Zion Williamson a work in progress for Pelicans after missing season with foot injury

After what Zion Williamson did on the court in 2020-21, his return this season following his injury-related absence was much anticipated. 

What kind of player would he be for the New Orleans Pelicans?

Williamson looked stronger and more lean entering training camp after missing 2021-22 with a broken fifth metatarsal in his right foot.

How has Williams fared?

Williamson has been very good – not great – and there are signs the Pelicans can turn into one of the very good teams (now and in the future) in the competitive Western Conference with Williamson at the heart of it.

Heading into Wednesday night's game, Williamson averages 23.1 points, 6.9 rebounds, 4.1 assists and is shooting 53.9% from the field in eight contests.

An early-season scouting report on Williamson:

Scoring

He's averaging fewer points and shooting a lower percentage than he did in 2020-21 but that’s not a concern since it’s so early. Making more shots will come with more time on the court. Plus, he has CJ McCollum, a scorer who wasn’t with the Pelicans until the trade deadline last season, and Brandon Ingram, a 20-point-a-game scorer.

Williams still has power, quickness and agility and is a force when attacking the rim. The Pelicans like to get Williamson the basketball on the right wing and let him drive to the basket going left, his shooting hand. He is difficult to stop, and while his strength is obvious, he is also nimble around the rim with a soft touch when needed. The Pelicans also like to get Williamson the ball as he cuts to the rim.

Williamson is shooting 60% less than five feet from the rim but just 3-for-17 on shots 5-9 feet from the rim. He needs to improve his mid-range game because teams sometimes give him that space so he can’t drive by defenders so easily.

Of note, Williamson is shooting three fewer free throws per game this season than 2020-21. No doubt, like Shaquille O’Neal and LeBron James, Williamson is difficult to officiate because he uses his strength to muscle through contact. Regardless, the Pelicans want him at the line more, and Williamson needs to figure out how to draw those fouls.

Passing

Williamson draws a crowd, and as he learns to read defenses better, his assists should increase. He’s averaging 4.1, same as 2021-22, and 6.0 assists opportunities per game, and he has had at least seven assists in three of his past five games.

He doesn’t need to be a gifted passer, just a competent one given the other scoring and shooting options he has (McCollum, Ingram, Trey Murphy III, Larry Nance Jr., Jose Alvarado, Devonte' Graham).

There’s no question the opportunities to create for teammates is there. Williamson often attracts a double-team, and sometimes, he has three or four defenders closing in on him. Check out the photo below from the Pelicans-Los Angeles Lakers game on Nov. 2.

Russell Westbrook is guarding Williamson in the paint, Anthony Davis comes over for the double-team, James sneaks inside the restricted area and Patrick Beverley moves into the paint to help. That’s four Lakers leaving their man. McCollum is open at the top of the 3-point line, and Dyson Daniels is open in the corner. Williams finds Daniels, who makes the 3.

That happens often, and Williamson’s ability to find the open man will help the offense.

Rebounding

Center Jonas Valanciunas leads the Pelicans with 10.7 rebounds per game, good for 11th in the league. Valanciunas, at 6-11, 265 pounds, is a massive presence and collects rebounds at an impressive rate – he grabs 19.4% of missed shots while on the court, which is No. 4 among players who play at least 24 minutes per game.

Still, the Pelicans want Williamson to procure more rebounds, especially on the defensive end. The reason? So he can get the rebound and go in hopes of making something happen in transition. He’s a load to slow down, and when he gathers speed heading to the rim, he’s nearly impossible to stop.

Williamson is an OK offensive rebounder but has a knack, like Hall of Famer Moses Malone, for collecting his own missed shot for a putback attempt.

Defense

This is the most important area for Williamson and the Pelicans as they try to go from playoff team to contender. New Orleans is No. 15 defensively, allowing 111 points per 100 possessions, and when Williamson is on the court, the Pelicans allow 105.5 points per 100 possessions, good enough for fourth in the league.

But Williamson is a work-in-progress defensively, and improvement is necessary. He isn't a great on-ball defender but has the tools to become a capable one – and has shown the ability to do so. Just not as frequently as one would like. And he sometimes loses track of his man during a play.

He has active hands, getting deflections and 1.1 steals per game and even though he is not a prolific shot-blocker, he can protect the rim with his size and jumping ability.

Beyond his physical skills, Williamson gets credit for his basketball IQ from the coaching staff and front office. He can become a reliable defender on a team with solid defenders.

And if that’s the case, the Pelicans can become one of the best teams in the West.

Follow NBA reporter Jeff Zillgitt on Twitter @JeffZillgitt

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Zion Williamson's return means Pelicans could move up in NBA West soon