New Orleans Pelicans: 3 Players Who Will Make a Big Leap Next Season

Lonzo Ball, Point Guard

Why He’s Important

Next season will be the final year of Lonzo Ball’s rookie deal, so he’ll be looking to make the leap to maximize his earnings in free agency.

Lonzo is part of the “Big Three” of the New Orleans Pelicans, a guy the team hopes to build around along with Zion and Ingram.

But Lonzo’s importance to the team goes deeper.

If he can make another leap this season, the Pelicans will have a chance to lock up three players who are all young and already top-five at their positions.

Not many teams can say that have a top-five point guard, wing and power forward who are all under 23-years-old.

Lonzo’s improvement would also allow the New Orleans Pelicans to possibly move Jrue Holiday to the bench, which would spread out their play making and make the bench unit more effective offensively.

Holiday would then be the primary scorer in the second unit, something the Pelicans have lacked.

This only works if Lonzo takes over this team and becomes the alpha guard on both ends of the floor, a role currently filled by Holiday.

Why We Think He’ll Make the Leap

Lonzo has taken a lot of criticism over the years, but one thing no one has ever questioned is his work ethic.

It’s obvious that he will get better every offseason, add strength to his frame and skills to his already full bag.

Lonzo’s 3-point shooting jumped from 32.9 percent to 38.3 this season, a testament to his work in the offseason with shooting coach Fred Vinson.

It’s not crazy to think he’ll make another leap with his shooting.

Where Lonzo really needs to improve is around the rim and at the free-throw line, where he shoots just 56.7 percent.

Lonzo is gifted at getting to the rim, but misses a lot of bunnies and doesn’t capitalize when other teams send him to the line.

If he can improve his free throw shooting to even league average, he’ll add a few points per game to his scoring average. Right now, Lonzo looks like he’s trying not to get fouled when he gets into the lane.

If he’s more confident in his free throw shooting, he’ll be more aggressive and draw more fouls.

Another reason he’ll make the leap is because he’ll have a full offseason, training camp and pre-season with Zion, with whom he already has great chemistry.

They’ve only had 19 games together and are already one of the most dynamic pairs in the NBA.

Lonzo will get better as he and Zion continue to grow this chemistry.

Our Prediction

Lonzo will improve around the rim and at the charity stripe, which will increase his scoring average to 15 a game.

As he evolves into the team leader, he will handle the ball more and be top-five in assists, leading to his first All-Star game selection.

If these three can make the leap, the Pelicans can more efficiently allocate their resources now and in the future.

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