What's Going On With Zion Williamson?

Ben Stinar and Haley Jordan sat down to talk about Zion Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans in the most recent episode of Stinar For 3.

Zion Williamson was the most touted college prospect in years when he was selected with first overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft by the New Orleans Pelicans. 

He was a superstar at Duke, and helped lead them to the Elite 8, and then in his second season in the NBA (last year) was an NBA All-Star. 

However, the franchise cornerstone has yet to play in a game this season due to recovering from foot surgery. 

On Thursday, the Pelicans provided an update on Williamson and the update can be seen in a tweet that is embedded below from the team. 

Zion Williamson Medical Update:

Following a consultation and further evaluation with Dr. Richard Ferkel of the Southern California Orthopedic Institute yesterday, Zion Williamson received a biologic injection into the fracture site to stimulate bone healing in his right foot. pic.twitter.com/sSD0rBq5yK

— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) December 16, 2021

He will be out for at least the next four-six weeks.   

Pelicans star Zion Williamson underwent injection in his injured right foot in order to promote healing and will be re-evaluated in 4-to-6 weeks.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 16, 2021

On December 11, The Athletic's Shams Chariana and Will Guillory reported that he is being shut down from basketball activities due to soreness in that foot.  

Pelicans’ Zion Williamson continues to experience soreness in his surgically-repaired right foot and is likely to be shut down from basketball activities for time being, sources tell me and @WillGuillory.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 11, 2021

ESPN's Andrew Lopez also reported about Williamson's status on that same day. 

Zion Williamson will be dialed back in his rehab process from surgery on his fractured right foot. Williamson's bone has not healed the way the team expected and he will take some time off before proceeding, sources tell ESPN.

It's unclear when he will return to the court.

— Andrew Lopez (@_Andrew_Lopez) December 11, 2021

What to make of the Zion situation?

The Pelicans are one of the worst teams in all of basketball with a 10-21 record in 31 games, and even last year with Williamson they did not make the playoffs and Stan Van Gundy was fired after just one season on the job. 

Nothing has seemed to go right. 

Now, the situation with Williamson being injured is not necessarily anyones fault, but the way things have gone in terms of his recovery simply do not appear promising. 

This is also the same franchise that had another star big man in Anthony Davis who was drafted with the first overall pick in 2010, and forced his way out by demanding a trade. 

Anthony Davis On Trade Demand: 'It's My Time To Move On' https://t.co/67CIY6GVAA

— RealGM (@RealGM) February 2, 2019

At this point in the season, there is likely no chance that the Pelicans would make the playoffs in a deep Western Conference even if he were to come back. 

There is not really any reason to play the 21-year-old this season even if he is healthy enough at some point. 

The question is soon going to turn to his upcoming free agency. 

He will be a restricted free agent at the end of the 2022-23 season, and the only way he could get to unrestricted free agency would be to play for the qualifying offer in 2023-24, which is just under $17.6 million, according to Spotrac.

That's a large amount of money for one season, and he has already made plenty of money with endorsements, so it could definitely be an option. 

However, that never happens where a player of his caliber does that, and he has an injury history. 

Right now, the most important thing is for him to get healthy for the next season, and for the Pelicans to build a roster this off-season that will compliment their star, because the clock is ticking.