New Orleans Pelicans

Roster (15 spots)

Jrue Holiday G

Derrick Favors PF

Zion Williamson PF

JJ Redick SG

Lonzo Ball PG

E’Twaun Moore SG

Brandon Ingram SF

Darius Miller SF

Jaxson Hayes C

Nicolo Melli PF

Nickeil Alexander Walker SG

Josh Hart SG

Jahlil Okafor C

Frank Jackson PG

Kenrich Williams SF

Two Way

None

Starting 5

Jrue Holiday PG

JJ Redick SG

Brandon Ingram SF

Zion Williamson PF

Derrick Favors C

Outgoing Players (8)

Anthony Davis PF (Trade, LAL)

Solomon Hill SF (Trade, ATL/MEM)

Julius Randle PF (FA, NYK)

Stanley Johnson SF (FA, Toronto)

Elfrid Payton PG (FA, NYK)

Ian Clark PG (FA)

Dairis Bertans SG (FA, Khimki)

Cheick Diallo PF (FA, PHX)

Incoming Players (9)

Zion Williamson PF (1st Pick, 2019 NBA Draft)

Derrick Favors PF (FA, UTA)

Brandon Ingram SF (Trade, LAL)

Lonzo Ball PG (Trade, LAL)

Josh Hart G (Trade, LAL)

JJ Redick SG (FA, PHI)

Nickeil Alexander Walker SG (Trade, ATL via BRK (17th pick 2019 NBA Draft)

Jaxson Hayes C (Trade, ATL (8th pick 2019 NBA Draft)

Nicolo Melli PF ( FA, Fenerbahce)

2018-19 NBA Final Season Standings: 13th Western Conference (33-49)

2019-20 Projected Final Season Standings 13th Western Conference (31-51)

New Orleans traded away star player Anthony Davis this summer to the Lakers in a trade that netted them Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart and a swath of future draft picks. They should have asked for Kyle Kuzma in the deal, but I guess beggars can’t be chooser. The Pelicans somehow won the draft lottery and ran away with number one pick Zion Williamson. They will build around the young power forward, but how good will he be. He was  underwhelming in preseason and impressive college play may not translate to the NBA level as smooth as some would like to think.

The Pels also added power forward Derrick Favors out of free agency. He will likely play at center, as the Pelicans are lacking the most in the position, and don’t have a true center on the team, save for perhaps Jahlil Okafor who is more a power forward. They also surprisingly signed JJ Reddick who will likely be their starting shooting guard if they don’t go with a backcourt of Ball and Holiday.

They traded, De’Andre Hunter their 4th pick in the 2019 NBA Draft along with Solomon Hill to Atlanta for the draft rights to Nickeil Alexander Walker and Jaxson Hayes. They rounded things out by signing Nicolo Melli out of Europe.

Jrue Holiday, Williamson,  the Laker scraps, Favors and Reddick, along with the rookies could make a interesting team. I still think they will win less than last year. Though Anthony Davis only played in 56 game, a lot of those 33 wins were because of him. Without him the Pelicans will have to figure out how to win again with a new and for the most part younger crew. It will be a question of chemistry as well as how they will do facing a tougher than ever western conference. They will struggle this season, but have some meaningful wins. That said, they won’t make the playoffs, not even close. Happy rebuilding New Orleans, congrats on getting the number one pick. Hopefully, Zion can be what you need him to.