Pelicans offseason preview: Zion Williamson's future and more
The Pelicans’ 2021-22 season wasn’t expected to go smoothly after a rough 2021 offseason. After failing to qualify for last year’s play-in tournament and a report about Zion Williamson being unhappy in New Orleans, the pressure on the organization shot up dramatically. The combination of a young roster and Zion’s undisclosed foot injury led to a 3-16 start.
Fast forward and the Pelicans’ season turned out to be a great success. The front office struck gold with three rookies in Herb Jones, Trey Murphy III, and Jose Alvarado, who all played like first-round picks. The trade for CJ McCollum worked out considering the price they gave up for him as he’s been every bit the ball-dominant scorer they needed. There was always a competitive squad on this roster and head coach Willie Green unlocked it. The basketball world cannot wait for Williamson to rejoin this group with such an exciting upwards trajectory.
New Orleans’ upcoming offseason could be a quiet one considering they already have a full roster and mainly just need continuity and internal improvement. On the other hand, they still have a surplus of future first-round picks they could put together to pursue a big trade. Williamson’s future in New Orleans could also be resolved this offseason since he becomes extension-eligible.