The rumors have been flying around almost since the day the New Orleans Pelicans drafted Zion Williamson: He wants out of New Orleans There are basic basketball challenges to sort out now with Williamson joining McCollum and Ingramabout roles and playmaking and pecking orders, about touches and usage ratebut chemistry comes only through time, and the Pelicans seem confident about the road ahead and their potential to make noise in the West. Zion when Moriah Mills is in town pic.twitter.com/7tMH0kHu6S, Guns and Buns: A South Carolina Addiction Story pic.twitter.com/TpEDKb3ydp, We know what Zion was talking about now pic.twitter.com/TAxvi4MRUE, Shorty been on the TL for last two hours like pic.twitter.com/TuGjL5Hbpt, . Its more so just proving myself right.. 3. He would spend two months there. The beautiful thing about Williamsons game has always been his maturity. Adult film actress Moriah Mills spentquite a bit of time on Twitter discussing her romantic involvement with Williamson and her disappointment. Zion isnt committed to New Orleans. He averaged 27 points per game on 61.1 percent shooting from the field, and became the leagues most fearsome finisher at the rim. Even if Williamson did want to leave New Orleans, it would require him playing out the next two years of his rookie contract and then taking a big risk by playing on the qualifying offer. Williamsons extended absence looms particularly large now, with New Orleans hosting Oklahoma City in a do-or-die, Western Conference play-in game on Wednesday night. 116.202.65.103 1 pick is so strong that he's just handling them each with ease with only one hand. Moriah Mills Speaks Out After Allegedly Receiving Threats From Baby Mama's Family. When projecting the merits of any prospect, I generally try to avoid the rationale that a player is going to be more effective with the benefit of NBA spacing. For an organization and fanbase that went through this with Chris Paul and Davis, though, these reports are the last thing they want to see. DISCLAIMER: This site and the products offered are for entertainment purposes only, and there is no gambling offered on this site. And theyre also gonna see that my game has evolved. New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson watches a game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. The toll grew so heavy that Williamson could hardly mask the strain. Soon enough, Williamson will seek to reclaim his role as one of the games premier showmena high-flying, rim-wrecking nuclear reactor. Its possible that Williamson is stuck in New Orleans for the foreseeable future. Do the Pelicans regret trading Jrue Holiday? The Pels won 13 of their final 25 regular-season games, ousted theSpursandClippersin the play-in tournament and briefly rattled theSunsin the first round before falling in six games. If Williamson did ask for a trade, suddenly he would look like the bad guy in the situation. Nor does he want to reveal anything about his training, his diet, his weight, his sprint times or the skills hes been quietly honing all these months off the radar. pic.twitter.com/MgI71L0p9H. Zion isn't committed to the game. NAMI Store. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. And man, it was something. Its 6:14 a.m. on a late-summer day, and the track at Florida Atlantic University is shrouded in darkness, save for the faint beams of light bouncing from the waistbands of three joggers, dutifully logging their steps before the world awakens. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED is a registered trademark of ABG-SI LLC. If they feel otherwise, I cant help that. The NBA rumor mill abhors a vacuum and Zion hadnt spoken publicly about his situation since training camp Alright, Pelicans fans, put down your pitchforks. Last season, the two-time All-Star averaged 26 points, 7.0 rebounds and 4.6 assists while shooting 60.8% from the floor. What looks like a wandering eye, may simply be admiration from childhood allegiances. Hes primarily a two-footed leaper, gathering off of both feet to better maintain his balance in mid-air, and hes exhibited enough of a handle to get downhill in quick-catch situations and to beat most opponents to spots off the dribble. @Zionwilliamson pic.twitter.com/ZeAgAsUoOf. Had the Sixers instead kept Butler - the better player - around and moved off Simmons for a significant return, odds are good Philadelphia would have made the Finals by now. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, are reportedly open to trading star Zion Williamson. Then on Monday, she posted an Instagram video that featured her covered in blue body paint that appeared to emulate Williamsons No. If not, then youve got to live with it.. No young superstar has ever passed on that type of contract extension, and it seems unlikely that Williamson would given his injury history. For example, the weight gain seem unlikely to be tied to how family members feel about Williamson's future with the team. NBA Draft team grades 2023: 8 clubs earn an A for total draft night hauls. Similarly, the Pelicans could be looking at a situation where Williamson's trade value decreases over the next two years, should issues around him keep popping up. Williamson is already meeting the sky-high expectations that were set him for entering the league as the No. If he stays healthy, hes going to produce, even if a vast majority of his shots are coming in the paint. Whether fueled by people close to Zion, hopeful Knicks fans (and staff), Zions own comments I dont know how else to say it. New Orleans enters next season with real potential, but also questions Zion, McCollum, and Brandon Ingram all are players who work best with the ball in their hands, how is that balanced? This could happen for a several reasons, including no shared cipher suites. I find more often than not, that argument gets made as a last-ditch justification for someones own optimism. All Rights Reserved. Im excited to get out on the court with those guys.. On that note, the part of the equation thats gotten glossed over the most is how many fouls Williamson is going to draw, and thus how many free throws hes likely to shoot. And the locker room. Williamson has rarely been seen or heard in the last 17 months, outside of a July 6 press conference to announce a contract extension worth at least $193 million (a deal that, sources confirm, includes weight and body-fat requirements). ! a young girl asks, a touch of concern in her voice, as if speaking for millions of fans who are wondering where hes been, how hes doing and what hell look like when he reemerges. Zion Williamson had a remarkable second season in the NBA from an individual perspective. In a series of tweets Monday, Mills who previously claimed she had recent sexual relations with Williamson following the news hes expecting a baby girl with his apparent girlfriend said alleged sex tapes featuring the NBA pro will be dropping soon.. New Orleans Pelicans | NBA.com The Pelicans missed the playoffs during Williamsons first two seasons. Theyre going to see that Ive matured off the court and on the court, Williamson, now 22, says, following a late breakfast at a 6,000-square-foot waterfront rental in Fort Lauderdale. There is ESPN's Brian . The jumper is an area for growth, but that doesnt make it an Achilles heel in the short or long term. Its an important marker for the youngPelicansstar as he makes his way back from a broken right foot and a lost season. Zion said he couldnt sign it fast enough. After all, if there is any truth in the returning media rumblings in regards to Williamson possibly taking the qualifying offer, which is still two years away, that changes the situation drastically. 10. The time for spotlights and highlights and Yo, remember me? jackhammer dunks will be here soon enough, a time to show instead of tell. Acquire a higher understanding of where Williamson stands on these potential challenges, as to best map out a road to get everything back on track. We havent seen Zion soar for 17 months, leaving the world to wonder: Is he still the prince that was promised? Its going to be hard to avoid the microscope with the way Williamson draws headlines, but there shouldnt be too much pressure on the Pelicans in Year One of whats been an impressive retooling, in the wake of Anthony Davis. He missed the entire 202122 season to recover from foot surgery and played in only 29 games last season due to a hamstring injury. The Saudi-backed LIV Golf tour announced a new approach to its competition structure, referencing changes into a 2024 season. But the South Florida sun wont rise for another 49 minutes on this September morning, and the joggers and late-arriving soccer players have no idea what they just missed. Williamson has particularly vouched for Ball as a long-term piece. He thanks Anderson and Bibbs for their training, and Chef J.D. Few rookies in the history of the sport have been must-see television from the start. If theres a driving lane, Williamson should be taking it. On Friday, Pelicans Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations David Griffin said Williamson would not likely be ready to play until some time during the first round of the playoffs at the earliest and theres no guarantee New Orleans will make it that far. Zion is detached from his teammates. I think he appreciated my candor., In their brief time as teammates, McCollum says hes seen a Zion who is very active, very engaged, very involved, very cognizant of whats going on., But he also understands that the onus is on him now, McCollum says, to do things the right way, to continue to eat the right way, to do the work the right way. Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices. Share. The physical recovery was hard enough. As for contractual concerns, that isn't a conversation the franchise can yet have with their third-year All-Star, which does complicate matters. All the talk about Jrue Holiday anchoring the team does hold weight, and a career year could be in store for him. He did so with the blessing of Pelicans officialsindeed, it was executive vice president David Griffin who first suggested a change of scenerybut the news only triggered more backlash, fueling public perceptions of a divide between Williamson and the franchise, Williamson and New Orleans, Williamson and his teammates. Players can be efficient and analytics-friendly without attempting 200 threes per season, particularly if theyre making like 60% of two-pointers. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (CO/IL/IN/LA/MD/MI/NJ/OH/PA/TN/WV/WY), 1-800-NEXT STEP (AZ), 1-800-522-4700 (KS/NH), 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), visit OPGR.org (OR), or 1-888-532-3500(VA). 5. But you have to put in. It isnt dissimilar from whats happening with the Dallas Mavericks and Luka Doncic. Your IP: Who the franchise hires as its next head coach will also be fascinating. Thats elite! enthuses a third voicehis stepfather and coach, Lee Anderson. Meanwhile, Williamson has had to listen to basketball fans and pundits alike question his commitment to stay in shape and his determination to get back on the court. Parting ways with head coach Stan Van Gundy after just one season is the first move in whats sure to be a busy offseason in New Orleans. Im going to post everything this is the last time you betray me Z the sex tapes.. National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. Congress of Christian Education Held in Louisville, Ky. | Louisville, Kentucky There's a long season ahead of the Pelicans, and new head coach Willie Green might build a stronger relationship with Williamson, than he had with Stan Van Gundy. This Zion Williamson is noticeably more contoured than the Zion Williamson who last appeared on an NBA court on May 4, 2021. Its more so just proving myself right.. Draymond Green has 3 NBA free agency suitors hoping to steal him from Warriors. Were not going to embed all of her tweets, because we like having our jobs, but you know where they are if you want to go find them. I remember sitting on the bench. Access our curriculum in StoryMaker - PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs He is not an outstanding jump shooter, but his release isnt broken, and he may be too explosive for defenders to gain much by sagging off. You have to make deposits. Zion isnt committed to the game. But Zion 2.0 says none of that really matters to him, at least not in the way we expect. Before missing last season, Williamson made things look simple in New Orleans, averaging 27.0points and 7.2 boards per game in 202021. For posteritys sake, this is what I wrote one year ago before the start of college basketball season, when we ranked Williamson as the top prospect in the draft. Contact Us. I havent felt that thrill, a crowd being like that, since my rookie year. Few rookies in history have been hyped like Zion Williamson, yet somehow the Pelicans star is already blowing our minds in the preseason. . 5. NBA Draft team grades 2023: 8 clubs earn an A for total draft night hauls. 9. but it all starts with Zion showing up to training camp in shape, motivated, and willing to work. However, there are jokes to be made and jokes to be laughed at. Grayson Weir. This is a player whos been almost specifically designed to abuse the dimensions of the NBA game. They aint ready for you! barks another voice. Doing so is a franchise-altering decision, and one that needs to be widely agreed on from ownership down. , the talk around the league has been about him wanting out more than his rehab from offseason foot surgery. I would hesitate on certain moves and it could affect the game.. At that most vulnerable moment, it was important for me to let him know that hes a great young man and hes worthy of those things that you work for, says Weatherspoon, the former WNBA star and Hall of Famer. Williamson is good enough to be an A1 star leading his team to the playoffs, but the Pelicans still have a ton of work to do. METAIRIE, La. I learned a lot about myself, learned more about the game.. He understands exactly what hes capable of and rarely strays from that formula, which leads to shots that are almost exclusively team-friendly. You cant take something out if you havent deposited; you havent invested in it.. Eamon Lynch runs Patrick Cantlay over with double decker bus amid PGA Tour LIV Golf deal. Zion Williamson's Alleged Relationship with Moriah Mills - Complex Eamon Lynchs latest opinion piece put Patrick Cantlay between the crosshairs of the PGA Tour LIV Golf deal. John Collins is headed to Utah in exchange for Rudy Gay and a future second-round pick, per multiple reports. But now, after this journey, its not even so much about showing the world who I am. Yeah, hes coming for everybody next year.. His shot is going to be a work in progress, but its worth putting plainly that hes not likely to be a Ben Simmons-esque non-shooter. The 22-year-old Pelicans star is at the center of a fiery situation with Moriah Mills, a former adult film star and current OnlyFans creator, who is now threatening to release alleged sex tapes of . The Smoothie King Centermoribund or empty for much of Williamsons career due to the coronavirus pandemicwas rocking. He was the lead decision-maker in Cleveland for LeBron James second stint with the franchise, when James was annually signing one-year deals with a player option for the next season. Yesterday, Zion Williamson announced that he was going to be a father. . That came afterThe AthleticsShams Charania reportedon Wednesday that New Orleans could consider moving Williamson in a trade to acquire Scoot Henderson, the highly-touted G League Ignite prospect. A healthier, more serene Zion returned to New Orleans in early March, in time to cheer on the Pelicans late-season renaissance, sparked by the midseason trade for McCollum. We've received your submission. They don't know whether his body will hold up given that his weight fluctuates. Over the course of the next few months, the team will learn more about that dynamic, and whether or not Williamson can find piece under new leadership. Now its just a matter of when I feel like Zion. Zion Williamson . I really feel that, he says. But this year I guess maybe it was the playoffs it was more together. So,and here he claps for emphasisI have to show the world.. 2. Of course, this is still the NBA. Star rookie says he worked out every day during NBA season hiatus. An adult film star named Moriah Mills, who also goes by the name Moriah M. and classifies herself as a hip-hop artist, was troubled-to say the least-when she saw that Zion and Ahkeema are . For those people that think that I just want to sit on the sideline just to sit over there, I dont know why people think that. The faster he can get up to speed, the more realistic the playoffs become for New Orleans. Having said that, it's time to address an undeniable truth:Zion Williamson is becoming a distraction for the New Orleans Pelicans. The promise the club showed late last season gave Williamson enough confidence in the clubs future to sign a rookie max extension worth close to $200 million during the next five seasons. See terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. The best version that he can give us, McCollum says of Williamson, will be the best version of our team.. Podcast "On Our Minds" Helps Students Break Down Stigma Around - NAMI Anybody who knows me, knows I want to be here. It's been a long time since we got to see Zion Williamson do incredible things with a . Teams around the NBA are reportedly keeping a close eye on whether the Pelicans would make Williamson available ahead of the 2023 NBA Draft on Thursday in an attempt to move up from the No. Reporters Shams Charania, Joe Vardon, and William Guillory took an in-depth look at the situation with the young superstar, and reported that certain family members want Williamson on another team.. This service is intended for adult audiences. That would be a big step. 4. Mills has continuously called out Williamson in recent weeks, previously alleging shed been helping him get back into shape after he sustained a hamstring strain on Jan. 2. Labs in SRL's community use the prompt instructions and guidelines to submit work to our team of youth media producers for publication. It just sucks. Unfortunately for him, he had no choice in the matter. @Zionwilliamson you liar !!! Zion Williamson was without physical limitations, after having passed his conditioning test with flying colors, as he and the rest of the Pelicans experienced Stan Van Gundy's impressive amount . The timing is deliberate, designed to get them out by 7:45, before the womens volleyball team takes over the gymand to hopefully avoid detection by curious onlookers. Its a remarkable feat for anyone, period. All Rights Reserved. 21+ (18+ NH/WY). But the biggest step the Pelicans need from Zion is him to step on the court. I couldnt do nothing about it. However, when Williamson is active, he is a dominant force. Is Williamson as frustrated as his family is about his tenure with the Pelicans? McCollum as the Trail Blazers continue to shake up the organization this offseason. And when he said no, he just fell into my arms, Weatherspoon says. Additional troubleshooting information here. this could be something crazy.. While classmates Ja Morant and R.J. Barrett had the opportunity to compete in the postseason, Williamsons Pelicans are again waiting for next year. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Look at the generational pick history, Zion Williamsons teammate speaks out on one of the many swirling rumors, the news hes expecting a baby girl with his apparent girlfriend, was also dubbed a liar and cheat by Mills. The what/where/when/how of Williamsons recovery are topics he prefers to keep private, which also partially explains his two-month stays in Portland and Fort Lauderdale. Williamson wants to win now, but New Orleans can make a reasonable counter-argument that it's difficult to win if Williamson can't keep his weight off, as a 300-pound frame is considerably more likely to result in lower body injuries. NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - APRIL 28: Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans looks on during the game against the Phoenix Suns at Smoothie King Center on April 28, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans, PF - News, Stats, Bio GM David Griffin knows what its like to deal with pressure from a superstar. Zion Williamson is trending on Twitter, and the jokes are incredible Hes patient, likes to initiate contact, and at some point sooner than later, hes probably going to start getting officiated like a star. When they finally made it last season, he could only cheer on his teammates from the sideline. Associate Editor at BroBible covering all five major sports and every niche sport imaginable . Superstars ask out of their situations somewhat frequently, and with New Orleans still having a fresh memory of the Anthony Davis debacle, it's understandable that they may feel vulnerable. I was rehabbing, he says, and in my mind Im thinking, Man, in two weeks Im about to play again. They don't know if family members will finally win his ear and poison his relationship with the team. Why Bobby Marks would be hesitant to trade Zion Williamson, Five Zion Williamson trades we want to see, Why Perk thinks a trade could be the best thing for Zion, Daniels on Zion: Unstoppable, funny and handles the pressure, Stephen A.: Zion might've cost Pelicans an NBA Finals appearance, Pels VP Griffin: Zion wasn't cleared for 5-on-5, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. This has been Williamsons routine every day since Team Zion decamped to Fort Lauderdale: rising at 4:50 a.m., arriving at FAU a half hour later for a morning conditioning session with Bibbs, followed by basketball drills with Anderson. Would Pelicans trade Zion Williamson for No. 2 pick? Reportedly it's a (AP) All-Star forward Zion Williamson said he wont return to the New Orleans Pelicans lineup until hes confident his body will respond well to the way he wants to play. Void in ONT. NBA rumors: Zion Williamson dark horse, Lakers coaching - FanSided Built like a tight end, brandishing unnatural agility and explosiveness, Williamson is a truly unique player and arguably boasts the greatest upside of any eligible prospect. While Stephen A. Smith took shots at Zion Williamson online, his alleged girlfriend/adult film star Moriah Mills . Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. I think who the Hornets want from what I heard was Brandon Ingram.. The New Orleans Pelicans Have A Zion Williamson Problem - Forbes The Pelicans star is the first player in the shot-clock era to average 23 ppg or more on 60% shooting in their first 50 career games. Check out Always On My Mind by Willie Nelson on Amazon Music. As Weatherspoon frequently tells him: The things that you desire in this game, or in life period, its what you put into it. But having a back-up plan in place, if things should worsen, is never a bad idea. She didnt have to do that. Thats before they decide if they want to pay Ball and Hart. Less than 60 seconds later,Zion Williamsonis back where he started, darting across an invisible finish line, having easily beaten his goal for his last quarter-mile dash of the morning. The 22-year-old Pelicans star is at the center of a fiery situation with Moriah Mills, a former adult film star and current OnlyFans creator, who is now threatening to release alleged sex tapes of the pair. So while the rest of us might view this season as a Revenge Tour or a Remember Me campaign, Zion Williamson himself sees it more as a gauge: of just how far hes come, of how well hes recovered, rebuilt and evolved in the 533 days between his last game and his next one. The negativity was suffocating. Moriah Mills threatens to leak alleged Zion Williamson sex tapes The fact that approach can be so conducive to Williamsons natural strengths leaves room for optimism. Fresh off signing his 5-year max extension, a healthy Zion Williamson is ready to prove doubters wrong and guide New Orleans to deep postseason run. Of Weatherspoon, Williamson says, She saved me from so many kind of like mental breakdowns. For a player like Williamson who has already faced so many injury issues both in college and at the start of his pro career, its unfortunate he has to spend his earliest years in the league while hes in peak physical condition playing for a team hed prefer not to be with. Since the Pelicans aren't expected to make the playoffs this season, per FanDuel Sportsbook, another losing season could culminate in dissatisfaction from both sides.