The New Orleans Pelicans will start Las Vegas NBA Summer League play in two weeks. Zion Williamson will get lead billing, but there are several other match-ups and developments to anticipate.
The New Orleans Pelicans squad for NBA Summer League is shaping up around Zion Williamson. David Griffin and company have been building excitement for the Pelicans future since being hired. NBA Summer League will be the first time players with Pelicans jerseys can make winning moves as well.
The New Orleans Pelicans have a range of players, playing for different kinds of contracts and team roles. Jaxson Hayes wants to prove he should start the year with rotation minutes, not face an expected red shirt-development type season.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker will want to prove to the coaching staff that he can handle a few minutes at the end of regular season quarters. Finding someone to spell Jrue Holiday effectively will be essential for a playoff caliber second unit.
The Pelicans picks after Zion Williamson have plenty to prove. The most interesting developments will not be the Zion dunks on the over-matched competition. The Pelicans should anticipate the following five things more than the next Zion Williamson highlight dunk.
As the fifth issue, the Pelicans Summer League starting 5 needs a fifth man. The Pelicans have plenty of promising trial players in Summer League camp. Zylan Cheatham and Javon Bess will work alongside Exhibit 10 signees Aubrey Dawkins and Jalen Adams.
That group of four will get the bulk of the wing minutes opposite Zion Williamson. The back to back game days will require minutes be given to most of the rotational players. An easy approach would be each gets to start a half on the wing opposite Zion.
The New Orleans Pelicans are losing not only Anthony Davis but also plenty of piecemeal bench production. The team is focused on getting better in small increments throughout the front office and the roster. Getting better minutes from the back half of the bench requires finding some unheralded contributors.
Adams, Dawkins, Cheatham, and Bess all have NBA quality talents that could be useful in a limited and defined role. Can one of them beat the odds in Vegas?