Prior to the 2019 NBA Draft, it seemed like it was only a matter of time before Zion Williamson became a superstar, but four years later, that clearly hasn’t happened so far in his NBA career. Zion only played 114 out of 308 games for the New Orleans Pelicans over that span, and it’s fair to wonder if he’ll ever live up to his incredible potential.
We saw how good he could be over those 114 games, but the Pelicans simply couldn’t count on him. As a result, the Pelicans are reportedly open to trading him in an effort to move up the NBA draft in hopes of selecting Scoot Henderson second overall.
Is Zion’s time over with the pelicans?
This sudden development casts doubt on one of the most talented young teams in the NBA. Two seasons ago, the Pelicans managed to sneak into the playoffs without Zion, which has raised expectations for the 2022–23 season. They got off to a good start thanks in part to Zion’s play, but the Pelican year started to derail once it started losing time. In fact, he did not play a game after January 2, which resulted in the Pelicans missing the playoffs altogether.
Even then, it seemed likely that the Pelicans would give it another season before considering moving Zion. Instead, they appear to be open to former comprehensive first-choice offers.
It comes as a report of his non-existent connection to the team and his teammates paint a picture of a player who seems unlikely to play in New Orleans long-term.
Veteran Pelican guard CJ McCollum hinted at the rift between Zion and the franchise. “Your cap is unlike anything the NBA has ever seen. But it’s up to you to take full advantage of anything. I can’t wish that for you…so it’s up to you to decide what that looks like.”
Things can always turn around; The Pelicans may choose not to trade Zion while he’s still young enough to put his injury history behind him and help the team win. That remains to be seen, but recent developments indicate that New Orleans doesn’t have much confidence that he will be their franchise player in the future.