The New Orleans Pelicans experienced a rollercoaster ride of emotions in the past six months, now number 1 pick Zion Williamson is set to usher in a new era in Louisiana. David Griffin put an interesting team at his side. Could the Pels be better than Anthony Davis this year?
New Orleans Pelicans: The Transactions
Unofficially, the offseason started back in January when Anthony Davis called for a trade. He did not move away from this wish after NOLA “won” the No. 1 pick at the Draft Lottery in May and thus Zion Williamson. Accordingly, the new strong man David Griffin had his hands full over the summer.
Even before the draft, Griffin agreed on a trade with the Lakers, although it could not be finalized until the beginning of July: Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram and Josh Hart as well as three first-round picks (including the number 4 pick 2019) came from LA for Davis
Griffin promptly gave the number 4 pick to Atlanta together with Solomon Hill and Jordan Bone and received a 2020 first-round pick as well as this year’s picks Jaxson Hayes (number 8), Nickeil Alexander-Walker (number 17) and Marcos Louzada Silva (No.35) back. In another trade, he got Derrick Favors for two second-round picks from Utah.
JJ Redick (2 years / 26.5 million dollars) from Philly and Nicolo Melli (2/8) from Fenerbahce came as free agents. Darius Miller was held for this (2 / 14.3), although his second year of contract was not guaranteed. Christian Wood and Dairis Bertans were won, Julius Randle let his player option lapse and joined the Knicks.
New Orleans Pelicans: The most important dates for 2018/19
| Bilanz Regular Season | Offensiv-Rating | Defensiv-Rating | Net-Rating |
| 33-49 (13th place in the west) | 110,7 (12.) | 112,0 (22.) | -1,3 (20.) |
New Orleans Pelicans: The Strategy
Once the Pelicans were certain they would get Zion but lose Davis, they made every effort not to make the same mistakes with the former as they did with the latter. Accordingly, Griffin tried to build a team with perspective that could play for the playoffs not in a few years, but in the coming year.
Two players came from LA in Ball and Ingram who have (justified) hope that they can make great strides in a new environment. Jrue Holiday, Favors and Redick form a trio of highly professional veterans who can show the young core the direction.
If the Pelicans urgently needed one thing after the desperate preseason, it was euphoria, and it guaranteed the arrival of Zion. The remainder of the offseason – and probably also the next few years – should now serve to provide him with a suitable team.
The roster of the New Orleans Pelicans
| Point Guard | Shooting Guard | Small Forward | Power Forward | Center |
| Jrue Holiday | J.J. Redick | Brandon Ingram | Zion Williamson | Derrick Favors |
| Lonzo Ball | Josh Hart | Darius Miller | Nicolo Melli | Jaxson Hayes |
| Frank Jackson | Nickeil Alexander-Walker | E’Twaun Moore | Kenrich Williams | Jahlil Okafor |
| Zylan Cheatham |