Who’s got next? Predicting the NBA’s next dynasty
By Cal Durrett
NBA Team #4: The New Orleans Pelicans
Not to be outdone, the New Orleans Pelicans are a dark horse for a top-four seed in the West next season and are likely frontrunners going forward. Brandon Ingram is just 25 and is already a top-30 player, while CJ McCollum has been one of the better offensive guards in the NBA for years. Then there’s Zion Williamson, who had an absolutely dominant sophomore year before missing last season with a knee injury.
He’s back now and is in much better shape, which should improve his already elite athleticism without losing his bruising frame. Those three players are as good as almost any big three in the league, and they have a solid supporting cast too. They also added a very talented Swiss Army Knife rookie in Dyson Daniels with the eighth pick in the draft, to go along with sophomore defensive aces Herb Jones and Jose Alvarado.
They give this team a lot of room to grow in the coming years, while veterans like Jonas Valanciunas and Larry Nance Jr. help give the Pelicans win-now potential. If everything goes well, they could contend this season and maybe a title favorite in a year or two, as Golden State fades.