Zion Williamson Articles - Page 2

With the playoffs out of reach and the season’s final chapters being written, Zion Williamson’s roughed-up New Orleans Pelicans are not looking to reinvent the wheel. Interim head coach James Borrego just wants to keep this project on track to show some progress before the 82nd game. Data points matter more than anything for the […]

In today’s NBA, offenses have reached unprecedented levels of sophistication. Teams average more points than ever before, utilizing complex schemes involving constant movement, deadly three-point shooting, and spacing that stretches defenses to their breaking point. Zion Williamson’s prideful New Orleans Pelicans are losing ground just trying to keep up. That is why James Borrego is […]

Armed with one of the league’s most potent engines, James Borrego’s busted-up New Orleans Pelicans are undergoing a fundamental and deliberate shift. Zion Williamson’s offensive ceiling has never been in doubt; it’s through the All-NBA roof statistically. However, the problem has been building a sustainable defensive ecosystem around a roster anchored by a high-usage, downhill […]

All indications point to the New Orleans Pelicans standing pat at the trade deadline, refusing to deal key players such as Zion Williamson and Trey Murphy III, among others, for draft capital. The Pelicans are believed to fully bought in on this roster, that a clean bill of health moving forward means more competitive basketball. […]

By any objective measure, James Borrego’s proud New Orleans Pelicans entered the NBA trade deadline in a position of maximum volatility. Sitting 10 games out of the last postseason spot, armed with multiple movable contracts and several rotation-caliber starters on team-friendly deals, Joe Dumars has plenty of incentives and opportunities to reshape the roster. Instead, […]

Availability has long been the variable that clouds Zion Williamson’s ceiling. Thankfully, the two-time All-Star has been clocking in and stepping up a lot more often lately. James Borrego believes that speaks to something far beyond the box scores. As the stuck-in-place New Orleans Pelicans prepared for LaMelo Ball’s Charlotte Hornets, which was adjusted to […]

The New Orleans Pelicans are caught between talent and fear. They now stare into the most dangerous place an NBA franchise can occupy: the middle ground between potential and reality. As the February 5 trade deadline approaches, New Orleans finds itself armed with elite talent. They are, however, boxed in by draft obligations, looming contracts, […]

The New Orleans Pelicans do not plan on reinventing anything ahead of Friday night’s rematch against the short-handed Memphis Grizzlies. Interim head coach James Borrego is betting continuity matters more than counterpunching when it comes to supporting Zion Williamson and Trey Murphy III. Saddiq Bey, Derik Queen, and Herb Jones have delivered improved starts and […]

The clock is ticking for the New Orleans Pelicans to make a move, as the trade deadline is quickly approaching. The Pelicans are already rumored to be shopping around Zion Williamson, Trey Murphy III, and Herb Jones. But as of writing, the Pelicans have stayed pat, perhaps awaiting what the other teams will do, especially […]

When he’s healthy, New Orleans Pelicans star forward Zion Williamson can be pretty unstoppable on the court. Even San Antonio Spurs unicorn Victor Wembanyama was not able to do much against the former Duke Blue Devils star during one moment in Sunday night’s game at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio. Early in the second […]

The New Orleans Pelicans are currently last in the NBA’s Western Conference with an 11-36 record, potentially looking towards another rebuild following the last few seasons of disappointment. Franchise star Zion Williamson has been doing everything he can to help bring New Orleans back to basketball prominence, but his journey may look a little different […]

The New Orleans Pelicans currently have the worst record in the NBA, and without their first-round pick, it’s hard for them to try to sell before the trade deadline. At the same time, they could get some picks in return for some of the players on their team, the main one being Zion Williamson. Over […]

Defensive transformations do not happen overnight in sports, nor should a team’s success hinge on just one player. So, sure, Herb Jones has been out. Schematic overhauls or complex adjustments were not in the cards even as Zion Williamson’s New Orleans Pelicans continue to languish in the Western Conference basement. Interim head coach James Borrego […]

New Orleans Pelicans star forward Zion Williamson ultimately couldn’t finish Wednesday night’s game against the visiting Detroit Pistons. The Pelicans have announced that the former Duke Blue Devils star is done for the rest of the evening because of an illness. “Zion Williamson (illness) will not return to tonight’s game vs. Detroit,” New Orleans shared […]

The New Orleans Pelicans come into their matchup against the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday looking to snap a two-game losing streak. But they might have to do so while being short-handed. Pelicans star forward Zion Williamson appeared on the team’s injury report while Herb Jones was already questionable. Zion Williamson was officially listed as questionable […]

The NBA Trade Deadline is approaching rapidly on Feb. 5. As a result, talks appear to be intensifying between the Chicago Bulls and New Orleans Pelicans, specifically, about the future of Zion Williamson. This week, it was reported that talks involve both Williamson and center Yves Misi, per Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times. Bulls’ […]

The Washington Wizards already bought low on polarizing point guard Trae Young, so could they do the same with oft-injured New Orleans big man Zion Williamson? It appears to be a possibility. Since acquiring Young, a 27-year-old, four-time All-Star whose effort, playstyle, and impact have long been questioned, for the relatively low price of Corey […]

Zion Williamson’s injury-plagued New Orleans Pelicans are staggering through the season, firmly entrenched at the bottom of the Western Conference. James Borrego, elevated from assistant on November 15 after Willie Green’s firing amid a 2-10 start, has gone 8-25, hardly a righting of the ship record-wise. Tasked with staying NBA Play-In competitive, the interim head […]

In the modern NBA, the trade deadline and the weeks leading up to it are filled with tons of moves, both big and small. If a player hears his name pop up in trade rumors, it is incredibly likely that he will, in fact, be dealt. Take Trae Young, for example. The point guard was […]

A temptation to demolish everything is understandable for a new front office inheriting a roster stuck between Zion Williamson’s injury timelines, win-now expectations, and the NBA’s unforgiving middle. However, a full teardown centered solely on Trey Murphy III is neither realistic nor advisable for the stuck-in-place New Orleans Pelicans. The notion of stripping to the […]

It is not preposterous to imagine New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson having a list of people he wants to dunk on posted on his bedroom wall, reviewing it intently before every game. Brooklyn Nets center Nic Claxton was probably on the list. On Wednesday, Williamson decided that he would suck the soul out of […]

Last place has a way of stripping away illusions before the NBA Trade Deadline, and for the voodoo-hexed New Orleans Pelicans, the core questions are glaring. Zion Williamson was supposed to be the closer, the gravitational force who bent late-game possessions to his will. Trey Murphy III has surged into an All-Star-level role, providing spacing […]

Tough lessons come quickly and often in the NBA. Unfortunately for the fans, the last-placed looking-for-answers New Orleans Pelicans have learned, sometimes painfully, that their margin for error shrinks dramatically when Herb Jones is not on the floor. It is not simply about losing one of the NBA’s elite perimeter defenders. It is about losing […]

For the first time in his career, Zion Williamson is playing without looking over his shoulder. There is no minutes restriction, no looming medical check-in, just the game’s natural flow and his own stamina dictating his time on the court. That newfound freedom is the foundation for everything else unfolding for the regrouping New Orleans […]

It’s that time of the season. No, not trade rumor whispers. Zion Williamson’s New Orleans Pelicans are publicly stumping for a group of his youngest teammates, firmly believing a trio of rookies deserves NBA Rising Stars honors. Sure, Derik Queen and Jeremiah Fears have given fans plenty of hope for the future. Everyone knows they’ll […]

The wildly optimistic New Orleans Pelicans have spent years searching for the right on-court chemistry around various All-Stars. Lineups have been shuffled, roles have been redefined, and offensive identities have been rewritten around disappointing news stories. Now, quietly and decisively, the Pelicans believe they have found their most sustainable star pairing in Zion Williamson and […]

It wasn’t long ago when everyone was excited for Zion Williamson to make an impact in the NBA. After all, his unique combination of size, strength, and athleticism made him a dominant force in the amateur ranks. In fact, it was those very assets that allowed him to turn heads at Duke University. As a […]

Lately, the word on the street is that the Chicago Bulls are interested in acquiring Zion Williamson before the NBA Trade Deadline. At this point, everything is purely speculation with the trade deadline scheduled for Feb. 5.  In other words, nothing will be official until after the trade deadline. However, a viral clip seems to […]

After being heavily hyped in the amateur ranks, Zion Williamson has failed to live up to expectations since stepping foot into the NBA. Many believed that Williamson was a generational talent out of Duke University. As a result, the New Orleans Pelicans selected him first overall at the 2019 NBA Draft. Thus far, the 6-foot-6 […]

The New Orleans Pelicans have the worst record in the league and don’t have a first-round draft pick for next season, which is probably the worst shape you can be in as a franchise. At this point, the only way they can make things better is start trading some of their players to get some […]

The NBA trade deadline often produces landscape-altering deals, but rarely do we see opportunities where four franchises can simultaneously address their most pressing needs. A multi-team framework sending Zion Williamson to the banged-up Chicago Bulls presents exactly that rare scenario for the New Orleans Pelicans. Well, as long as the not-quite-there New York Knicks and […]

With the NBA trade season officially kicking off with one star leaving the only team he’s ever played for, New Orleans Pelicans’ Zion Williamson could be the next trade candidate in a potential deal with the Chicago Bulls. It’s worth keeping a close eye on, as the Pelicans, Williamson, and the Bulls inch closer to […]

The line between NBA dynasty and draft-bust disaster is often drawn in the fragile ink of health reports and levels of realized potential. No two franchises have had to learn those hard lessons more than the Tyrese Haliburton’s Indiana Pacers and Zion Williamson’s New Orleans Pelicans. Both are flirting with last-place finishes to this season, […]

The stakes have never been higher around Beale Street or Bourbon Street-based basketball. EVP Zach Kleiman’s Memphis Grizzlies have started another new season poorly; Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr. are failing to launch their respective redemption tours. The same goes for Zion Williamson’s New Orleans Pelicans. After a few years defined by suspensions, injury […]

The NBA Trade Deadline news cycle is churning with countless whispers, but the latest rumblings surrounding Zion Williamson’s New Orleans Pelicans are grounded in an unavoidable reality. A shrinking pool of teams can even consider a deal for the former first overall pick. Almost every contender is after Herb Jones or Trey Murphy III instead, […]

The NBA trade deadline creates urgency for teams in several unique ways, and this season presents a stark contrast between two All-Stars reportedly on the block. Zion Williamson’s piecemeal New Orleans Pelicans and Trae Young’s agitated Atlanta Hawks are dealing with two drastically different trade market equations. While Young’s name has dominated trade speculation with […]

New coach, new front office, same old story for Zion Williamson’s New Orleans Pelicans heading into the NBA Trade Deadline. They are long on theoretical talent, short on wins, and recalibrating how to value fan-favorites Herb Jones and Jose Alvarado. Trey Murphy III sits at the top of the internal hierarchy now, with Joe Dumars […]

In the modern NBA, the trade deadline is absolute chaos. Every year, nearly every team gets in on the action. With such a high quantity of deals being made, some of the agreed-upon trades are relatively low stakes. The deals that really get fans excited are the ones involving stars. Superstars are dealt at a […]

The prideful New Orleans Pelicans have endured a challenging start to the season, navigating a string of injuries that have tested the depth of their roster. However, as the team waits to welcome back key contributors Dejounte Murray and Herb Jones in the coming weeks, there’s a palpable sense of optimism surrounding the franchise. Zion […]