New Orleans Pelicans: How Zion’s return will affect the Pels
By Eliot Clough
3. Roster depth
Adding another player to an already deep roster won’t hurt. Especially when it’s Zion freaking Williamson.
As the season progresses, the addition of Zion will be more and more helpful. Whether we like it or not, injuries are part of basketball, and someone on every roster is bound to incur some sort of injury.
Having another piece in Zion to go to when needed will be vital for the youth that the Pelicans possess. Basketball is a year-round sport now with travel basketball teams, the AAU, etc., but 82 games in the National Basketball Association isn’t easy on the body. Depending on how deep each team goes in the playoffs, that 82-game season could quickly become an over 100-game season.
The depth of the current roster helps out Williamson in his return as well. Coming off the meniscus tear, he will likely require a minutes restriction, and may very well miss games to protect his body long term. The depth and time spent together before his reentry into the lineup could maintain New Orleans as a force when the Duke product ultimately has to spend time on the bench.
Assuming that New Orleans has a shot at the playoffs come springtime, that time spent resting will benefit Williamson. As other players are worn down from the long season, Zion will be able to take full advantage of his strength and weight in the post.
Having already shown his other-worldly athletic ability in college and the preseason, Williamson will be able to make that step to playoff basketball, throwing bodies to the side to take down rebound after rebound and put-back after put-back.