Pelicans Sticking With Zion Williamson As Centerpiece, And That Makes Sense, For Now

The Pelicans are sticking with Zion Williamson and it shouldn’t come as a shock — at least not yet.

Despite the injuries, the rumors, and the whispers of doubt, New Orleans isn’t throwing in the towel on their franchise cornerstone, per Shams Charania of ESPN.

Instead, they’re doubling down. According to Charania, the plan is clear: get Zion healthy and build the right pieces around him. Easier said than done, right?

Let’s unpack this. Zion is one of the most dominant physical forces in the NBA when he’s on the floor. We’ve seen flashes of it — jaw-dropping highlights, overpowering finishes, and numbers that scream “superstar.”

The problem? He’s played just six games this season. Six. And the Pelicans are 4-18. You don’t need to be a hoops expert to connect the dots.

But here’s the thing: New Orleans isn’t giving up because they can’t afford to. Zion is the face of this franchise, the key to everything they’ve tried to build since drafting him No. 1 overall in 2019.

Even with his injuries, the Pelicans have shown flashes of being a contender when he’s healthy. Last season, they were a top-three team in the West before Zion went down. That’s what keeps them believing.

The problem isn’t Zion’s talent — it’s his availability. The hamstring issues, the conditioning questions, the seemingly endless absences. It’s a frustrating cycle, and the Pelicans are caught in the middle.

Do you wait and hope he turns into the MVP-caliber player you dreamed of? Or do you start preparing for life without him? For now, they’re choosing the former.

Here’s why it makes sense: the alternative is bleak. Trading Williamson now would mean selling low, especially with his health concerns hanging over him like a cloud. And waiving him? Let’s not even go there.

This isn’t about desperation — it’s about belief. If Williamson can stay on the court, the Pelicans know they have a core that can contend. Brandon Ingram is a legit scorer, CJ McCollum is a steadying veteran presence, and young guys like Herbert Jones and Trey Murphy bring defensive versatility. Add a healthy Williamson to that mix, and you’ve got something.

Still, belief only gets you so far. At some point, this team needs results. For the Pelicans, the clock is ticking, and the Western Conference is as brutal as ever. The Pelicans are saying all the right things now, but if Zion’s injury woes continue into next year, you have to wonder how long the patience will last.

For now, though, New Orleans is staying the course. And really, what choice do they have?

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