USA TODAY International Edition
NBA DRAFT: ZION GOES NO. 1; PELICANS SHOULD BE FUN
The Pelicans have used the past week to completely revamp, and revitalize, their franchise by drafting Zion Williamson No. 1 on Thursday after trading Anthony Davis for an up-andcoming nucleus of players.
Williamson will be joined by Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart (via the Lakers deal), and draft picks Jaxson Hayes, Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Marcos Louzada Silva (via a draftnight trade with the Hawks), all newcomers who can grow together alongside vet Jrue Holiday.
While the Pelicans’ moves have grabbed headlines, the brand of basketball this young team can put out next season has unlimited entertainment potential. USA TODAY offers six ways the Pelicans could be the most exciting show in the NBA in 2019-20.
1. Lonzo to Zion alley-oops: In predraft interviews, Williamson credited Ball as being an “old school” point guard, meaning Ball’s pass-first mentality has a contagious effect similar to Williamson’s energy and rim rattling. The idea of the duo combining their best attributes has “SportsCenter Top 10” written all over it.
2. Playoff team right away: While New Orleans might not be in contending status, it likely won’t be anywhere near the basement of the Western Conference. With a young roster, expectations will be high, but not through the roof — leaving room for a core group to develop chemistry and play without much to lose.
3. Duke-ness: Ingram is on the cusp of an All-Star campaign given his numbers and overall productivity. If he can stay healthy (he missed the last two months of the season with blood clots), there’s no reason the former Duke star and Williamson can’t coexist. Ingram’s length allows him to score in a variety of ways, and Williamson could be 0-for-10 from the field and still impact the game with hustle plays and put-back buckets.
4. Small-market underdog value: From the moment Williamson told fans in New Orleans “let’s dance” after he was picked No. 1, the Mardi Gras party has started early. New Orleans is one of the NBA’s smallest market teams, and that inherently makes the Pelicans easier to root for in many cases for general fans than say, the Lakers, Celtics or Knicks. The Big Easy has a uniquely passionate fan base (ahem, Saints fans) that barely got its fandom going in the Anthony Davis era.
5. A strong supporting cast: The Pelicans won the draft before it even started, then they bolstered their lineup and depth via a smart trade acquisition with the Hawks that allowed them to get several high-ceiling players in a draft class that didn’t offer a surefire superstar at the No. 4 spot they traded away. Hayes, taken No. 8, is a potentially dynamic big man who at worst will be a defensive force. No. 17 pick Alexander-Walker brings necessary depth at the guard position while adding more shooting.
6. Underrated coach, determined new leader: David Griffin is a front office veteran who showed his worth by reeling in one of the biggest hauls in talent in NBA trade history. He’s been high on Alvin Gentry stirring the drink, signing the coach to a two-year contract extension to guide the Williamson era’s first phase.