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The restart of the 2019-20 NBA season is merely days away and the New Orleans Pelicans have some clutch decisions to make, depending on when they get their star rookie Zion Williamson back on the court.
Even if the 20-year-old, who recently left the bubble due to a family emergency, returns in time to play in the first game of the restart (July 30 vs. Utah Jazz), the Pelicans will have to prioritize his health over making the playoffs out West.
According to William Guillory of The Athletic, the Pelicans will make Williamson's health their “top priority” throughout this stretch, possibly putting the outside chance of cracking the playoffs on the backburner.
The Pelicans could use making the playoffs and facing a tough team like the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round, but they won't do so at the expense of grinding Zion to a pulp.
The rookie has been working on his fitness during this long layoff, according to Guillory:
“Zion looks like he’s moving around really well in the videos we’ve seen of him at practice, and I’ve heard from a few people that he put in some serious work during the shutdown to get himself back right.”
Yet there's also the concern of his recent leg cramps during practice, which has been a talking point briefly after he left the bubble to tend to private matters.
All in all, the Pels will go as far as Zion Williamson can take them, but a minutes restriction wouldn't be out of the circle of thought, considering the long layoff players have had since the NBA came to a halt on March 11.
Making the playoffs in the first year of a rebuild is quite the achievement, but not one worth the future of a generational talent like Williamson is.
