Imperative that the Pelicans add strong secondary scoring options around Zion

If these playoffs have taught us anything, it’s that winning a seven-game series with the offensive workload solely on one player’s shoulders is incredibly difficult. When the New Orleans Pelicans construct a roster around Zion, it’s important to surround him with players that can create their own offense.

Giannis Antetokounmpo and James Harden have a few things in common: both are franchise-altering talents, both are deserving MVP candidates, both are the backbone of their respected teams, and both are sitting at home watching the NBA Finals. Don’t take that as a shot at what they are and what they have achieved, they’re both all-time greats. However, the system’s incorporated around them make it taxing to win against the best teams in the NBA in a seven-game series. This is something the New Orleans Pelicans want to avoid with Zion Williamson.

The Toronto Raptors are deserving of their introductory visit to the NBA Finals, they orchestrated a successful gameplan against the Bucks and executed it to near perfection. They made Giannis’ life difficult, he was not going to be able to enter the paint at free will as he did during the regular season. You have to give Nick Nurse credit, as well as their supporting cast.

Giannis’ was plagued by Raptors double-teams and traps in a halfcourt setting, and when he bypassed them he was met in the paint by former DPOY Marc Gasol, Serge Ibaka, Pascal Siakim, or Kawhi Leonard—and often it was a combination of those aforementioned players. Giannis averaged 28 points-per-game this season, on an absurd 58 percent. He was relegated to just 22.7 points and 45 percent shooting against the Raptors.

There was no other guy to step in and aid Giannis with the defensive looks the Raptors were showing (Budenholzer’s lack of adjustments did not help the situation). That can be what ultimately occurs when you spread the floor with shooters without another elite talent that can put the ball on the floor, create his own offense or create for his teammates. Khris Middleton was that guy for stretches, but the consistency was not present. And the Bucks guards? They’ve been missing since the Celtics series.

The same applies to the Houston Rockets. Unfortunately for Harden and company, it’s nearly impossible to beat the Warriors (even without KD) in a seven-game series with their current system in play. They’re too smart defensively, guys like Draymond Green and Andre Iguodala playing centerfield, while Klay Thompson pesters you beyond the perimeter. James Harden’s greatness still shined; his numbers were astounding, but without secondary players that could match the production of the Warriors output, they lost the series.

Chris Paul was brought in to ease some of the pressure off of Harden, but his hamstring has had other plans. And as every season progresses, so does a year off of his basketball shelf life. He’s 34-years-old, and their window is rapidly closing in on them.

So, how do the Pelicans avoid a similar scenario? First and foremost, they have an established star in Jrue Holiday, that helps. He can provide assistance for when the defense is attempting to scheme out Williamson with the ability to create his own looks or create for others. But will that be enough? Especially against a premier team that is well coached and has time to prepare for what you are going to throw at them?

It might not be, that’s where Anthony Davis staying as a member of the Pelicans is ideal. You can’t zone in on Williamson with Davis present on the basketball floor, he’ll torch you. But, as we well know, that’s become a pipe dream. The reality is this: Davis is leaving New Orleans, it’s now up to Griffin and Langdon to get the best possible return for him.

Looking at some hypotheticals, the Pelicans could get that third option in a return package for Davis’ services. The Celtics could offer Jayson Tatum, who still has star written all over him. He may have struggled this season, but that could simply be situational. His shot selection can be horrendous at times, he needs to utilize his athleticism more and be assertive, and his playmaking abilities still are less than desirable. However, there’s still a realistic path for him to evolve into one of the best scoring wings in the NBA. He’s 21-years-old and just averaged 16 points on 45 percent and 37 percent from distance over the course of an 82-game season, it could be a lot worse.

The Lakers could offer up Brandon Ingram. Warranted, there are a few issues with the potential pairing of Ingram/Zion. Both players are ball dominant, they often set up beyond the perimeter and go to work from there, and neither player has a consistent jump shot at this point in their careers. But if either player were to play more off-ball, they could provide a lethal dynamic to the Pelicans offense. Ingram can relieve pressure off of Zion, and control the tempo of the offense periodically. He’s got a way to go yet, and chemistry issues could arise, but Ingram still has the potential of being a perennial all-star in the NBA.

Then there are guys like R.J Barrett, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jarrett Culver, Coby White, Kyle Kuzma and others who could see themselves in a Pelicans uniform next season. Whatever the case may be, it’s imperative that the right talent is implemented with the likes of Zion Williamson. It can’t be a one-man show, David Griffin knows that all too well.

The Cleveland Cavaliers under the management of Griffin spread the floor with shooters to accommodate LeBron James’ skillset. They also had a solid back-up plan if the shots weren’t falling, his name was Kyrie Irving. I fully understand that’s it not exactly easy to find one of the best isolation basketball players of all-time, but you get my point here. For the Pelicans to ever make that next step, they are going to have to be a well-rounded machine.