Pelicans forward Zion Williamson has officially rejoined the team, having been spotted today at New Orleans’ shootaround, as Andrew Lopez of ESPN tweets.
Reports last week indicated that Williamson would be returning to New Orleans after spending much of the winter rehabbing his foot injury on the West Coast. The former No. 1 overall pick moved his rehab to Portland in early January.
Williamson’s return to the Pelicans doesn’t necessarily mean his return his imminent, but his recovery from foot surgery is believed to be trending in a positive direction again following a couple setbacks earlier in the season. If he’s able to play before the regular season ends, it would make the Pels all the more dangerous entering next month’s play-in tournament.
“It’s good. It’s good for him,” Pelicans guard Devonte’ Graham said on Friday (Twitter link via Christian Clark of NOLA.com). “I know he missed being here. Just being around your family, your brothers. It was a warm welcome when he came back. Just want to see him healthy. That’s all.”
Here’s more on the Pelicans:
- In a Hoop Collective segment (video link), ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, Tim Bontemps, and Tim MacMahon debate whether the Pelicans are more likely to extend, trade, or stay the course with Williamson during the 2022 offseason.
- With Williamson sidelined for the entire season, Brandon Ingram has taken on more responsibilities in 2021/22, making an effort to be more of a leader despite having a quieter, more reserved personality, writes Will Guillory of The Athletic. “We just have a really good group of guys, and we all care for each other. We all want to see each other at our best,” Ingram said. “I just try to share my experiences to help those guys and let them know I’m there for them when they need me. It’s also good for me when I go up to those guys and tell them what I see, because it helps me get out of my own head. Once I do that, it’s easier to focus on the moment and play the game the right way.”
- Ingram’s teammates have been impressed by what they’ve seen from him this season, as Guillory details in the same story. “He’s just growing up in this role. He’s more locked in,” Naji Marshall told The Athletic. “Not saying that he wasn’t last year, but I feel like this year, he’s taking it personal. Whether it’s not getting the recognition from people or not making All-Star, he’s taking it all personal. It’s showing on and off the court. You can’t question how special that dude is.”
- As an undrafted free agent on a two-way contract, rookie guard Jose Alvarado wasn’t expected to play a major role for the Pelicans this season, but he has exceeded all expectations and leads first-year players in plus-minus, says Christian Clark of NOLA.com. The Pelicans have a +12.4 net rating when Alvarado plays, compared to -4.6 when he sits.
- In case you missed it, the Pelicans are set to sign Tyrone Wallace to a 10-day contract after placing CJ McCollum in the health and safety protocols. Alize Johnson currently occupies the club’s 15th roster spot on a 10-day deal that will expire tonight — New Orleans could re-sign him and add Wallace by completing one of the signings using the COVID-related hardship allowance, as ESPN’s Bobby Marks tweets.
If I had to rank vocal team leader of the pelicans I would have put Ingram ahead of Zion before this season too. Zion acts shy sometimes comes across as a kid personality.
Pretty sure that’s why McCollum is going to take them further.
Zion has the personality of a kid? This is just shocking. Who could’ve known??
BI will be a starter on the next US Olympic men’s bball squad. You heard it here 1st. And what a squad that should be. 2+yrs out I got Trae/Ja/Book/BI/AD/Steph/Ant/Spida/Tatum/KD/Zion/Bam.. my boy Jose is a straight up baller. He just makes winning plays & has a Muggsy/Avery Johnson type knack for getting steals. He’s gonna be a difference maker in the playoffs for NO, similar to how Greg Anthony was in his rookie season for the Knicks.
I don’t know if I agree
Well think about it & get back to me
link to twitter.com
If this is real. He looks good. That’s a good sign for NO.
Yeah, he just has to get back in game shape, play a few games to end the season on a positive note, and then start his comeback, revenge tour for all his doubters for next season.
This off-season is paramount for Zion, and if he comes back healthy and in alot better shape, then Zion alongside Ingram, CJ, Jones, Hayes, Lewis Jr., Graham, Nance Jr., Murphy, and Valunciunas would be a very solid 9-man rotation.
Even so, I really think the Pelicans and Griffin can attack the off-season making some upgrades, and they can improve the overall level of talent and depth for this team to instantly turn them into a perennial playoff contender moving forward.
By that, I don’t mean sneaking into the play-in tournament. I mean, if they make the right moves, with Zion, and their core they could boost themselves up the West rankings into about the 4th-5th seed..
That might take alot of things going for the Pels, but I don’t think they’re as far off as some tend to think..
Jose Alvarado leading rooks in plus minus
Impact player out of GaTech