The New York Knicks have yet to kick off their inaugural playoff game, so it’s premature to speculate on the front office’s plans for the summer. Leon Rose has amassed a considerable array of draft assets that could be utilized in the offseason, contingent upon available talent and their compatibility with Jalen Brunson.
Half a decade ago, there was optimism among fans that New York might secure the top pick in the 2019 NBA Draft via the lottery. Instead, they landed the third pick, ultimately selecting RJ Barrett. Meanwhile, the Pelicans emerged as the lottery victors, nabbing Duke standout Zion Williamson.
Subsequently, Barrett was traded for OG Anunoby, and New Orleans may entertain trade discussions regarding Williamson during the offseason. The 23-year-old forward enjoyed a career-high 70 regular season appearances, but an unfortunate hamstring injury will sideline him for the Pelicans’ crucial Play-In Tournament matchup on Friday.
On Tuesday, Williamson delivered an impressive performance with 40 points and 11 rebounds against the Lakers in his postseason debut before a hamstring injury forced him out of the game with the score knotted at 95 in the fourth quarter. Subsequently, the Lakers clinched a 110-106 victory, securing the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference.
Should New Orleans emerge victorious against Sacramento on Friday, they will still be deprived of Williamson’s presence for the entirety of the first round of the playoffs.
Zion Williamson is sidelined for a minimum of two weeks following an unfortunate hamstring injury.
Since Zion’s selection, New Orleans has only reached the playoffs once, experiencing a first-round departure against Phoenix in 2022, during which Williamson was sidelined due to a foot injury. If the Pelicans fall short of playoff contention again or undergo another early postseason exit, it may prompt the front office to contemplate significant changes.
When Zion is in full health, he’s a formidable force on the court. However, his career has been marred by various injuries. Hence, it would be prudent for New Orleans to entertain offers for him this offseason. In such a scenario, it’s no surprise that New York would emerge as a potential landing spot for Williamson.
The front office doesn’t necessarily need to heed Nate Robinson’s suggestion to trade Julius Randle for Williamson. Despite Randle’s season-ending injury in January, he boasted a remarkable track record of playing at least 71 games for three consecutive seasons prior to this one. Comparatively, before the 2023-24 season, Zion’s highest number of games played in a season was 61. He appeared in 24 games as a rookie, 61 in 2020-21, missed the entire 2021-22 season, and played 29 games last season.
Williamson inked a five-year max contract potentially worth up to $231 million, but after this season, his salary won’t be fully guaranteed. Due to his limited appearances in the 2022-23 season, the remainder of his contract becomes non-guaranteed starting from 2025-26. Additionally, his salary for the 2024-25 season is partially guaranteed, enabling New Orleans to release him after the next season without financial repercussions.
