The Core: Zion Williamson (23), Trey Murphy III (23), Herb Jones (25), Dyson Daniels (20), Naji Marshall (25)
The Case: Even with Zion out most of final season resulting from well being, weight and web thots, the Pelicans remained aggressive. With Zion, they’ll beat nearly anybody on paper. The principle core, together with CJ McCollum and Brandon Ingram, have but to get sufficient reps collectively. As soon as they do, and Zion absolutely commits to conditioning and taking part in laborious each recreation, they may fulfill their future. In any other case, like Chris Paul and Anthony Davis, Zion may very well be the following nice Pelicans participant who asks out of city.
The Ceiling: Western Convention semifinals. This season seems like a make-or-break for the Pels. Zion has to decide on to remain or go. And the franchise has to decide to him because the face of the franchise, accepting his Bourbon Road-sized warts. If Zion is wholesome and decides New Orleans is the place he needs to make his legacy, this workforce may attain a brand new stage. That could be a large “if.”
What’s Lacking: Taking pictures. McCollum and Murphy are revered shooters, however they want constant capturing from the purpose guard place, which can be in flux. They will discover this in the course of the draft, the place they’ve been choosing not too long ago. The workforce’s depth round Zion and Ingram was constructed primarily by the draft, with Jones, Daniels, and Murphy’s important items for the current and future.
