Last in the Western Conference, the New Orleans Pelicans have failed to make the Zion Williamson project come to fruition, and seem to be at an impasse. The end time seems to have come for this team, but will the leaders dare to take the plunge?
In 2019, the New Orleans Pelicans hit the jackpot by landing the first pick of the draft. But not just any draft, the one including one of the 5 most anticipated prospects of the 21st century: Zion Williamson. The kind of draft where you don’t think twice when selecting with the first pick.
But above all, it allowed us to turn a page in the history of this young franchise. Seven years after drafting him, the Pels parted ways withAnthony Davisfirst pick in the 2012 draft, but with whom they never managed to build a team capable of playing leading roles in the playoffs (only one series won in seven years).
Six years later, the franchise is at exactly the same point. A talented but fragile leader, around whom it is therefore difficult to build. And inevitably a team without real direction, which seems to have no future. Hence a simple question: is it not time to collapse everything and rebuild again?
Injuries don’t excuse everything
The Pelicans made a classic mistake when drafting Zion Williamson : they got excited, and expressed their desire to build a team to aim for the title. However, by playing in the tougher of the two conferences, you are shooting yourself in the foot, especially in the middle of the Warriors dynasty. However, with all the assets recovered in the tradeAnthony DavisTHE Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart, Lonzo Ball (none still plays for the Pels), there was enough to make a “competitive” team. And that’s what the goal should have been.
Since that time, the NBA has given pride of place to teams built patiently, stone by stone, until they reach maturity. The Thunder is the latest example. But having such a highly anticipated player in your squad makes you lose your sense of reality. However, it was a chance for New Orleans, one of the NBA’s smallest markets, to have such a high-profile player.
Six years later, the toll is heavy, but in a bad way. Zion Williamson only had two seasons with more than 30 games (!), the Pels only went to the playoffs twice, and came out in the first round each time. Of course, the team was clearly not spared from injuries, but the result is there: this season, while the ambitions were high, the team only won three of its 25 matches.
And clearly, the file Zion Williamson is always at the center of the news. Like a poison, which is at the same time the cure. His fragility was known, and it was a risk that New Orleans was willing to take during its draft. The Pels’ last appearance in the playoffs dates back to the 2023/2024 season, the last during which its leader had an almost complete season (69 games)… before being injured during the play-in.
A bit of light
From ? A masquerade. 21 victories last season, and the current one which is taking the same path, only worse. And one Zion still injured currently, without us really knowing when we will see him again. There seems to be no way out, even though, with more than $189 millionthe Pelicans have the 16th largest payroll in the NBA… just ahead of the Thunder!
Including 100 million for the trio Zion Williamson – Jordan Poole – DeJounte Murray. The first and the third are seriously injured, the second seems to have already reached his ceiling. However, the Pels have a lot of promising players, who also stand out favorably in the absence of their leaders.
Headlining, Trey Murphy IIIwho held the house last season, that of his revelation. Herb Jonesalso affected by injuries, but who already has a selection in NBA All-Defensive First Teama sign of its enormous quality. But also, incredibly exciting rookies, such as Jeremiah Fearsand above all Derik Queenwho has just written his name in the history books during the last match, the result of a very interesting start to the season.
Four players is a core, to which we can add interesting role players, such as Jose Alvarado or Jordan Hawkins. A reconstruction would therefore not start from nowhere. But do leaders really have this will?
You have to take risks
We doubt it, when we know that to have Derik Queen (in 13th place in the draft), management went so far as to sacrifice the first pick of the 2026 draft. And since the season promises to be hideous, this pick could well rise very high, even to first place, in a vintage described as interesting by most observers. Thus, the first stage of reconstruction has already been scuttled, which fatally distorts the judgment.
But other factors come into play. As mentioned above, New Orleans is a small market, which has struggled to establish itself in the NBA. THEMoothie King Center is the smallest hall in the NBA, the only one below 17,000 seats (16,867 exactly), which can however go up to 18,500 for playoff matches (go understand the logic).
And New Orleans is one of the smallest cities to have an NBA team (only Orlando and Salt Lake City behind). With the added bonus of competition from an NFL franchise, Saintswho won the Super Bowl in 2009, and which attract an average of 70,000 spectators, the fear of losing interest in the event of a trade Zion Williamson and breakdown of the franchise is real and seems to sclerose the actions of the front office.
On this subject – Almost ten years since the Chicago Bulls have been a team from the soft underbelly of the NBA
However, we must also take inspiration from what is happening elsewhere. For good and for bad. A legendary franchise like the Chicago Bulls has been hesitant to do a real reconstruction for years, and vegetates in the soft stomach so as not to make a choice. A franchise, ironically, cited as a possible candidate to host Zion Williamson.
The former Duke star gave the Pelicans their first rebuilding opportunity. Six years later, we can say without a doubt that it was a failure. If they’re not too greedy, they might just get a second chance to start fresh. Without a player clearly cataloged as a future star, but with an interesting base on which to build. And hoping not to repeat the mistakes of the past…
