years, and will remain the home of the NBA Finals.
NBC will return as NBA broadcaster for the first time since 2002.
The network will show up to 100 games each season across its channels and Peacock streaming service.
It will also be home to the NBA All-Star and showcase approximately 28 first- and second-round playoff games.
NBC will show one conference finals series for six of the 11 years, alternating with new broadcaster Amazon Prime.
Amazon will show 66 NBA regular season games, including Black Friday.
The streaming service is also home to the final stages of the NBA Cup and the entire Play-In Championship.
Prime will also broadcast about a third of the first- and second-round playoff games.
If traded, it must be done before 3pm ET on Thursday, February 6th.
Williamson isn't the only member of his team who could be traded.
Forward Brandon Ingram is also a candidate to be traded at the deadline.
Ingram is in the final season of a five-year, $158.2 million contract with the Pelicans.
The team could move him for some venture capital so they don't lose him for nothing in free agency.
