Sad News: Utah Jazz key player die in a Car Cr….

Sad News: Utah Jazz key player die in a Car Cr….

With half of the NBA season in the rearview mirror, it’s about time we revisit our preseason Utah Jazz award projections and update our picks.

Injuries, unlikely heroes, and inconsistent play make award predictions nearly impossible. With that said, these updated award picks are based on the 42 games we have already seen.

New Orleans’ woes date further back than just this season, too. When the Pels drafted unicorn Zion Williamson with the No. 1 pick in the 2019 draft, it seemed like they were on the verge of an exciting new era.

Zoom ahead to the present, and New Orleans has achieved close to nothing as a franchise in the Zion era. Williamson’s array of injuries have prevented him from ever appearing in an NBA playoff game.

Should the Pelicans move on from Zion and seek a fresh start? Williamson is still just 24 years old, but yet again, he hasn’t been healthy this season, appearing in just 10 games so far.

If there was ever an appropriate time to punt on Zion to re-try a rebuild around someone else, it would be nowish for New Orleans, as they’ll have a high pick in a loaded 2025 draft.

If Zion were floated out onto the trade block, he’d probably attract fewer suitors than most people expect. Contenders don’t really have time or space to deal with the injury drama (certainly not for around $40 million per season over the next three years), and rebuilding teams are equally as hesitant to take on such an expensive risk.