Just when everybody believed Zion’s career in the NBA was going to be smooth and with time to develop his game, the forward is now the longest-tenured player on the New Orleans Pelicans roster. He has spent only one season in NOLA and now has to take the reins of the team as the veteran on the squad.
Williamson is ready to enter his second season with the team as the player who has spent the most time with them. He was selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft and now his responsibilities are bigger following a series of moves in the offseason. Of course, Zion won’t have the pressure to carry his team and being a leader at this young age, but it’s really curious that given the moves that the Pels did this year and in 2019, he’s the longest-tenured player on the roster.
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Jrue Holiday was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks while Derrick Favors (Utah Jazz) and Jahlil Okafor (Detroit Pistons) left in free agency. If you’re thinking about Lonzo Ball or Josh Hart, they were all officially acquired from the Los Angeles Lakers on July 6. Zion signed with the Pels on July 19 of 2019.
The signing and acquisition dates of the rest of the roster, via Rookie Wire:
- Nickeil Alexander-Walker: Rights acquired on July 7
- Zylan Cheatham (two-way): Signed on July 26
- Josh Gray (two-way): Signed on July 26
- Jaxson Hayes: Rights acquired on July 7
- Nicolò Melli: Signed on July 25
- J.J. Redick: Signed on July 15
Zion needs to bring his A-game next season to become the leader of this team. The Pelicans fans are excited to see him playing alongside Steve Adams this upcoming season and he’s ready to show more than he did last season. Following a very entertaining offseason, it’s Zion time in New Orleans.
