In Metairie, Louisiana, the New Orleans Pelicans are reaffirming their commitment to Zion Williamson, a player who has faced numerous injury challenges during his career. The Pelicans’ recent decision to trade away Brandon Ingram, a high-scoring wing, to Toronto while retaining Williamson indicates their belief in his potential as a foundational player moving forward.
David Griffin, the head of basketball operations for the Pelicans, emphasized this point during a recent press conference following the trade. He stated, “If you take just his body of work this year, what he’s done for us when he’s been healthy, he’s taking steps every day and he’s grown by leaps and bounds, both on the court and off. The player he is now is better than he’s ever been.” Griffin’s comments highlight the progress Williamson has made despite ongoing concerns about his health.
Since making his debut in January 2020, Williamson, who stands at 6-foot-6 and weighs 284 pounds, has showcased a unique combination of athleticism, power, and skill. This season, he has averaged 23.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 4.9 assists across 17 games. However, he has also missed a significant portion of the season, primarily due to a hamstring injury that sidelined him for 36 games.
Concerns regarding Williamson’s future largely revolve around his health, maturity, and dedication to the game. There have been moments in his career where he struggled with maintaining his weight and conditioning, and incidents such as a one-game suspension for arriving late to a team flight have raised questions about his commitment. Notably, he has been absent for 243 of 444 regular-season games since being selected first overall in the 2019 draft.
Griffin further noted that Williamson is beginning to step into a leadership role, saying, “He’s doing things he’s never done before, and he’s much more vocal than he’s ever been. … He’s embracing the opportunity he has to seize this team.”
The Pelicans’ medical staff has faced scrutiny due to the team’s struggles with injuries that have impacted all five starters for significant periods. Griffin defended the team’s medical decisions, stating that many of the injuries were unpredictable and unavoidable. Brandon Ingram, who was traded, only played 18 games this season due to an ankle injury, while top defensive player Herb Jones has been limited to just 20 games due to a shoulder issue.
Other key players, including Dejounte Murray, also faced injury setbacks, complicating the Pelicans’ roster situation. Griffin reflected on the challenges: “It’s been almost an unimaginable cascade effect of things that have happened to us this year,” highlighting the 29 different starting lineups the team has utilized this season.
Moving forward, Griffin expressed a need for the Pelicans to develop a more consistently available roster, acknowledging previous failings in this area. Although Griffin envisioned a successful pairing of Williamson and Ingram, the reality is that they have played together in only 34% of their games over the past five seasons. This lack of availability and the financial implications led to the tough decision to trade Ingram.
The trade has brought the Pelicans seasoned veterans, Bruce Brown and Kelly Olynyk, into the fold. While Brown has an expiring contract and Olynyk has one more season left, Griffin affirmed that both players were viewed as long-term assets for the organization, emphasizing their potential role in helping to mature the team’s young roster.
“We hope, as the season unfolds, they grow to feel the same about us,” Griffin concluded, indicating a clear intent for a collaborative future with these new additions.
