Whether it is actually going to lead to Williamson staying on the court, let alone producing, is another question entirely. <\/p>\n
But it is a good thing that Williamson is feeling strong, because he is going to have to shoulder the weight of an entire organisation this season. <\/p>\n
General manager Joe Dumars, the face of a new-look Pelicans front office, was adamant this isn\u2019t a playoffs-or-bust season, telling reporters he hasn\u2019t \u201cput that expectation on anyone\u201d. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt wasn\u2019t like, \u2018Okay, we made this trade, I expect to make the playoffs.\u2019 That\u2019s shortsighted to me,\u201d Dumars added. <\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1760997672_565_poster-fallback.png\"\/)
<\/p>\n
But you know what also was shortsighted? The decision to trade an unprotected 2026 first-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks in order to move up and select Derik Queen at 13th overall.<\/p>\n
That first-round pick, in case you missed it, will be the most favourable one between the Pelicans and Milwaukee Bucks because of a previous clause in the Jrue Holiday trade in 2020. <\/p>\n
That, by the way, came after they already traded Indiana\u2019s top-four protected 2026 first-round pick, which could be valuable with Tyrese Haliburton injured, back to the Pacers for their 23rd pick in the 2025 draft, which they later flipped to move up to take Queen.<\/p>\n
So, Dumars may be telling the truth when he said he hadn\u2019t put any expectations on anyone that this was a playoffs-or-bust season. But the problem is that he didn\u2019t need to. <\/p>\n
MORE NBA NEWS<\/p>\n
TALKING POINTS: Why \u2018day of reckoning\u2019 looms; No.1 sensation\u2019s awkward reality<\/a><\/p>\n TIERS: Last roll of dice for Lakers; why contender could file for $229m divorce<\/a><\/p>\n Zion Williamson is looking fit. (AP Photo\/Mike Stewart)Source: AP<\/p>\n No one needs to spell out why this is such a big season in New Orleans. After all, in case it isn\u2019t clear, Dumars and this Pelicans front office is essentially betting that either they will stay healthy and competitive enough to make the playoffs in a stacked Western Conference or the Bucks will stay afloat and Giannis Antetokounmpo will not request a trade.<\/p>\n Otherwise, if the Bucks struggle and Antetokounmpo asks out, there is every chance they could bottom out and the same goes for the Pelicans, who have a talented albeit young roster that is only really being held together by Williamson.<\/p>\n That\u2019s right, the Pelicans are betting on a player who has only played 214 games in his six seasons in the NBA to stay healthy. <\/p>\n And while the early signs suggest that Williamson could be in for a career year, it is a fine needle to thread, especially considering how much will be on his plate early in the season. <\/p>\n The Pelicans will already be down two locked-in starters in Dejounte Murray and Kevon Looney on opening night, while Jordan Poole doesn\u2019t profile as a traditional point guard running the offence, which could mean more primary ball handling reps for Williamson. <\/p>\n While that would have been an issue in past years, this version of Williamson could be better equipped to take on that added responsibility.<\/p>\n This is different to previous years where the conversation has always centred around whether Williamson is healthy and in shape. This time around, he didn\u2019t even need to answer those questions.<\/p>\n All Williamson had to do was pose for one photograph that the Pelicans then posted on social media and wait for it to go viral. And so, the cycle starts again. <\/p>\n Where we start believing in Williamson again. Where we tell ourselves this is finally the year when he stays on the court and puts it all together. <\/p>\n If it doesn\u2019t work out this time around, it may be hard to ever separate the idea of Zion Williamson from the reality. <\/p>\n It is why ESPN\u2019s front office insider Bobby Marks believes this is a \u201cnow or never\u201d season for Williamson.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s in the best condition and shape,\u201d Marks said on \u2018The Zach Lowe Show\u2019. <\/p>\n \u201cI just remember last year in March I was in L.A. watching them play the Lakers and he was the best player on the court with LeBron and Luka. He was better than the two of them. <\/p>\n \u201cSo, I do think we\u2019re kind of now in a now or never year. If it doesn\u2019t happen now, I don\u2019t know when it ever will be.\u201d<\/p>\n While it is obviously hard to know how much to read into the exhibition game against Melbourne United in the preseason, Williamson did look lighter and faster than ever before as he scored 15 points in 16 minutes. <\/p>\n Watch live coverage of NBL and WNBL 2025-26 seasons with ESPN on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.<\/a><\/p>\n Zion looked good down under. (Photo by Kelly Defina\/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n In fact, The Athletic\u2019s leading NBA draft expert Sam Vecenie tweeted during the game that Williamson looked \u201cabout as good and as in-shape as I\u2019ve seen him since Duke\u201d.<\/p>\n But while Williamson\u2019s health may still be the biggest question mark hanging over the Pelicans entering this season, it isn\u2019t the only one. <\/p>\n What about the defence, which ranked 29th in the league last year, and is so reliant on Herb Jones, who was limited to just 20 regular season games by a shoulder injury?<\/p>\n And how much do they play the rookies Queen and Jeremiah Fears, especially when you consider winning games is only more important this season if they don\u2019t want that draft-day trade to look even worse?<\/p>\n MORE NBL NEWS<\/p>\n POWER RANKINGS: Defending champs in free-fall as dark horse continues rise<\/a><\/p>\n