New Orleans Pelicans

New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson is returning to New Orleans after an extended stay in Portland to rehab his foot injury. 

According to The Athletic and Stadium's Shams Charania, Williamson has been "cleared to progress in basketball activities." A timetable for his return remains unclear. 

The Pelicans released a statement March 2 saying that Williamson showed "improved bone healing" in his right foot that required offseason surgery. While Williamson remained out indefinitely, the team said he was expected to "gradually progress to full weight-bearing exercise and basketball activities."

Williamson has yet to play this season because of a fractured fifth metatarsal in his foot. He was expected to return earlier in the year, but he hit a snag in his recovery because of the bone not healing as initially prognosticated.

According to ESPN's Andrew Lopez, Williamson was cleared for full basketball activities Nov. 26. But he experienced soreness in his right foot Dec. 2 and later received an injection in the foot Dec. 16. The 21-year-old had been in Portland rehabbing since Jan. 6.

Despite being without Williamson all season, the Pelicans have made a strong push up the standings since the All-Star break.

They're currently 27-36 and occupy the No. 10 seed in the Western Conference, having won four games in a row. They enter Saturday night a half-game behind LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers. 

New Orleans Pelicans players wore yellow socks during Wednesday's 125-95 win over the Sacramento Kings to show their solidarity with Ukraine amid the ongoing military invasion by Russia.

Lithuanian center Jonas Valanciunas said they're "just trying to bring more attention" to Ukraine's need for support:

Forward Brandon Ingram said Valanciunas has been talking with the team about the Russian invasion.

"JV wanted to do something to support the people," Ingram told reporters. "If he wanted to do it, I was all-in."

Head coach Willie Green added the idea was raised during the team's recent road trip and he's happy the players are taking a stand.

"Just having mindfulness, it's one of our core values. Just having awareness of what's going on in the world. The guys wanted to do something to show their unity," Green said. "That's what they chose to do. We just want to make sure we keep folks in our prayers and we understand we're blessed to have this platform to be able to play basketball but, you know, there's some people who have it tough out there."

Russia's attack continued Thursday despite widespread international condemnation. One million refugees have fled Ukraine since the invasion began last week, per CNN.

Numerous leagues, teams and players from across the sports spectrum have spoken out against the war since Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the attack last Thursday.

Valanciunas played a key role in New Orleans' win over Sacramento with 17 points and 14 rebounds Wednesday.

The Pelicans are back in action Friday when they host the Utah Jazz.

New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson is reportedly "showing improved bone healing" in the foot injury that has kept him out all season, per Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium.

The forward is expected to "gradually" advance toward basketball activity.

Williamson has missed the entire 2021-22 season with a fractured right foot, which he suffered during an offseason workout.

The 21-year-old was originally expected to be ready for the start of the season, but Pelicans executive vice president of basketball operations David Griffin revealed in October that the Duke product would not be ready to take the court. 

While Williamson missed most of his 2019-20 rookie season because of a torn right lateral meniscus, he impressed in his return, averaging 22.5 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists while shooting 58.3 percent from the floor in 24 games. 

He followed that with an even better sophomore season, averaging 27.0 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists while shooting 61.1 percent from the floor in 61 games. Before the injury, the 2019 first overall pick was expected to evolve further this year.

New Orleans has struggled with Williamson sidelined. The Pelicans traded for CJ McCollum before the Feb. 10 deadline but still sit tied for 10th in the Western Conference with a 25-36 record.

With just over a month left in the regular season, time is running out for Williamson to make his return.

New Orleans Pelicans center Jaxson Hayes pleaded no contest Thursday to charges of resisting arrest and false imprisonment connected to his July arrest, according to TMZ Sports.

Hayes will be sentenced in June. He could face a fine, jail sentence of up to 364 days or a combination of the two.

The third-year big man was arrested in Los Angeles in July after police officers responded to a report of a domestic dispute.

Authorities said they wanted to speak with another person at the scene and ordered Hayes to remain outside, but he attempted to stop them from going inside the residence.

Two officers began holding onto Hayes when he pushed one into an exterior wall of the residence. Police officers used a Taser to subdue him, and he was treated for undisclosed injuries.

The Los Angeles Police Department released a video of his arrest in August.

Hayes was charged with 12 misdemeanors in January, including domestic violence and battery against a police officer. A judge dismissed all but the resisting arrest and false imprisonment charges.

Hayes has made 47 appearances for the Pelicans this season. The 21-year-old is averaging 8.7 points and 3.9 rebounds.

New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum wants people to take it easy on Zion Williamson, telling reporters Thursday to "leave the young fella alone."

Williamson has missed the entire 2021-22 season with a foot injury, leading to speculation about his future with the organization, but McCollum indicated there were no concerns.

"He'll be healthy eventually, and when he is, we'll welcome him with open arms," McCollum said.

McCollum was traded to the Pelicans on Feb. 8 after spending his whole career with the Portland Trail Blazers, but during All-Star Weekend, the ninth-year guard told TNT that he hadn't spoken to Williamson. 

ESPN's Malika Andrews reported Williamson has since reached out and the two have spoken.

It was enough to raise questions about Zion's role with the organization, especially after former Pelican JJ Redick called the 21-year-old a "detached teammate" during an interview Tuesday on ESPN's First Take.

McCollum, who has two more seasons left on his current contract, is still looking to build fences with the third-year player.

Williamson was an All-Star last season with averages of 27.0 points and 7.2 rebounds per game, but injuries and off-court concerns remain a story going forward.    

The separation between Zion Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans has reportedly been building for a while.

Former NBA player JJ Redick accused Williamson of being a "detached teammate" on ESPN's First Take this week, and Christian Clark of NOLA.com reported this began with his issues with the front office.

"The detachment Williamson has shown with the Pelicans, sources inside and outside the organization have often cited, is because of a lack of trust," Clark reported.

Vice president of basketball operations David Griffin is seen as a driving force in this divide.

"Williamson and his camp didn’t trust Griffin to be truthful," Clark added.

Fractures between the two sides began during Williamson's rookie year as the Pelicans brought him back slowly from his knee injury. The 2019 No. 1 overall pick was estimated to return in 6-8 weeks, but he was out three months and only appeared in 24 games his first season, averaging 27.8 minutes per game.

The constant personnel changes within the organization also haven't helped, including three head coaches in three seasons. With a 23-36 record in 2021-22, the team is likely headed to its fourth straight losing season.

Even Redick said he was lied to by Griffin when he was traded in 2021.

Williamson has also played a role in the apparent feud. 

The forward has showed up to camp overweight in the past and reportedly wasn't committed to rehab work, per Clark. A foot injury has now kept Williamson out for the 2021-22 season with little sign he will return. 

CJ McCollum also said the 21-year-old didn't reach out to him soon after a trade to the Pelicans, although the two have since spoken, per ESPN's Malika Andrews.

It's enough to create significant question marks about the 2021 All-Star despite his on-court production.     

The New Orleans Pelicans and star forward Zion Williamson have reportedly become "distant" while he's away from the team to rehab his foot injury.

ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported Tuesday on SportsCenter (via TalkBasket) the Pelicans have reached a point where they "just don't know what to say" about the 2019 No. 1 pick.

"They're distant, both literally and figuratively," Windhorst said. "He left the team in early January to go deal with this injury on his own, and he's just not been around for months."

Williamson's role within the organization has come into question in recent days.

CJ McCollum, who was acquired from the Portland Trail Blazers in a Feb. 8 trade, said Saturday he still hadn't spoken with the Pelicans' face of the franchise since the deal.

"I haven't had conversations with him directly," McCollum said. "I've spoken with some people close to him, and I look forward to sitting down with him sooner than later. I know about as much as you do right now, but I'm gonna get to the bottom of it."

McCollum told ESPN's Malika Andrews on Tuesday that Williamson has since reached out to have a conversation.

Meanwhile, former Pelicans guard JJ Redick explained Tuesday on First Take (via CBS Sports' Jasmyn Wimbish) how McCollum's experience with Williamson wasn't entirely unique:

This is a pattern of behavior with Zion that we are seeing again and again. I was his teammate. I can describe him as a detached teammate. That is an accurate statement. This is basic level of humanity being a teammate. Send a text to a guy when he gets traded to your team. That is just normal behavior. That's the bare minimum that you have to do. And the Pelicans yesterday sent out an email for season tickets for next year, and guess whose name was not in the email? Zion's. What the heck is going on in New Orleans?

The Pelicans' last official update on Williamson came Jan. 5 when they announced he'd continue his rehab away from the team.

"As you can imagine, this has been a very difficult process for me," Williamson said. "I know there's work to be done in my recovery before I can safely return to the court, but I will continue to put in the time necessary so I can get back on the floor with my team and represent Pelicans fans and the city of New Orleans at the highest level."

The 2021 All-Star hasn't played a game during the 2021-22 season because of the injury.

New Orleans has struggled in his absence, posting a 23-36 record, but it's still just two games behind Portland (25-34) for the final berth in the Western Conference play-in tournament.

It remains unclear whether Williamson, who averaged 27 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 2020-21, has a chance to return before season's end.

The Pelicans return from the All-Star break Friday when they visit the Phoenix Suns, who own the NBA's best record at 48-10.

Breathe easy, New Orleans Pelicans fans.

Zion Williamson and CJ McCollum have at least spoken.

ESPN's Malika Andrews reported McCollum said Williamson reached out to him after the guard revealed during an interview with TNT over All-Star Weekend that he had not yet spoken with his new teammate.

Williamson was already in the headlines Tuesday when JJ Redick said on First Take the power forward has been "detached" as a teammate and should have reached out to McCollum after the Pelicans acquired him via trade from the Portland Trail Blazers.

"This is a pattern of behavior that we are seeing again and again with Zion," the former NBA sharp-shooter, who just so happened to be teammates with Williamson during the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons, said:         

Christian Clark of NOLA.com reported the 21-year-old "has been uncommunicative with" teammates while recovering from his fractured right foot. The Duke product is rehabbing in Portland and away from the team facilities.

"Williamson's poor conditioning has complicated his recovery from the multiple serious injuries he's suffered with the Pelicans," Clark added while pointing out it remains unclear when or if he will play his first game with the team this season.

The Pelicans surely envisioned Williamson as their franchise cornerstone for years to come when they selected him with the No. 1 overall pick of the 2019 NBA draft.

While his debut during his rookie season was delayed by injury, he was a force in his second season while averaging 27.0 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game while shooting 61.1 percent from the field.

Yet the momentum from that effort has stalled this season because of his health. It is not difficult to envision a team with Williamson, McCollum and Brandon Ingram all on the court together challenging even some of the best contenders in the Western Conference, but the big man has to be on the floor for that to happen.

He has at least reached out to McCollum at this point, and perhaps New Orleans can play its way into the play-in tournament during the season's stretch run. It is two games behind the San Antonio Spurs for the No. 10 seed in the Western Conference.          

Nearly two weeks after being acquired by the New Orleans Pelicans, CJ McCollum acknowledged he still has yet to speak directly with Zion Williamson. 

Appearing on TNT's All-Star Saturday night show (h/t Mason Ginsberg of Bourbon Street Shots), McCollum was asked about his communication with the Pelicans superstar. 

"I haven't had conversations with him directly," McCollum said. "I've spoken with some people close to him and look forward to sitting down with him sooner than later. I know about as much as you do right now, but I'm gonna get to the bottom of it."

Despite being in 12th place in the Western Conference standings, the Pelicans elected to make a splash prior to the trade deadline by acquiring McCollum, Larry Nance Jr. and Tony Snell from the Portland Trail Blazers for Josh Hart, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Tomáš Satoranský, Didi Louzada and three future draft picks. 

Williamson has yet to appear in a game this season as he continues to recover from offseason foot surgery. The Pelicans announced in January that the 21-year-old was continuing his rehab away from the team. 

There is still no timetable for Williamson to return. He hasn't appeared in a game since May 4, 2021, against the Golden State Warriors. 

McCollum, who is signed through the 2023-24 season, and Williamson are expected to be the leaders for the Pelicans when they can get on the court together. McCollum is averaging 28.4 points, 6.0 rebounds and 5.4 assists with a 51.4 percent field-goal percentage in five games since the trade. 

New Orleans currently has a 23-36 record, two games behind the Blazers for the final spot in the play-in tournament. 

New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson is reportedly not expected to return from a foot injury for the "foreseeable future."

ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported the update Thursday on Get Up (via HoopsHype).

"A couple of weeks ago, the coaching staff and the players became aware not to expect Zion back for the foreseeable future," Windhorst said.

The 21-year-old suffered a fractured fifth metatarsal in his right foot during the last offseason. He has not played at all in 2021-22 after experiencing numerous setbacks, including regression in the bone healing of the fifth metatarsal in December.

In January, the Pels said that Williamson was doing his rehab away from New Orleans but that team officials were supervising his progress.

Then on Wednesday, Christian Clark of NOLA.com reported that a second surgery could be a possibility, although nothing had been decided at that time. Williamson's initial surgery occurred over the offseason.

Williamson was coming off an excellent 2020-21 season in which he averaged 27.0 points (61.1 percent shooting), 7.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. He also made his first All-Star Game in his second season.

The former Duke star showcased his talents in his truncated 2019-20 rookie season, which started in January after he suffered a torn right lateral meniscus during the preseason. He posted 22.5 points in 27.8 minutes per game.

Unfortunately, the 2021-22 campaign is trending toward a lost season for Williamson as the superstar is running out of time for a return.

Without Williamson, the Pels have struggled, starting the season 1-12 and settling at 23-35 at the moment.

They're in contention for a play-in tournament spot in the Western Conference, however, and the trade deadline acquisition of CJ McCollum undoubtedly helps the team's scoring void left in Williamson's absence.