Mardi Gras begins early for New Orleans Pelicans, Zion available to ride Zulu

The New Orleans Pelicans won the 2019 NBA Draft Lottery and have all but announced Zion Williamson as their pick. The ripple effects from this fortunate turn of ping pong balls goes far beyond next season’s starting five.

The new NBA Draft Lottery algorithm odds came in clutch this year. In the NBA conspiracy world of loaded ping pong balls, ref scandals, and frozen envelopes, maybe Gayle Benson pulled some strings to get this to work in the Pelicans’ favor (sarcasm). Either way, the New Orleans Pelicans came out knowing that Zion Williamson needs a local realtor pretty soon.

The excitement is palpable. Alvin Gentry could barely contain himself. A tremor just shook the NBA to the core and the aftershocks will be felt for years to come. Zion is likely spending the better part of the next decade in New Orleans. His personal energy and star gravity extends well past the court. The thought of his mere presence on the team made Gentry and Griffin infectiously giddy.

Quiet leaders can hang back. Jrue Orleans Holiday now has a loud bit of accompanying swag prowling the arena with him, a pit bull of energy filling the arena with his bark. The locals will take notice.

The Saints start team workouts soon and for the first time, they will be splitting time with the Pelicans during the week. Weekends will still be football predominately, but even the NBA Summer League will be news in New Orleans now. There will be even more global focus on Crescent City hoops with Zion. His more outgoing style to his ascending stardom alone will attract the locals.

That increased attention will allow Pelicans fans to gloat. Even Alvin Gentry celebrated like most every other New Orleans Pelicans fan and employee. He ran around basically gloating. His hollow apologies were accepted, as every other person in that room would have done the same thing.

New Orleans is the home of No Limit Records. The symbol is the Tank. Yes, capitalized, especially with this Zion Williamson business having Pelicans fans feeling down right more capitalized than a casino jackpot. That No Limit Tank just rolled over all those tanking efforts of those who dropped in the lottery. The Pelicans, as constructed now, have no limits to their potential.

The cries from Phoenix are overwhelmed by the grumblings from Los Angeles and Boston. Those teams’ best trade offers all depended on the Pelicans needed draft assets. Nothing they can offer would match the excitement of the Pelicans landing Zion Williamson with their own pick. The dynamics of the offseason just went through a minor earthquake. Griffin is fine, but those other front offices?

Every team thought they have the framework of an offer for Anthony Davis. All of those plans now need to be reworked. Griffin’s approach to negotiations with Davis and Julius Randle have change drastically. Jrue Holiday’s value just went up even more for the Pelicans’ future roster.

The New Orleans Pelicans were looking at a decent future moving forward without Davis. He may be persuaded to return now that Zion is in the fold. The Pelicans’ move towards a higher level of respectability was supposed to pay dividends in the long term. However, the investment efforts were rewarded very quickly, and in a massive way.

New Orleans got the sympathy vote when the team won the Davis lottery. Now, the Pelicans have a great star personality to build on as the franchise earns more wins and takes a villain role in the NBA. Rest assured, that jealously that most teams feel towards the Pelicans will turn to anger very soon. Especially if Griffin reject their trade offers.

The Pelicans have a new role within the league. New Orleans has a renewed since of excitement after a year of also-ran status. All the front office pieces are being assembled for long term success. Pelicans fans are having a Mardi Gras-like ball on a Tuesday in May, all because of Zion.

Now, Zion can wear the home colors for Mardi Gras basketball next season. The city will embrace him. On a Tuesday night in May, New Orleans’ new Alpha personality brought a level of excitement of a Zulu parade.

It’s no slight to Zion Williamson. They’re all great. Come join, and also, welcome to the New Orleans Pelicans parade.