Pelicans stay the course, add another building block

METAIRIE – It was four years and two days ago Thursday that a new era began for the New Orleans Pelicans.

That’s when they formally used the first overall pick in the NBA Draft to select “generational talent” Zion Williamson, much as the San Antonio Spurs formally used the first overall pick Thursday to select the latest “generational talent” – Victor Wembanyama.

Wembanyama’s selection was as much of a foregone conclusion as was Williamson’s, but the succeeding picks at No. 2 (Charlotte) and No. 3 (Portland) provided plenty of intrigue, some of which involved speculation regarding the Pelicans.

It was widely reported that the Pelicans were enamored of point guard Scoot Henderson, who was projected to go second or third. New Orleans apparently investigated the possibility of moving into position to grab Henderson, but nothing materialized and Charlotte grabbed Brandon Miller and Henderson landed in Portland.

It’s unlikely the Pelicans could have gotten into position to get Henderson without parting with Williamson or fellow All-Star-caliber forward Brandon Ingram.

This draft night could have marked a dramatic change in direction for the franchise had the brain trust decided to break up the Williamson-Ingram tandem in favor of bringing in Henderson even though Williamson and Ingram both have been All-Stars and both are still young but have been limited by injuries.

Williamson, who turns 23 on July 6, has played in less than 40 percent of the team’s games in his career. Ingram, who turns 26 in September, has played in significantly more, but still has missed 30 percent. Last season Williamson played in 29 games, Ingram played in 45 and the two played in the same game barely a dozen times.

The degree of speculation about the Pelicans’ interest in a blockbuster trade seems to have far exceeded the organization’s fervor in pursuing any trade that would have involved one of its young stars.

“We weren’t close to much of anything,” executive vice president of basketball operations David Griffin said after it was all said and done.

The Pelicans opted to continue building around Williamson, Ingram and the rest of the core that surprised with a playoff berth two years ago and disappointed with a first-round play-in loss last season, despite improving its record by six wins.

They addressed a pressing need in their 3-point shooting, holding onto the 14th pick and using it to grab Jordan Hawkins, a 21-year-old wing from NCAA champion Connecticut.

Head coach Willie Green has identified 3-point shooting as a primary area in need of improvement next season. Last season he frequently bemoaned the fact that the team didn’t attempt enough 3-pointers to stretch defenses. New Orleans took the second-fewest 3-pointers in the league (30.1 per game).

The Pelicans ranked much higher in their field-goal percentage (36.4), but still were just in the middle of the pack, ranking No. 15.

The scoring of Williamson (26.0 points per game), Ingram (24.7) and guard CJ McCollum (20.9) enables their teammates to routinely find quality shots. Hawkins’ exceptional catch-and-shoot skill should enable him to take advantage of those opportunities.

“It’s going to be really, really cool playing with those guys,” Hawkins said in a video conference with New Orleans reporters. “I can learn so much from those guys. When teams sag off I can hit the open shots.”

General manager Trajan Langdon said Hawkins “really connected with” the Pelicans coaches during a visit to the team’s facility a couple of weeks ago.

Langdon added that Hawkins has “a unique shot profile” from both mid-range and long distance that adds another dimension to the team’s arsenal.

The offseason is just beginning and the start of free agency looms in less than two weeks, so the Pelicans still have opportunities to modify the roster.

But a move involving one of the team’s top two players was most likely to occur in conjunction with the draft with Henderson being the centerpiece in such a move. And apparently that didn’t come close to happening.

So forthcoming changes are most likely to involve the team’s free agents – Josh Richardson, Jaxson Hayes and Willy Hernangomez – and the possible addition of a complementary veteran or two through free agency or trading.

Griffin named “a rim protector” as the team’s remaining primary need now that 3-point shooting has been addressed.

Langdon said the Pelicans are “pretty confident with the group we have,” but Griffin added that “it’s not enough to just say we’ve got to stay healthy.”

So the Pelicans move forward with their core in tact and bolstered by a new promising addition and faith that continued maturation – both on and off the court – along with hope for long-overdue improved luck with players’ health will stabilize the team’s erratic evolution toward championship-contender status.