CJ McCollum has been with the Pelicans for nearly two weeks, but he still hasn’t talked to injured star Zion Williamson, writes Christian Clark of NOLA.com. McCollum, who was acquired from the Trail Blazers in a February 8 trade, shared the surprising news Saturday in an interview with TNT.
“He’s a big part of our future, obviously,” McCollum said of Williamson. “We’re looking forward to getting him back. I haven’t had conversations with him directly. I’ve spoken to people close to him. I look forward to sitting down with him sooner than later. I know about as much as you do right now. But I’m going to get to the bottom of it.”
There has been an air of mystery surrounding Williamson ever since the start of training camp. The Pelicans announced on Media Day that he suffered a fracture in his right foot over the summer, but suggested he was expected to be ready for the start of the season. He has encountered repeated setbacks since then and has been working with a personal trainer in Oregon since January.
McCollum, who consulted with Portland’s front office on the trade, said he’s looking forward to playing alongside Williamson, no matter when it happens.
“The way he scores around the basket is exceptional — 60, 65%, essentially,” McCollum said. “He demands double-teams. He gets to the free-throw line. He gets you into the bonus early. And he gets out in transition as well. So it’s a guy who can do a lot of different things with the basketball and changes the game for everyone around him.”
There’s more from New Orleans:
- The Pelicans made the move for McCollum with the understanding that Williamson may not return this season, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said this week in an appearance on “Get Up!” (hat tip to James Herbert of CBS Sports). Although the team hopes to reach the play-in tournament, the addition of McCollum is targeted toward improving next season.
- One of the first things Willie Green had to do when he became the Pelicans’ head coach last summer was rebuild the morale of the team, Clark adds in a separate story. Josh Hart, who was sent to Portland in the McCollum trade, said he “hated playing basketball” under former coach Stan Van Gundy last season, but Green quickly turned that around. “Willie (had) all the trust in me to go out there and play my game and play with confidence,” Hart said. “I think that’s the biggest thing that we talked about. It wasn’t just standing in the corner and hoping and praying for the ball.”
- The Pelicans’ chances of reaching the play-in tournament may depend on the success of a lineup change that Green made in the final game before the All-Star break, per William Guillory of The Athletic. Green inserted Jaxson Hayes into the starting unit in place of Devonte’ Graham, hoping Graham will find his shooting touch as a member of the second unit.
I think a lot players have the same sentiment as Hart on playing for SVG.
Yeah, he was actually perfect for Dwight Howard. Just play inside out, surround your dominant big with outside shooters, get the ball down low, and let the wings and PG stand around the 3pt line waiting to catch and shoot if Howard got doubled and passed them the ball..
That lack of movement and stagnant offense doesn’t work in today’s NBA. Today’s NBA is ALL about movement, getting multiple players touches per possession, working the ball side to side, and pick n rolls..
Even alot of the pure iso players are becoming less ajd less efficient and as a result less ajd less effective..
He wasn’t perfect for Dwight at all. SVG coached Dwight when he was a top5 player in the league. Dwight should have gotten way more touches down low in those days. Him not being featured enough offensively by SVG is a huge part of the reason he wanted to go elsewhere.
I don’t think that is true at all. SVG actually had a pretty modern offensive scheme for Dwight and Orlando. Way before it became the normal thing he essentially had Dwight as the big guy down low surrounded by shooters. He also was never a great post guy. He was no Hakeem or Shaq or Embiid. In fact, in places like Houston where he started demanding post touches it was never to the benefit of what was best for the team.
Why would McCollum and Zion not speak in 2 weeks? Is it that hard to pick up the phone?
It’s likely he is away from the team Rehabbing and CJ hasn’t called him while he’s trying to get adjusted to a new team and relocate for the first time in his career. My only assumption.
I understand that and agree to an extent. But think about it in his situation. At the very least don’t you shoot him a text message or even a simple 5 minute call saying basically welcome to the team, glad to have you, can’t wait to play with you once I’m back.
Zion will be an Atlanta Hawk by the 2023 trade deadline & possibly much earlier. Collins, Jalen Johnson & our 2023 1st to NO for Zion & Nance Jr could be a nice off-season deal for everyone involved… tho tbh I’d love for the Hawks to do everything possible to keep Jalen out of any trades unless absolutely necessary
If Zion is healthy why would the pelicans trade him until year 7 the earliest. If Zion is not healthy why would hawks trade for him.
I think Zion has been healthy all season, just pushing for a trade!
Hope he goes in the summer & we can enjoy ASAP!
Pelicans need to trade Zion.
They have a solid core and don’t need a superstar return, they also don’t need a bunch of young players cause they already have that.
Hawks could be an option with John Collins, Knicks will definitely try which likely means Randle and bits.
I like the Knicks idea.
I’d take Zion, Temple and Kira Lewis for Randle, Quickly and 2 first round picks and 3 second rounders.
Pelicans
1. Graham. Alvarado
2. McCollum. Quickly
3. Ingram. Jones
4. Randle. Nance
5. Big V. Hayes
Knicks
1. Kemba. DRose
2. Fouriner. Reddish
3. Barrett. Burks/Temple
4. Zion. Toppin
5. Noel. Robinson
Knicks probably then look to flip Fouriner, and upgrade at point and centre