Zion Williamson appeared to be fully healed from a bruised knee during a promotional appearance today in Harlem, according to Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News. The first pick in this year’s draft performed two acrobatic dunks during the 15-minute session, delighting the crowd and a few fortunate youngsters who will appear alongside him in an ad for Air Jordans.
Williamson has been out of the spotlight since concerns about his knee ended his Summer League stint after one half. However, the Pelicans called it minor at the time, and Bondy said he looked to be 100% today as he soared to the hoop.
There’s more from New Orleans:
- During his appearance this week on teammate Josh Hart‘s LightHarted Podcast, Lonzo Ball said he is looking forward to teaming with Jrue Holiday in the Pelicans’ backcourt (hat tip to Christian Rivas of Lonzo Wire). Ball and Holiday both finished in the top 10 in Defensive Real Plus-Minus rating last season, and both were among the top five in 2017/18. “Jrue is one of the most underrated players, in my opinion; I can’t wait to play with him on both sides of the court,” Ball said. “That’s going to be a lot of fun.”
- Although the Pelicans could use another veteran presence, it’s unlikely that they’ll be the team to sign Joe Johnson, writes William Guillory of The Athletic. New Orleans already has 18 players under contract, including both two-way slots, plus reported deals with Jalen Adams, Javon Bess and Aubrey Dawkins. The team may get a Disabled Player Exception in the wake on an injury to Darius Miller, but Guillory expects his playing time to go to somebody already on the roster, such as Kenrich Williams or Nicolo Melli.
- The Pelicans told Williamson and fellow rookie big man Jaxson Hayes to be careful about bulking up over the offseason, Guillory adds in the same piece. The organization believes both players, who are still only 19, may grow a few more inches and they don’t want extra weight to make them more susceptible to injuries in the future.
Is there a Defensive Fake Plus Minus?
Why do they keep thinking that anyone is going to waste a roster spot on Iso Joe? Give it up! The Pelicans don’t need him to make the playoffs, I think their chances are much better than the Mavs.
Losing Anthony Davis isn’t nearly as devastating for New Orleans as people seem to think. They act like AD has a vastly superior supporting cast in LA, but that’s a load of crap. He had plenty of talent around him with the Pelicans and failed to make the playoffs almost every year he was there. The future is much brighter for Zion in the Big Easy then it is for AD in LA, although he’ll probably go elsewhere in 2020.
I don’t think people think the Pels are devastated. I don’t recall anyone saying that given the package they got, their new management and the lack of playoff success in the AD era. Your big idea is a common one. And your obsession over AD leaving next year is boring.
He’s a toll who can’t live life knowing the Rockets suck. Let him be. It’s actually entertaining.