Zion Williamson remains weeks away from a season-debut for the Pelicans, but Executive Vice President David Griffin had a few positive updates to share about the team's injured superstar.
Pelicans GM Trajan Langdon met with Zion Williamson this week, and his reports back have the team encouraged. But Griffin made sure to point out -- four times -- that all of this information was anecdotal. He has not seen Zion himself, with the forward now conducting his rehab away from the team.
"He feels very good," Griffin said. "Trajan [Langdon] just was with him last weekend and was really encouraged by where he is, and again this is all anecdotal.”
But that progress doesn't mean a rosier timeline for Williamson, who has been struggling with a foot injury for the entirety of his third NBA season. Griffin said there'd be additional injury done in roughly 7-10 days -- and the results there will help guide the decision on a potential return timeline. If the results show the progress the team is reporting, it's possible a return isn't too far off. Still, it's a question of weeks, not days, for a debut alongside his resurgent Pelicans team.
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One element that could lend some added urgency relative to a Zion return is the Pelicans' steady climb out of the NBA cellar and into the projected playoff field, even without one of their key weapons. Had a 3-16 start turned into the lost season that it could've, a next-season return date might've made the most sense.
The events of this week have made it clear the Pelicans plan to contend this season, with a major trade to land CJ McCollum, Tony Snell and Larry Nance in exchange for Josh Hart, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Tomas Satoransky, Didi Louzada and draft compensation.
That leads into another anecdote Griffin shared this week.
"I can tell you also, he reacted incredibly positively to the CJ McCollum news, shared with Trajan that he was frustrated that he doesn’t get to be here for the moment to be with him," Griffin said. "Anecdotally, very positive."
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