The New Orleans Pelicans have one of the more promising rosters in the NBA, and at one point this past season they had one of the best records in the league.
But they have a big problem on their hands — forward Zion Williamson’s inability to stay healthy.
Some have suggested that they should trade the Duke University product and get as much as they can for him before his market value drops.
But executive David Griffin said on SiriusXM NBA Radio that the relationship between Williamson and the Pelicans is “as good as it’s ever been” while saying the organization hasn’t even talked about trading the forward.
What’s the relationship like between Zion and the Pelicans?
David Griffin says it’s “as good as it’s ever been” as he sits down with @DarthAmin & @TermineRadio at NBA Summer League. pic.twitter.com/fH53PMrmap
— SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) July 16, 2023
Williamson, the No. 1 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, came into the league amidst a good amount of hype and high expectations.
But he has been hit hard by the injury bug, and as a result, he has played in just 114 games over his four pro seasons.
He missed all of the 2021-22 campaign with a Jones fracture in his right foot, and this past season, a hamstring injury limited him to 29 games.
Williamson is a likable man and it seems virtually everyone around the league is rooting for him to overcome the injury bug, but he has also been criticized by some who feel he doesn’t work hard enough on his conditioning and overall fitness.
When he has been healthy, he has clearly been a force — he owns a career average of 25.8 points a game on 60.5 percent field goal shooting.
If he manages to stay relatively healthy this coming season, perhaps the Pelicans will make some noise in the playoffs.
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