Zion Williamson is widely considered as one of the most important picks in the past few years. Never has the number one draft pick garner such unanimous praise and adulation from both fans and the league.
The Pelicans' decision to trade Anthony Davis to the Los Angeles Lakers had led many to believe that Williamson will be the most viable candidate to be the next franchise player. With this in mind, he will be facing a great task of leading one of the youngest team in the league when the season starts late this year.
Joining Williamson in the Pelicans are a promising crew of young players. The Davis trade transferred a handful of young players from the Lakers with Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, and Josh Hart. All three players are expected to either start or play a significant role in the Pelicans' rotation. The Pelicans also picked Jaxson Hayes and Nickeil Alexander-Walker during the draft night. The Pelicans also landed Marcos Louzada Silva via a trade with the Atlanta Hawks on the night of the draft.
While Jrue Holiday is still considered as the veteran face of the Pelicans, the hype surrounding Williamson is enough to make him a viable leader. This is such a huge task for the rookie and it remains to be determined whether he can fill it.
The Pelicans placed a huge bet on its future with Williamson. The Davis trade is one of the biggest news before the draft night, and it was this decision that cemented the Pelicans' intention to build a new future with Williamson in the lead. The Pelicans is still pegged as an underdog as it does not command such huge superstar status with its roster, with the exception of the still untested Williamson.
What is interesting about Pelicans' current lineup is the presence of two Duke alums. Ingram also played for Duke in 2015. These two disciples of coach Mike Krzyzewski is sure to reminisce their college years. These two Duke stars already have a common denominator.
Many in the league, as well as fans, are excited how this experiment will work out for the Pelicans. Regardless of how this will work out, one thing is for sure, Williamson is the major player of the franchise and on his shoulder lies whether the team will make it through the highly contested Western Conference. If there is one easy target to follow, it is to beat the previous season's record of 33-49 at least.
