Pelicans' Zion Williamson could have a second foot operation.
The Pelicans' could be without their star player for even more time, after reports suggested that Zion Williamson may need another operation.
It's been a long road that the Pelicans star has had to travel. Unfortunately it seems there is still quite a bit of distance to go.
Zion Williamson may need surgery...again.
According to reports, Zion Williamson may require a second operation on his foot. The Pelicans' star hasn't played a single game this season and though the Pelicans have remained largely silent about his condition and progress, it now seems that he is in fact set to be out for a considerable period of time. Adding further wait to that reality were the words of Pelicans VP David Griffin, who said a week ago that Williamson "continues to progress well, anecdotally at least." Griffin also explained that an update would come after more imaging was done.
The Pelicans of course have been operating with the assumption that Williamson will not play any time soon, such that they have made moves in the trade market to compensate. On Thursday, ESPN's Brian Windhorst highlighted this fact. "A couple of weeks ago, the coaching staff and the players became aware not to expect Zion back for the foreseeable future. So when they entered the trade deadline and made the big move for CJ McCollum, they did that knowing that there was a good chance Zion wasn't going to be able to play in the short term and maybe the rest of the season."
CJ McCollum to the rescue?
In what has been called a 'win-now' move, the Pelicans signed McCollum, Larry Nance Jr. and Tony Snell from the Portland Trail Blazers last week. Going in the opposite direction were Josh Hart and a first-round pick. While doubts have been raised about the deal, especially considering that Nance is due for surgery - Griffin confirmed this - the reality is the Pelicans have their eyes set on a playoff spot. The hope is that McCollum along with Brandon Ingram, Herb Jones and Jonas Valanciunas will form a solid base with good chemistry that can then in turn be used as a launchpad by Williamson should he return.
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Where the franchise itself is concerned, New Orleans currently have a record of 23-36 and sit at 12th in the Western Conference following Thursday's 125-118 loss to the Dallas Mavericks. The Pelicans are 1 1/2 games behind the Blazers for the final play-in spot. The one consolation that the Pelicans can take is that the Blazers are also without their franchise player, Damian Lillard, however, having won four straight games, the wiggle room that the Pelicans have is decreasing quickly.