The New Orleans Pelicans have reached an impasse. Most teams have their rosters set with six weeks to go before training camp, but the Pels have work to do. They are trying to trade Brandon Ingram and must replace a couple of key contributors who departed in free agency. David Griffin and the front office have an ill-fitting roster around Zion Williamson, but may not be able to fix it until closer to the Feb. 6 trade deadline.
The addition of Dejounte Murray gives New Orleans another ball-handler and playmaker. They have lacked a true point guard in recent years, but bring him on creates a new set of problems. There is only one ball for Murray, Zion, BI, and C.J. McCollum to share. All four need it to maximize their production, and this core four has massive defensive questions.
The Pelicans claim they are building around Zion, but they have put the 24-year-old All-Star in an impossible position to succeed this offseason. Williamson will have to play significant minutes away from his best position and the added workload is not ideal given his injury history.
Pelicans need Zion Williamson to play the 5 with a lacking skill set
Zion is unique. He is listed at 6’6 and 284 pounds, but few can match his athleticism. Williamson is a nightmare matchup for big men, but guards are easily overpowered. Zion has proven truly unstoppable, and the Pelicans may be ruining that.
New Orleans let Jonas Valanciunas depart in free agency and have not added a replacement. Daniel Theis is a backup at this stage, and Yves Missi is not ready for a starting role as a rookie. Those are the Pelicans only two centers on their roster.
Beyond that, the franchise’s six best players are 6’8 or shorter. The heaviest player besides Zion is Herb Jones at 210 pounds. There is no other option to play as a small ball five. Zion needs to play 30-plus at center for the Pelicans to be competitive with the top teams in the Western Conference as currently constructed.
Williamson cannot protect the rim and is a subpar rebounder. He does not have the skill set of a traditional big man and playing him at the five creates some massive issues for New Orleans. The Pelicans do not have a better option but may regret using Zion for an even bigger reason.
Zion Williamson’s injury history is more problematic at center
Zion has only played 184 games in his first five NBA seasons because of injuries. He appeared in a career-high 70 last season before suffering a season-ending injury against the Lakers in the Play-In Tournament. Williamson has played in less than 30 contests in three different seasons.
Locking horns against the league’s biggest and strongest players adds a new layer to his injury concerns. Boxing out Nikola Jokic, Joel Embiid, and every other massive center in the NBA is taxing over an 82-game regular season. Zion cannot afford the added stress on his body. It will open him up to more injuries and put his franchise in a worse position.
The New Orleans Pelicans need a center upgrade before training camp begins. It is a must for the franchise. Zion Williamson showed his superstar potential last season, but it is only unlocked if the Pels put him in positions to succeed. So far this offseason, they have failed at that job.