New Orleans Pelicans: How Zion’s return will affect the Pels

Zion Williamson recently had surgery on a partially torn meniscus. What will happen when he returns to the lineup in New Orleans?

With Zion Williamson set to miss six-to-eight weeks to start the season for the New Orleans Pelicans, fans have plenty of reasons to be concerned.

While Williamson’s future health is the most prominent cause for worry, the young but talented franchise has plenty to look forward to in 2019 and years to come for that matter. Assuming Zion’s health can get under control and the Pelicans continue forward, this should be nothing more than a blip on the radar. But what will New Orleans look like when Zion returns?

New Orleans opened up its 2019 season with three straight losses, ultimately falling to the reigning NBA Champion Toronto Raptors, 130-122 in overtime, the Dallas Mavericks at home, 123-116 and to the Houston Rockets, 126-123. While starting 0-3 is not ideal, plenty was learned about the young core, and hope remains alive for the franchise and their season in the daunting Western Conference.

Depth will be a strength for New Orleans, as Alvin Gentry deemed the bench worthy of going seven-deep in the first contest and six-deep in the second, with seventh overall pick Jaxson Hayes being the lone Pelican to not see the floor in each of the first three games of the season.

With that depth, ball-movement and transition play at times has been near flawless. As the average age of the Pelicans roster is just 24.9 years, one would guess selfishness would be an issue, but the opposite has been true at times of New Orleans.

Shooting was not a strong suit for the young squad either. While individual players like veteran J.J. Redick and others like Nicolo Melli, Derrick Favors and Brandon Ingram have had shooting performances that separated them from the rest of the squad, Jrue Holiday has shot just 30.7 percent and rookie sensation Nickeil Walker-Alexander 15.8 percent from the field thus far.

As to if the team can fix their issues and continue to take advantage of the strengths they have, we’ll have to wait and see during the six-to-eight week stretch that Williamson will not be in the lineup. Hiccups are inevitable come his return, as adding a player of that caliber and style to an already deep and inexperienced squad won’t be easy. But Zion surely has the opportunity to affect all of the current labels the Pelicans have placed on them.