Latest Zion Williamson update may force the Pelicans hand

After an alarming report by ESPN's Shams Charania, it appears that New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson won't be back playing for the Pelicans anytime soon. Williamson was initially ruled out indefinitely, and Charania's latest report states that he isn't anywhere close to returning to the team.

Williamson already missed the start of the season and appeared in just six games before being ruled out, and it is anyone's guess when he will play again. After missing 218 regular season games, the Pelicans are left to figure out their next step regarding their best player.

While it seems premature to consider trading him, they should strongly consider it given that he is among the most injured players in NBA history, considering he has missed nearly half of his potential games played.

The New Orleans Pelicans should finally consider moving on from Zion Williamson.

Of course, trading Zion is far easier said than done, with teams likely interested in a talent such as him but unwilling to give up major assets to do so. That puts New Orleans in between a rock and a hard place, with them stuck between hoping that the best player will eventually get healthy and pivoting to a new era with only a few assets to show for it.

His status is also made more complicated by Brandon Ingram's future. He will become an unrestricted free agent after this season, and they have been reluctant to give him a contract extension. If they trade him, would they be doing so to build around Zion?

The Pelicans could look to the Philadelphia 76ers, who have gone through a similar situation with Joel Embiid. They stuck with him after he missed two and a half of his first three seasons, and while he is one of the best players in the NBA, they are at the mercy of his health. Zion is already 24 and is far behind where many thought that he would be at this point in his career. 

To the Pelicans credit, when they gave him a 5-year, $197 million extension, there was a games played requirement. 40% of his salary for next season guarantees if he plays 41 games during this season, 20% more if he plays 51 or more games, and the final 20% if he plays 61 or more games.

He isn't on pace to meet those requirements, so they have the ability to cut him for a fraction of his remaining contract after this season. Cutting him seems almost unthinkable, but if he misses most of this season, his trade value would be at an all-time low. On the other hand, keeping him could mean they are paying him to sit on the bench. It's a problem, but something has to give with Zion and the Pelicans.