The New Orleans Pelicans dropped their third straight game, falling 122–116 to the Denver Nuggets, and this loss continues to solidify my opinion on Zion Williamson and his future with the Pelicans.
New Orleans didn't necessarily lose this game because of Williamson's play. This game proved that the Pelicans need Williamson less than ever during his seven-year tenure with the organization. Although reports suggest the Pelicans aren't willing to part ways with the former No. 1 overall pick at this year's trade deadline, performances like the one he had Tuesday make you wonder why the franchise is so reluctant to move on.
Missed opportunities
Coming into this game, I expected a massive performance from Williamson, as the Nuggets started Aaron Gordon at center in the absence of Nikola Jokic and Jonas Valanciunas. On paper, these are the types of matchups a player with Williamson's skill set and downhill scoring ability should thrive in, yet he shot just 41.7 percent from the field, took only 12 shots, and finished with 12 points.
Now, obviously, the combination of Peyton Watson and Aaron Gordon as small-ball rim protectors may be as good as you can get when forced to play no true center. However, as a two-time All-Star who is still in the prime of his career and has 71.4 percent of his shots this season come in the paint, this type of performance is bound to raise concerns.
The biggest draw with Williamson is his ability to get to the rim and finish at a high level, but when he isn't doing that, what value does he bring? He isn't a floor spacer, he isn't an elite defender, and he doesn't need to be an offensive hub because that's rookie big man Derik Queen's role, so what can he help this team do?
Seeing Saddiq Bey outperform Williamson while getting paid just over a sixth of Williamson's salary is not only frustrating but also extremely worrisome. Bey only took eight shots tonight, yet shot 50 percent from the field, got to the foul line 10 times, and finished with 17 points.
Realistically, if you gave Bey half of Williamson's shots on top of the ones he already took, the Pelicans likely win this game. But since Z has a reputation as a scorer, the Pelicans are forced to give him the ball.
On a night-in, night-out basis, we see that Trey Murphy III is by far the team's best all-around scorer and can be trusted to carry the majority of the team's offensive load. Murphy III had his seventh game of the season in which he scored 30 or more points on Tuesday night. Being the go-to guy was Williamson's role for years, but with Murphy III's emergence, he is no longer needed.
To me, it's clear this current team would thrive much more with floor spacing and complementary players surrounding Murphy III, Derik Queen, and Jeremiah Fears than Williamson. I may sound like a broken record, but if the Pelicans front office is serious about building a winner in New Orleans, it starts with Zion Williamson's departure.