Zion Williamson Joins Pelicans on Season-Ending Road Trip
Shams Charania and Will Guillory of The Athletic confirmed Zion Williamson traveled with the New Orleans Pelicans on their current four-game road trip.
On Tuesday, the Pelicans flew out for a Wednesday game against the Portland Trail Blazers. It's the first time Williamson will accompany the team on a multi-game road trip this season.
Charania reports this is a step "in the right direction as (Williamson) continues to progress but remains out indefinitely." Charania has also published he believes Williamson will not return this season. This season, Williamson has not played a game yet due to an offseason foot surgery. He had been rehabbing in Portland for months before returning to the team.
The team has yet to issue a press release or hold a press conference to rule out Williamson for the season. There is still time to get Williamson back into the rotation for a handful of games before the NBA Playoffs start. New Orleans cleared Williamson for 1v1 workouts on March 23 after posting an off-the-backboard, between-the-legs Eastbay dunk to his Instagram account.
A week later, Williamson is traveling and integrating more with the team into practice. Even if Williamson is relegated chiefly to side work, he is spending more time with CJ McCollum, Brandon Ingram, and the rest of the Pelicans. Even at the end of this season, building some off-court chemistry could help lead to some much-needed on-court cohesion next year.
Nov 12, 2021; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Injured New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson during the first quarter against the Brooklyn Nets at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports
New Orleans currently holds the 9th seed in the NBA’s Western Conference with a chance to catch the LA Clippers. They have won four of the last six games and just completed a comeback victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. Getting Williamson’s 27 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game on 61.1 percent shooting from the field would go a long way to shoring up any weaknesses in the rotation.
The Pelicans have just two home games remaining. Their last two games of the season, a road game against the Memphis Grizzlies and at home to finish the year, are the only two contests left against teams with a winning record. Williamson could help win a few games and gain a better draft pick from the Lakers, even if he was ramped up on a minutes restriction.
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