Following up on a vague update from earlier in the week, Pelicans EVP David Griffin confirmed what was expected: Zion Williamson will not be available if the Pelicans land in the NBA's play-in tournament later this month.
Sidelined since Jan. 2 due to a hamstring injury, the star forward hasn't suffered any additional setbacks in his rehab. He's just not ready, and that won't change by the time the play-in action gets underway.
“When he feels like him, he’ll tell us he’s ready for the next phase," Griffin said. "And to this stage he hasn’t felt like that.”
The next logical question: What about a first-round playoff series if the Pelicans either avoid the play-in altogether or advance out of it? A return is possible, but still very much in question.
"Based on today, our best possible outcome if everything lined up perfectly maybe you’re in a position to practice prior to a first-round [series] or during," Griffin told reporters Friday afternoon.
It's another frustrating episode in a four-year career that's featured star-level basketball, but not enough of it due to a run of injuries. Williamson had averaged 26 points, 7 rebounds and 4.6 assists in his 29 games played this year. The Pelicans were 23-14 before his injury absence began, and he was selected as an All-Star Game starter for the first time. He also appeared on track to return prior to the All-Star break before suffering a setback in 3-on-3 drills.
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The Pelicans are being cautious, as they have been throughout his career, and a return to 5-on-5 practice will be a critical step to complete before he gets on the floor. The quickly narrowing time frame is not helping. New Orleans has two games left in the season (Friday vs Knicks and Sunday at Timberwolves). As the standings sit Friday afternoon, they'd be in line to travel to face the Lakers in the 7-8 game, with the winner taking the 7 seed. The loser would host the winner of the 9-10 game, with that winner taking the 8 seed. The Nuggets have clinched the top seed, with the Grizzlies locked into No. 2.
The Pelicans (41-39) could potentially climb as high as the 5 seed if the results break a certain way, with the L.A. Clippers and Golden State Warriors each sitting at 42-40, and with New Orleans owning the tiebreaker over both teams.
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The play-in action adds a few more days for rehab, but after more than four months of inactivity, it's a small benefit.
Griffin's comments came a day after a vague update attributed to him indicated that Williamson would continue his rehab work. A previous update had stated that he would be re-evaluated on that date, but there has been little clear advancement in terms of the star forward getting back on the court. He's been spotted getting shots up before games over the past few weeks.
The Pelicans, to their credit, have at least made the playoff question worth asking after a tumble down the Western Conference standings in the second half of the season. They've managed to right the ship with wins in 8 of their past 10 games, and clinched a play-in berth with a comeback win over the Grizzlies on Wednesday.
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