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[New Orleans Pelicans]

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[New Orleans Pelicans]

Insider Names ‘Team To Watch’ For Brandon Ingram

(Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

After six seasons, Brandon Ingram’s time with the New Orleans Pelicans may be coming to an end.

Ingram has been the subject of many trade rumors for months, but it’s all coming to a head and he could be leaving the Pelicans by next week.

According to Brian Windhorst, the Atlanta Hawks are a “team to watch” for Ingram.

“Keep an eye on the Atlanta Hawks. They just lost their star wing Jalen Johnson for the season. They may start to get interested in making a move, especially for Brandon Ingram,” Windhorst said, per NBACentral.

The Atlanta Hawks are a team to watch for Brandon Ingram, per @WindhorstESPN

“Keep an eye on the Atlanta Hawks. They just lost their star wing Jalen Johnson for the season. They may start to get interested in making a move, especially for Brandon Ingram.”

(Via @GetUpESPN ) pic.twitter.com/MV2F7oWpLb

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) January 31, 2025

Ingram could fill the void that has been left in Atlanta because of Jalen Johnson’s injury, but only if he’s able to play often.

One of the problems with Ingram is that he has been injured a lot this season.

He has only played in 18 games, but during those games he has averaged 22.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 5.2 assists.

Ingram and the Pelicans have had some difficulties over the last several months.

When the last offseason began, most people assumed he would be leaving the Pelicans, and there were stories of him sitting out of a team mini-camp, which was a clear sign that he wanted to cut ties and move on.

But he came back at the start of 2024-25, so there has been a lot of confusion about what’s next for Ingram.

With the current state of the Pelicans, it wouldn’t be shocking to see Ingram and multiple other stars leave the team.

The Pelicans were planning to move away from Ingram anyway, and the Hawks might give them an opportunity to do that.

The post Insider Names ‘Team To Watch’ For Brandon Ingram appeared first on The Cold Wire.

Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/insider-names-team-to-watch-for-brandon-ingram/

 

[New Orleans Pelicans]

Stephen A. Smith Says Pelicans Star Wants To Leave The Team

(Photo by Thomas B. Shea/Getty Images)

The New Orleans Pelicans and Zion Williamson continue to make the news for all the wrong reasons.

The former No. 1 pick was recently suspended for breaking the team’s rules before the game vs. the Philadelphia 76ers.

Considering how badly the team has fared and how much they needed him on the court for that game, that was an indictment of how much the team may have tolerated from him in the past.

Notably, that’s why Stephen A. Smith believes Williamson doesn’t want any part of the organization.

Talking on ESPN’s “First Take,” Smith argued that Williamson wanted to play for a big-market team because of the marketability (via NBA Central):

“Zion doesn’t want to be in New Orleans, he doesn’t want to be there. He wants to be in a major market like L.A., New York, or whatever, because he wants the marketability.” he said.

Stephen A. Smith says that Zion Williamson wants to leave New Orleans

“Zion doesn’t want to be in New Orleans, he doesn’t want to be there. He wants to be in a major market like L.A., New York, or whatever, because he wants the marketability.”

(Via @FirstTake ) pic.twitter.com/ovCeK7e7d4

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) January 14, 2025

Of course, that makes plenty of sense, but he will never be marketable if he’s not actually on the floor.

Since he entered the league, there have been multiple worrisome reports about Williamson’s drive, work ethic, character, and eating habits.

We’ve seen him struggle with his weight year in and year out, seemingly falling out of shape after every injury.

He also struggles to get back on the court and usually needs way more time than the average player to return from minor ailments.

Williamson has been away from the team while nursing injuries multiple times.

That’s not going to do him many favors in the trade market, not even if his plan all along has been to force his way out of the Big Easy.

The post Stephen A. Smith Says Pelicans Star Wants To Leave The Team appeared first on The Cold Wire.

Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/stephen-a-smith-says-pelicans-star-wants-to-leave-the-team/

 

[New Orleans Pelicans]

Shannon Sharpe Calls Out Zion Williamson

(Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

This year was supposed to be Zion Williamson’s big comeback season, and fans expected him to remain healthy and for the Pelicans to thrive.

Instead, Williamson has only played in eight games and the Pelicans are one of the worst teams in the league.

There are many reasons for New Orleans’ problems, but Shannon Sharpe pointed his criticism at Williamson and his physical state.

Speaking on “First Take,” per Legion Hoops, Sharpe said:

“Zion has spent a lot of time on the court – it just happen to be in the mall, it’s the food court… He needs a change of eatery. Stop going and eating everything that you see, bro. That’s embarrassing.”

Shannon Sharpe calls out Zion Williamson

“Zion has spent a lot of time on the court – it just happen to be in the mall, it's the food court… He needs a change of eatery. Stop going and eating everything that you see, bro. That's embarrassing.”

(via @FirstTake, h/t… pic.twitter.com/aXBPiY74ZI

— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) January 13, 2025

Sharpe isn’t the first person to make pointed remarks about Williamson’s body and weight.

Sadly, he probably won’t be the last.

While Williamson definitely looks better than he did in the past, he is still facing physical problems, and this season has been impacted by injuries yet again.

Some fans believe the injuries are caused by simple mishaps and bad luck, but others feel that Williamson doesn’t take good care of his body.

During his eight games, Williamson has averaged 21.8 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 4.9 assists.

He has shown that he can still be a dynamic and explosive player, but it seems he can never be fully healthy.

This has a lot of people wondering if the Pelicans will let him go soon in a blockbuster trade.

The team is reportedly open to parting ways with him, but no one knows which teams could be in the mix to get him.

Will Williamson be able to start a fresh, new chapter if he is traded, or will people like Sharpe continue to comment on his weight and conditioning?

The post Shannon Sharpe Calls Out Zion Williamson appeared first on The Cold Wire.

Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/shannon-sharpe-calls-out-zion-williamson/

 

[New Orleans Pelicans]

Pelicans GM Says 1 Veteran Will Likely Be Shut Down For The Rest Of Season

(Photo by Thomas B. Shea/Getty Images)

It is hard to sum up just how bad the season has been for the New Orleans Pelicans.

It’s not lack of talent that is holding them back, but lack of good luck because they have had many injuries that have completely destroyed their roster.

On Tuesday morning, executive vice president David Griffin announced that Herb Jones will likely miss the remainder of the season because of a shoulder injury, according to Will Guillory.

The hits just keep on coming for New Orleans, and at this point, many fans are eager for the season to be over.

David Griffin says Herb Jones will likely be shut down for the rest of the season.

— Will Guillory (@WillGuillory) February 11, 2025

When he was first hurt in January, Jones was listed as out “indefinitely,” but people already suspected that it could have been the end of 2024-25 for him.

He has played in 20 games this year and has averaged 10.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 3.3 assists during them.

The Pelicans now have only two starters still in the lineup from the beginning of the season.

Injury after injury has brought the Pelicans down since the very first game.

When the season tipped off in October, Dejounte Murray wasn’t even able to play an entire game before injuring his hand.

He eventually came back but ended up tearing his Achilles and is now gone for the remainder of the year as well.

From Zion Williamson to CJ McCollum, Jose Alvardo, and more, it seems that just about everyone on the roster has been knocked down by injuries.

The Pelicans are currently the worst team in their conference with a 12-41 record.

This latest news about Jones is obviously very disappointing.

But at this point, it’s not even surprising for this decimated team.

The post Pelicans GM Says 1 Veteran Will Likely Be Shut Down For The Rest Of Season appeared first on The Cold Wire.

Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/pelican...l-likely-be-shut-down-for-the-rest-of-season/

 

[New Orleans Pelicans]

Details Emerge About Why Zion Williamson Was Suspended

(Photo by Amanda Loman/Getty Images)

On Friday afternoon, the New Orleans Pelicans announced that they were suspending Zion Williamson for a single game after he violated team policies.

It was later revealed that Williamson showed up late for the team’s flight to Philadelphia, and he was forced to sit on the sidelines as his team defeated the Philadelphia 76ers.

Now Williamson is speaking up and taking responsibility for his actions.

“I take full responsibility for this suspension. I’ve worked extremely hard in rehab to get healthy to deliver for this team. There is no excuse for being late to team activities. I have apologized to Mrs. Benson and my teammates and coaches and I also owe an apology to the fans. I can and will be better as a teammate and member of this organization,” Williamson said, via Ron Walker.

Zion Williamson: “I take full responsibility for this suspension. I’ve worked extremely hard in rehab to get healthy to deliver for this team. There is no excuse for being late to team activities. I have apologized to Mrs. Benson and my teammates and coaches and I also owe an…

— Rod Walker (@RodWalkerNola) January 10, 2025

Williamson reportedly has been late for numerous practices throughout the season, so it sounds like this latest incident was just the last straw.

In the grand scheme of things, sitting out one game isn’t a huge deal, and thankfully the Pelicans did well without him.

But if this happens again, Williamson could face a harsher punishment and miss multiple games.

This could also influence the team’s plans for Williamson’s future.

There have been rumors about the Pelicans contemplating trading him to another team.

After years of being its biggest star, New Orleans might finally make a move and send Williamson away.

If the front office feels that he isn’t committed and is going to keep making mistakes like this, they may be even more aggressive with a trade featuring him.

Williamson promised he will do better and this will not happen again.

But will that change his fate and future in New Orleans?

The post Details Emerge About Why Zion Williamson Was Suspended appeared first on The Cold Wire.

Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/details-emerge-about-why-zion-williamson-was-suspended/

 

[New Orleans Pelicans]

Zion Williamson Reacts To Suspension By Pelicans

(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

The New Orleans Pelicans will be without Zion Williamson for its game against the Philadelphia 76ers, following his late arrival for the team’s flight.

The one-game suspension by the Pelicans stems from what the team termed a “violation of team policies.”

Reports have emerged that this wasn’t an isolated incident, as Williamson has reportedly been late to multiple practices throughout the season.

Following the announcement of the punishment, the forward addressed the situation.

“I take full responsibility for this suspension,” Williamson said in a statement, via Will Guillory of The Athletic. “I’ve worked extremely hard in rehab to get healthy to deliver for this team. There is no excuse for being late to team activities. I have apologized to (owner) Mrs. Benson and my teammates and coaches and I also owe an apology to the fans. I can and will be better as a teammate and member of this organization.”

Statement from David Griffin:

“This one game suspension is a result of failing to meet our team standards. His dedication to this organization is of paramount significance to us and to him. He has taken accountability for his actions and reaffirmed that commitment to the team… https://t.co/QPaX1OFhSH

— Will Guillory (@WillGuillory) January 10, 2025

Pelicans vice president David Griffin elaborated on the disciplinary action, emphasizing the importance of maintaining team standards.

He expressed confidence in Williamson’s ability to grow from this experience, noting that the player has taken accountability for his actions and showing optimism about his development both on and off the court.

The timing of Williamson’s suspension is particularly challenging for the team. Earlier in the day, it received news that Herbert Jones had suffered a torn labrum, sidelining him indefinitely.

Losing both players creates a significant void in the lineup, especially considering Williamson’s impressive season averages of 22.6 points, 7.7 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game.

While Williamson is expected to rejoin the team for its next game, the incident adds another chapter to his complex tenure with the Pelicans.

The post Zion Williamson Reacts To Suspension By Pelicans appeared first on The Cold Wire.

Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/zion-williamson-reacts-to-suspension-by-pelicans/

 

[New Orleans Pelicans]

Pelicans Veteran Will Miss The Rest Of The Season

(Photo by Thomas B. Shea/Getty Images)

Many people expected the New Orleans Pelicans to take a step forward and possibly win 50 games this season, but instead, they have suffered through a nightmare season.

Virtually all of their key players have dealt with injuries this season, including guard Dejounte Murray, who recently tore his Achilles, and the oft-hurt Zion Williamson, who has played in just 17 games.

Now, more bad news on the injury front has arrived, as Herb Jones, a fourth-year forward, will miss the rest of this season because of a torn rotator cuff that he recently had surgery on, per NBA on TNT.

Pelicans wing Herb Jones will be out the remainder of the season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff, per @ChrisBHaynes pic.twitter.com/LSCc3lOKOO

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 12, 2025

Jones has struggled with his shooting this season, but he is a strong defender, and at 6-foot-7, he can play both forward positions.

The Pelicans’ injury problems have completely ruined their plans to be a competitive team, not to mention their chances of at least reaching the play-in tournament.

They currently hold a 12-41 record, which is the worst record in the Western Conference and the second-worst mark in the entire NBA.

Perhaps the one piece of good news for them is that they have a real shot to land the No. 1 pick in this summer’s draft, which would allow them to draft Duke University sensation Cooper Flagg.

At 6-foot-9, Flagg can seemingly do it all whom scouts have compared to Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen, and he could greatly change New Orleans’ fortunes should they end up with him.

Even beyond possibly drafting Flagg, big changes could be in store for the Pelicans this summer, and they already made a big change prior to the trade deadline by dealing Brandon Ingram to the Toronto Raptors.

The post Pelicans Veteran Will Miss The Rest Of The Season appeared first on The Cold Wire.

Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/pelicans-veteran-will-miss-the-rest-of-the-season/

 

[New Orleans Pelicans]

Pelicans Named As A Potential Facilitator In Jimmy Butler Trade

(Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

The Jimmy Butler saga continues for the Miami Heat, as that team looks to find a suitable trade partner to take the six-time All-Star.

We don’t know where Butler will land, but we are now hearing of a team that may work as a facilitator for the trade.

According to Evan Sidery, the New Orleans Pelicans are a team to watch as a “potential facilitator” for the Butler trade.

Sidery wrote:

“New Orleans has been looking around for trades involving Brandon Ingram, and the Heat might be interested with Butler’s looming exit.

Ingram would join Miami, while Butler lands elsewhere.”

The Pelicans are a team to monitor as a potential facilitator in a Jimmy Butler trade.

New Orleans has been looking around for trades involving Brandon Ingram, and the Heat might be interested with Butler’s looming exit.

Ingram would join Miami, while Butler lands elsewhere. pic.twitter.com/hnXE0UNfVe

— Evan Sidery (@esidery) January 7, 2025

This would solve problems for both teams.

The Heat would be able to get rid of Butler, who has no interest in remaining in Miami.

As for the Pelicans, they would finally be able to part ways with Ingram, who has been the subject of immense trade speculation for more than a season now.

Of course, this story from Sidery doesn’t propose where Butler would end up.

Several teams have been tied to him since he decided to leave the Heat, including the Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, Phoenix Suns, and more.

Could any of them be brought into a three-team deal?

It seems increasingly likely that any trade involving Butler will include more than just two teams.

It’ll take a lot of work and some interesting choices, but it’ll be worth it for the Heat to be done with the drama surrounding their team.

It sounds like these two teams are ready to deal; now they need a third to step up.

The post Pelicans Named As A Potential Facilitator In Jimmy Butler Trade appeared first on The Cold Wire.

Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/pelicans-named-as-a-potential-facilitator-in-jimmy-butler-trade/

 

[New Orleans Pelicans]

Insider Reveals When Zion Williamson Could Return For Pelicans

(Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

It’s been exactly two months since Zion Williamson played for the New Orleans Pelicans.

During his lengthy absence, the team has completely collapsed and is now the worst squad in the Western Conference.

There isn’t a lot to be hopeful about with the Pelicans but at least Williamson might be back soon.

According to Will Guillory, per Legion Hoops, there is a “chance” that Williamson will return to the team as early as this week.

But how much longer will he be with New Orleans and is it too late to save this season?

There is a “chance” that Zion Williamson will return to play this week, per @WillGuillory

pic.twitter.com/ZIXEV1JbeU

— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) January 6, 2025

With a dreadful 7-29 record, it seems unlikely that the Pelicans can get back on track and earn a spot in the playoffs or Play-In Tournament.

So even with Williamson back, the Pelicans’ fate might be sealed for 2024–25.

Additionally, there are now many rumors about Williamson and his future with the team.

During his time away, the front office did some serious soul-searching, and the latest reports state they are willing to part ways with a few stars.

That means Williamson could be packing his bags soon, along with CJ McCollum, Brandon Ingram, and others.

Williamson might be back this week and could be totally healthy, but the Pelicans may still send him to another franchise in the weeks ahead.

This may be the last time Pelicans fans see Williamson in their jersey.

Before he was injured in November, Williamson was putting up 22.7 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game.

Can he reach those numbers again upon his return?

What will that do for his team and, perhaps more importantly, his trade value?

The post Insider Reveals When Zion Williamson Could Return For Pelicans appeared first on The Cold Wire.

Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/insider-reveals-when-zion-williamson-could-return-for-pelicans/

 

[New Orleans Pelicans]

Pelicans Are Reportedly Open To Trading CJ McCollum

(Photo by Gus Stark/Getty Images)

They started the season with high expectations, but the New Orleans Pelicans are now ready to do just about anything to improve their chances.

The team is open to trading some of their biggest stars, including CJ McCollum.

According to Brett Siegel, via NBACentral, the Pelicans have “expressed a level of openness” about moving McCollum.

Siegel wrote:

“The Pelicans have expressed a level of openness with teams around the league to discuss McCollum’s future, sources said. The veteran guard is making $33.3 million this season and sees his contract value decrease by about $2.67 million next season. Whether or not a market exists for the 33-year-old is an unknown leading up to the trade deadline.”

The New Orleans Pelicans are reportedly open to discussing CJ McCollum’s future, per @BrettSiegelNBA

“The Pelicans have expressed a level of openness with teams around the league to discuss McCollum's future, sources said. The veteran guard is making $33.3 million this season… pic.twitter.com/cQ01jOQRQk

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) January 3, 2025

McCollum is now in his fourth season with the Pelicans, where he has been a starter since coming over in 2021-22.

During his four years in New Orleans, McCollum has averaged 21.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 5.2 assists.

This is one of his best seasons for the Pelicans yet, and he is putting up an average of 21.4 points per game.

Still, there may not be a major market for McCollum and the Pelicans could have a difficult time trading him.

This is true for a few of the players they are trying to part ways with, including Brandon Ingram.

The Pelicans are willing to make deals, but this process could end up being complicated and frustrating for them.

McCollum has been in the NBA for 12 years and is considered one of the smartest guards in the league.

But even with his vast wealth of experience and knowledge, teams may not be rushing to trade for him.

The post Pelicans Are Reportedly Open To Trading CJ McCollum appeared first on The Cold Wire.

Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/pelicans-are-reportedly-open-to-trading-cj-mccollum/

 

[New Orleans Pelicans]

Zion Williamson Made NBA History On Friday

(Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

The 2024-25 NBA season will be a lost year for the New Orleans Pelicans, who sit last in the Western Conference with a 13-43 record.

The Pelicans weren’t projected to be this bad heading into the regular season as they made a blockbuster deal to acquire Dejounte Murray from the Atlanta Hawks.

However, injuries have ruined any chance of New Orleans being competitive.

They lost Murray for the rest of the year due to a torn Achilles, while other players like Zion Williamson have dealt with their own injury woes.

The Pelicans made the smart move of trading away players like Brandon Ingram to help restart their team, though Williamson remains on the roster despite his lack of availability.

When healthy, Williamson is a dynamic offensive force who can single-handedly take over games.

While this year hasn’t been the best for Williamson, he managed to make history on Friday by becoming the third-fastest active NBA player to hit 5,000 points via Bleacher Report.

“Last night, Zion became 3rd fastest active NBA player (203 games) to reach 5K career PTS Special.”

Last night, Zion became 3rd fastest active NBA player (203 games) to reach 5K career PTS

Special.

pic.twitter.com/yLpdueEUXN

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 22, 2025

New Orleans lost to the Dallas Mavericks 111-103, though Williamson performed well.

He scored 29 points, had seven rebounds, and three assists.

Durability and conditioning concerns have plagued the star big man for years, but there’s no denying his talents on the basketball court.

While the Pelicans won’t be competing for anything other than draft positioning this year, there’s at least some solace in knowing WIlliamson is capable of playing like a star when he’s on the floor.

The post Zion Williamson Made NBA History On Friday appeared first on The Cold Wire.

Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/zion-williamson-made-nba-history-on-friday/