NBA: 30 reasons to be excited for 2019-20 season
14. The baby Lakers get a fresh start in New Orleans
The former Los Angeles Lakers trio of Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram and Josh Hart have been through far too much during their short NBA careers. Injuries took their toll and the presence of LeBron James brought over a spotlight far to hot for them to handle in their development stages.
After being packaged in a deal for Anthony Davis, LA’s former foundation now finds itself in a far better situation as members of the New Orleans Pelicans. Gone is the microscope dissecting their every move, replaced instead with an organization more likely to foster what seems to be elite-level talent bubbling at the surface.
Griffin: "We're excited to see Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball healthy. They've been full go for awhile."
— The Bird Writes (@thebirdwrites) September 30, 2019
For all their inconsistencies, Ball and Ingram weren’t taken second overall without reason. Hart has gone from the final pick in the first round to a potentially valuable 3-and-D wing option. The oldest among them just 24, they should benefit from New Orleans’ second-ranked spot in pace last season.
Zion Williamson will garner most of the national attention. Jrue Holiday is the closest thing to an All-Star. The ultimate ceiling of this Pelicans unit, though, will be determined by the progression of the AD return package, and after multiple years of dysfunction, they’re finally in a spot to live up to the lofty expectations placed on them.