Zion Williamson will barely recognize this Pelicans’ roster
Zion Williamson will make his return in the 2022-23 season for the New Orleans Pelicans but he’ll be on a much different team.
Zion hasn’t played since May 4, 2021, and since then David Griffin and the Pelicans have revamped the roster in one of the biggest turnarounds in the recent NBA, with new names up and down the roster.
The Pelicans only won 31 games in Zion Williamson‘s last full season in the NBA, which led to a whole lot of roster churn and a new head coach, as Stan Van Gundy was fired and Willie Green brought on to replace him.
The Pelicans won 36 games last season without Zion and made the playoffs, proof that the roster changes have mostly worked.
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When he does finally return next season, Zion will barely recognize the roster around him, which has improved at every position.
New Orleans Pelicans: Zion Williamson’s new roster
The Centers
Before:
- Steven Adams
- Willy Hernangomez
- Jaxson Hayes
Now:
- Jonas Valanciunas
- Jaxson Hayes
- Willy Hernangomez
The center position has changed the least but it has been upgraded, as Jonas Valanciunas is a much-better offensive player than Adams (though I did love Adams) and is a better all-around fit with Zion.
The two haven’t played together yet, but Valanciunas’ ability to step out and hit jumpers should offer the Pelicans better spacing than they had with Adams. The other two centers are the same, though hopefully Jaxson Hayes will make a leap and be a better version of himself than the one Zion last played with.