Zion Williamson will stay the Pelicans‘ franchise cornerstone, new government vice chairman of basketball operations Joe Dumars informed Rod Walker of the New Orleans Times-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 mentioned. “We’ve had lunch. Dinner. Watched playoff video games collectively. We’ve carried out 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 cut price. His profession has been marred by quite a few accidents. He missed all the 2021-22 season on account 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 general choose will get in high form and do all the pieces potential to remain on the courtroom. Williamson has three years remaining on his maximum-salary contract, which isn’t absolutely assured.
“We’ve had some actual direct conversations with him about that,” Dumars mentioned. “Expectations. Accountability. That’s our plan going ahead with Zion.”
Williamson has been within the information lately, 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 referred to as the allegations “categorically false and reckless.”
Whereas Dumars declined to touch upon Williamson’s authorized points, Pelicans proprietor Gayle Benson lately addressed them.
“, lawsuits are lawsuits. You actually can’t … You don’t know. I imply folks can sue you for something. There’s no purpose. You could be harmless or not. It’s simply one thing that folks do, sadly.”
Dumars did verify that Williamson represented the workforce on the draft lottery final month to make an announcement in regards to the 24-year-old’s standing throughout the group.
“I despatched him to the lottery for a purpose,” Dumars mentioned. “I need him to start out specializing in the obligations of being the very best participant right here and the point of interest. There are some obligations that include that. Go signify your group.”
Dumars additionally mentioned with Walker his ideas on retaining Willie Inexperienced as head coach.
“It’s arduous for me to come back in right here and say, ‘Right here’s how I assessed Willie final 12 months,” Dumars mentioned. “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 wanting 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.”
