Pelicans issue positive update on Zion Williamson

Amid the torrential downpour of bad news with Zion Williamson’s health this season, the New Orleans Pelicans are finally getting a welcome reprieve.

The Pelicans announced Wednesday that recent imaging showed improved bone healing in Williamson’s troublesome right foot. While they were quick to note that Williamson is still out indefinitely, the team added that he will now gradually progress to full weight-bearing and basketball activities.

That is actually surprisingly good news for the former No. 1 pick, especially this late in the year. Williamson has missed 61 games and counting this regular season with only 21 left to play. But the Pelicans, thanks to the midseason acquisition of CJ McCollum, are mounting a run and have themselves in a competitive position for a play-in tournament bid.

Many were probably expecting Williamson to be shut down for the season at this point. Even Pelicans fans appeared to have exhausted all their patience. While it still feels like a stretch for Williamson to return in the final month of the season, it may no longer be totally out of the question, particularly with New Orleans still having something to play for.