Zion Williamson defines how the New Orleans team gets spoiled and basically put all his efforts in causing woes for his team.
One cannot doubt that Zion is talented though the franchise star is accompanied by a long list of injuries and in six years in the NBA, he has never played in the playoffs and has played in only 45% of the team’s games.
Zion played his last game on November 6 before being again listed as a player with a hamstring injury in his left leg.
That absence has created an internal discussion regarding his worth to the franchise and a trade viable option was mentioned.
“There may be a bad team that needs a star. I don’t think he’s going to get a premium pick package, but he’s proven that when he’s healthy, he’s a star.” a Western Conference official said.
However, Zion’s contract with the Pelicans conceals some of his issues, including the injury scar. That’s why it offered him a new contract and agreed to pay him $197 million for the next five years to play in NFL.
While the incentives were tied to the ambitious performance, there are exceptions like having to meet certain requirements as a player, for instance, weight, body fat percentage, and the number of games played.
The Golden State Warriors and Chicago Bulls have lately been linked with Zion, one NBA executive said that San Francisco has pieces like Jonathan Kuminga and the lead in future picks. Another did include Zach LaVine as a possible trade asset but was also sceptical about it.
Meanwhile, the New Orleans team faces a crucial decision. They are keep running their future on Zion as their franchise player or seek for options which might ensure stability for the team.
So the future of Zion remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: There is no clear strategic plan for the Pelicans and time is fast running out to fix it.