Pelicans to aggressively explore trade market for Brandon Ingram

Michael Scotto: The Pelicans are going to build around Zion Williamson. I’m told the Pelicans recognize this roster around Zion is a little bit disjointed. I’ve heard New Orleans will seek positional upgrades to improve their spacing and not bring in someone who clogs the paint and is in Zion’s way. When I talk to executives and scouts around the league about this, I remember one scout said to me, “The Zion you saw at the end of the season is the guy that can take the Pelicans far. They wouldn’t be able to go as far with Brandon Ingram as the focal point. Zion has to be that guy for better or worse with his injuries if New Orleans is ever going to make an eventual championship-type run. Zion has that special type of talent.” Will Guillory: Everybody you talk to with this team behind the scenes says he’s been a different person the past couple of months of the season with his connectivity with the team, his commitment to putting in work off the court, and the way he’s committing to defense. It’s the little things he’s been doing. That’s where they saw the superstar jump. We always say the ability and the numbers with how he dominated offensively, but I think there were always questions about whether he was able to do the little things that are required of a superstar. I think he started checking all those boxes towards the end of the season. -via HoopsHype / May 10, 2024