The New Orleans Pelicans made a big splash ahead of the 2022 NBA trade deadline, acquiring CJ McCollum and Larry Nance Jr. from the Portland Trail Blazers. David Griffin is hopeful that the move will help push the Pelicans toward a playoff spot.
New Orleans is currently only two games out of a spot in the NBA Play-In Tournament, tied with the San Antonio Spurs and trailing the aforementioned Trail Blazers. Adding those two players to a group including Brandon Ingram, Jonas Valanciunas, Devonte’ Graham and Herb Jones should give the Pelicans a chance to make some noise at the end of the season.
Curiously missing from that group is their star player, Zion Williamson. He underwent surgery on his foot in the offseason and there was some optimism that he would be back for opening night. Maybe they meant opening night for the 2022-23 season because he is nowhere to be seen.
Williamson ramped up his rehab at the end of November but felt some soreness, so they scaled things back. He received an injection in the foot, but that hasn’t seemed to help either as there still isn’t a timetable for him to return.
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There have been plenty of rumors that Williamson is angling to leave the New Orleans Pelicans and play in a bigger market. He was recently named one of the next All-Stars that could be on the move. While he and the team have denied that, his behavior says otherwise.
McCollum revealed that he still hasn’t talked to Williamson since being acquired by the Pelicans about two weeks ago. Williamson is away from the team with his injury, but reaching out with a phone call or text message isn’t a very difficult thing to do.
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How he has handled that led to JJ Redick tearing into him on a recent appearance on ESPN’s First Take. Redick, who played parts of two seasons with the New Orleans Pelicans, said this isn’t anything new for Zion Williamson.
Redick certainly didn’t hold back, and he makes some valid points. When a team acquires new players, you want to make them feel as welcome as possible as it will be an adjustment for everyone. It would have gone a long way for Williamson, who is considered the face of the franchise, to reach out to McCollum and welcome him.
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The lack of investment into the franchise, as JJ Redick put it, is certainly concerning. It is hard enough to get players to want to play in New Orleans as it is. If their best player isn’t even going to try and sell people on it, things become that much tougher.
Zion Williamson gets the slightest bit of slack cut because he is injured and away from the team, but to be detached at the level that he seemingly is, is unacceptable.
