When there is talk of the worst teams in the NBA, the same teams that always get high picks in the draft without showing improvements, the focus is always on the following four teams: Minnesota, Sacramento, Philadelphia and New Orleans.
Each for different reasons, except for one factor.
The common denominator for all of them is that they are managed in a disgraceful way for years and years.
Despite everything, which is not a positive thing, Philadelphia has managed to build a team with ambitions for the championship.
Sacramento is the team with the longest absence from the playoffs (15 years) and finals (69 years), Minnesota is failing to develop players and New Orleans is recruiting players.
This is a difficult accusation, and yet it is based on facts.
In 2016 it was reported that the team broke the record for games missed for the season due to injuries with 351 tackles.
At the time it was also reported that the team had recorded 1,500 subtractions in the previous ten seasons.
They remained the leading group in this figure for five years, a trend that resulted in salary losses estimated at $ 30 million.
In 2019, there were reports that the Pelicans' fitness team, whose owner is also the owner of the Saints football team (not uncommon), is shared - exceptionally - by both teams.
Across the league the matter was treated as a move for reasons of thrift, not to mention stinginess.
Zion Williamson.
Disturbing weight gain, Photo: EP
In 2012, Mickey Loomis was appointed team president, having previously served as general manager of the New Orleans Saints.
In doing so, the basketball team was run by a football man.
That same year an actor named Anthony Davis was selected in the first selection.
During the eight seasons he played for the team he missed 108 games due to injuries.
After the Davis saga, the Pelicans won the first pick that is by far the clearest: no team could have thought of giving up the talent of Zion Williamson, a combination of Charles Barkley and Sean Kemp, 127 pounds of power.
It was estimated at the time that a collision with it was equivalent to a collision with a jeep at a speed of 16 km / h.
Shaquille O'neill.
Will I also be able to save Zion's career ?, Photo: AP
The enthusiasm was justified but brief.
His rookie season ended after only 24 games, and already in the pre-season games he tore the miniscus.
He will open the current season at a time yet to be determined following a broken leg.
In recent days, pictures of Williamson heavier than usual have emerged, and he has reportedly crossed the 130-pound mark.
This is a worrying situation, especially when it comes to such a unique player who should be the face of the league in the coming years.
We may miss him for the simple reason that he was chosen for a group that does not understand how to treat him physically.
On the professional side, this season Williamson will meet his third coach in three seasons.
It is difficult to build a group when the head is not connected.
Moreover, the team does not have a single player with significant seniority (veteran), in other words - the team lacks leadership in the locker room.
Although the new coach was an actor himself, the lack of a father figure on the bench is problematic.
Will Zion realize its potential?
Apparently not, at least not in New Orleans.
There are several teams that were previously known as leaders in player medicine, most notably the Phoenix Suns, who at the time claimed that its medical staff saved Shaquille O'Neal's career.
There have been reports of dissatisfaction among some of Williamson's family members with the situation in the group, but he himself has not commented on the matter.
The feeling is that if we want to enjoy his abilities, and if he wants to reach his heights, it will not happen in Pelicans.
Maybe he really prefers a group that will take care of him and not just sell tickets.
