Brandon Ingram, a sacrifice necessary for pelicans centered on Zion Williamson

With the recruitment of Dejounte Murray last summer, the Pelicans were in good place among the outsiders of the season. But the cards castle has already collapsed. New Orleans is last of the Western Conference, weighed down by an infirmary who has continued to overflow all season, Zion Williamson in the lead.

And the situation stretched around Brandon Ingram, who was in his last year of contract in Louisiana, ended with an exchange of the winger Direction Toronto, for a much lower counterpart that what could have hoped for “nola” in First place.

“” We had reached a point where, financially, we were not going to be able to keep the group as we had built “Explained David Griffin, the president of the club's basketball operations During a press point.

Pelicans plan to keep Bruce Brown and Kelly Olynyk

Brandon Ingram, who had refused, according to several sources, an extension on the part of the Pelicans, was finally traded against Kelly Olynyk, Bruce Brown and two choices of Draft (a first round and a second round). Two players whose future is uncertain since Bruce Brown arrives at the end of his lease, when Kelly Olynyk has only one year of contract.

“” We do not see in the short term with each of these two players However, assured David Griffin. “” We hope that over the season, they will have the same feeling as us. »»

Bruce Brown, Kelly Olynyk and the others will now experience an end to the season already guaranteed to be freewheeling, where victories will not be the priority. The pelicans will now concentrate to (re) build around Zion Williamson, finally back from injury. The interior always poses the same case of consciousness. In good shape, he is a dominant player, with the potential of “Player franchise”. But this is a case that occurs only too often with 243 failed games out of 445 since his arrival in the NBA. But New Orleans still tries the bet of its evolution, especially on its physique.

“” Zion faced a large number of challenges, some of his own fact very sincerely Detailed David Griffin who then tried a botanical metaphor. “” And he will tell you the same thing. People gain maturity at a different pace in this league. Sometimes maturity looks like a bush fire, sometimes a forest fire. I think Zion has reached forest fire status now, and it's great. »»

By this means that the fire is in the spirit of New Orleans made to last and capable of speaking on its own, rather than a fast fire that should be reinforced permanently.

Zion, a better leader?

David Griffin defended his point by highlighting ” The steps forward on a daily basis, on and off the field“. “” The player he is today is better than he has ever been He hammered. “” From a leadership point of view, Zion Williamson does things that he had never done before and he is much more vocal than he has ever been. He adopts the opportunity he has to take control of this team. »»

While he is only 24 years old, the former Duke only played 18 of the 54 games played by the Pelicans this season, with a limited playing time around 28 minutes, for statistics similar to those of the past season.

It will take him by the end of the season to show consistency and sustainability before really establishing himself as the boss, while part of the group's executives (Dejounte Murray, Herb Jones) will already miss ores and already All the rest of this exercise.