Shutting down Zion Williamson for the rest of the regular season was elementary for the New Orleans Pelicans, as natural as their “NOP” team abbreviation during broadcasts.

Deciding how to proceed with the injury-plagued former No. 1 overall NBA Draft pick, however, seems anything but easy.

Various injuries—the latest a back contusion—will limit Williamson to 30 games or fewer for the fourth time in his six professional seasons. That includes missing the entire 2021-22 season with a foot injury.

“Effective when healthy” accurately describes Williamson’s plight and prospects, something Pelicans fans and team officials know too well. With Williamson under contract for three more seasons, does New Orleans keep banking on his durability and conditioning to align with his suddenly fading star? Would a team conceivably trade for Williamson given his history?

Speaking on Tuesday’s edition of First Take, ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith expressed skepticism that dealing Williamson would be a viable move for the Pelicans.

“As great as he is, the word ‘bust’ comes to mind—not because of his talent. I’m only talking about his availability,” Smith said. “If you’re not available, it doesn’t matter how great you are. He’s almost never available. That is the situation.

“If you traded him right now, for example, do you realize you can’t ask for the farm for Zion? Or you can ask, but you ain’t going to get it because he hasn’t been available. And nobody is going to give that up, which leaves the Pelicans in a position—although they altered things contractually to their favor in some respects—you can’t expect but so much for him because his availability is what’s going to come into question.”

Williamson’s impact is less debatable. The 6-foot-6, 284-pound power forward brings a blend of brawn and athleticism that can be tough to defend—and attack.

He averaged 24.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 1.2 steals and 0.9 blocks in 30 games this season.

In what proved to be his final appearance, a March 19 win at Minnesota, Williamson contributed 29 points on 12-for-16 shooting, along with eight assists, five rebounds and three steals.

Still only 24, Williamson offers relative youth as a counterargument to his struggles to stay healthy. The Pelicans also boast guard CJ McCollum—shut down with a foot contusion—and may be in line for a high draft pick to complement their core.

New Orleans entered Wednesday’s visit to the Los Angeles Clippers at 21-54, the fourth-worst record in the league.

Pelicans coach Willie Green said Williamson “has got to continue to stay committed to” maintaining his conditioning as he recovers from the injury and prepares for the 2025-26 season.

“There’s no doubt about Z’s ability when he’s on the floor,” Green said. “I thought everyone got a chance to see him handle the ball, see him play more in pick-and-rolls as a screener. He was incredible in the games that he was on the floor, and so I think there’s no doubt about where he is as a basketball player in terms of his ability on the floor.”

Once again, his ability to stay there remains to be seen.