It’s time for the Pelicans to admit this isn’t working.
On Saturday, New Orleans announced that forward Zion Williamson would be out indefinitely with a hamstring strain.
“Further updates will be appropriately provided,” the Pelicans wrote.
Williamson started six games this season and averaged 22.7 points, eight rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.2 blocks per game.
The Pelicans (3-7) have been beset by injuries, already losing Dejounte Murray (hand fracture), C.J. McCollum (abductor strain), Herb Jones (shoulder strain) and Trey Murphy III (hamstring strain).
Williamson’s injury is the latest in a career defined by his absences.
His rookie season in 2019-20 was delayed due to a knee injury. He then missed the entire 2021-22 season following offseason foot surgery. During the following season, Williamson suffered a season-ending hamstring injury in January 2023.
He played a career-high 70 games in 2023-24 but suffered a hamstring injury in the Play-In Tournament against the Lakers, ending his season.
Williamson has four years remaining (including this season) on a five-year, $197.2 million extension he signed in 2022.
However, the 2024-25 season is the last guaranteed year on his contract after the final three became non-guaranteed in 2023. (h/t The Athletic)
It’s time for the Pelicans to begin forming an exit strategy from his contract, whether by voiding the final three years and allowing him to become a free agent at the end of the season or via trade.
Given his unreliability, he might not have much trade demand, but at 24, Williamson is still young enough to have a successful second act.
It’s becoming increasingly difficult to imagine him living up to his potential as the No. 1 overall pick of the 2019 NBA Draft in New Orleans.
