The New Orleans Pelicans have a really bright future ahead of them. Here are five offseason roster moves they must make in order to guarantee this.
The New Orleans Pelicans started the 2019-20 season in the best possible fashion. They won the draft lottery and were able to select Zion Williamson. Then Summer League happened and Williamson hurt his knee.
This injury would cost Williamson the first 44 games of the season and the Rookie of the Year title. It did allow the players who came across in the Anthony Davis deal to get used to their new surroundings.
The trade allowed Brandon Ingram to unleash the potential that the Los Angeles Lakers saw in him when they made him the second pick of the 2016 draft. Such was the quality of his play that he was named the league’s Most Improved Player. But more on that later.
If the second part of the season is anything to go by, the future for the New Orleans Pelicans is extremely bright. Williamson came back and showed his potential averaging 22.5 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists in just 27.8 minutes per game.
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Williamson is just 20 years old. Ingram is 22. They have the second pick of the 2017 Draft, Lonzo Ball, as their starting point guard and he is also just 22 years of age. Add to this the 20-year-old Jaxson Hayes and the 21-year-old Nickeil Alexander-Walker.
They have a good experienced core of Jrue Holiday, Derrick Favors, JJ Redick, Nicolo Melli and Josh Hart. They played together for half a season and showed that the Pelicans will be a good unit in seasons to come.
However, New Orleans has a number of players coming off contract it needs to lock-in. They also have four picks in the 2020 draft. These are comprised of three picks in the second round and the 13th overall pick. With all that in mind, here are five roster moves the New Orleans Pelicans need to make.