New Orleans Pelicans: Pros and Cons of a first-time head coach with Zion Williamson.
Zion
Pro: Zion Williamson is the future of the New Orleans Pelicans’ franchise and he will undoubtedly be a factor when they make a decision on a coach.
Zion is not at LeBron level, so he won’t get to choose the coach personally, but he will be at the forefront of any major decision for the next few years.
If the Pelicans make the right decision, they could have the next Gregg Popovich/Tim Duncan situation, a paring that is the foundation for many years of sustained success. The Pelicans not only need to find someone Zion likes and respects, but someone who can get the most of his talent, as Pop did with Duncan.
Zion has the chance to be a generational superstar, especially if he has a coach/partner who can help get him there.
Con: Choose the wrong coach, and Zion is gone, it’s that simple.
If the Pelicans hire someone who doesn’t gel with Zion, who doesn’t get the most out of his talent and the Pelicans aren’t winning, then Zion could become the next Anthony Davis, a lame duck superstar just waiting to get out.
This is the single biggest decision the front office will make, as Gentry’s fate and the next hire could very well determine if Zion is a Pelican long-term. They need to make the right call, which is why it’s risky to go with a person without a proven track record.
The New Orleans Pelicans have a lot of tough decisions to make in the offseason, but the biggest one is what to do about their head coach. They better get it right, or they risk wasting their immense talent.