Zion Williamson will stay the Pelicans‘ franchise cornerstone, new govt vice chairman of basketball operations Joe Dumars informed Rod Walker of the New Orleans Instances-Picayune. Dumars cleared up any hypothesis relating to the potential of Williamson being traded this offseason.
“I’ve had actually good conversations with Zion,” Dumars stated. “We’ve had lunch. Dinner. Watched playoff video games collectively. We’ve completed all of it. I’ve had some actual trustworthy conversations with him. Some actual direct and trustworthy conversations. We’re going to go ahead with Zion. He’s going to proceed to be a focus right here as we go ahead.”
Naturally, Williamson has to carry up his finish of the discount. His profession has been marred by quite a few accidents. He missed your entire 2021-22 season because of foot illnesses and appeared in not more than 30 video games in three of his different 5 seasons, together with this previous 12 months.
When he’s been on the courtroom, Williamson has been a stat-stuffer, averaging 24.7 factors, 6.6 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.0 steal per recreation over the course of his profession. The conversations between Dumars and Williamson have included expectations that the previous No. 1 total decide will get in prime form and do every little thing doable to remain on the courtroom. Williamson has three years remaining on his maximum-salary contract, which isn’t totally assured.
“We’ve had some actual direct conversations with him about that,” Dumars stated. “Expectations. Accountability. That’s our plan going ahead with Zion.”
Williamson has been within the information not too long ago, as a girl who says she dated him for a number of years has filed a lawsuit towards the Pelicans ahead, alleging rape and abuse. Williamson’s authorized reps have known as the allegations “categorically false and reckless.”
Whereas Dumars declined to touch upon Williamson’s authorized points, Pelicans proprietor Gayle Benson not too long ago addressed them.
“You realize, lawsuits are lawsuits. You actually can’t … You don’t know. I imply individuals can sue you for something. There’s no motive. You could be harmless or not. It’s simply one thing that folks do, sadly.”
Dumars did affirm that Williamson represented the staff on the draft lottery final month to make a press release concerning the 24-year-old’s standing inside the group.
“I despatched him to the lottery for a motive,” Dumars stated. “I would like him to begin specializing in the duties of being the very best participant right here and the focus. There are some duties that include that. Go characterize your group.”
Dumars additionally mentioned with Walker his ideas on retaining Willie Inexperienced as head coach.
“It’s onerous for me to come back in right here and say, ‘Right here’s how I assessed Willie final 12 months,” Dumars stated. “I wasn’t right here. All I can do is transfer ahead and information and create and lead and put expectations on what we have to do right here to achieve success. And solely then can I choose Willie or anybody else. I used to be happy with what I heard. I’m trying ahead to going ahead and dealing with Willie and to push us to success. You’ve bought to set the bar. And that’s what we’re going to do.”
