New Orleans Pelicans: 3 reasons to go for title during Zion’s rookie deal
The New Orleans Pelicans should go for a championship as soon as possible.
The New Orleans Pelicans have some of the best young players in the league and a ton of draft assets, so the future looks pretty bright.
But anyone who has watched sports knows that bright futures can turn into depressing presents and non-existent futures very quickly.
Zion Williamson is still on his rookie deal and Brandon Ingram is about to sign his first extension, so it makes sense that the Pelicans are not quite there yet.
However, after trading Jrue Holiday and adding Steven Adams, the Pels are closer to “win now” territory than you might think, and could easily push in all of their chips for a big trade.
Related Story. The Pelicans could trade assets to get James Harden. light
It may seem crazy to try and trade for someone like James Harden but why? If the goal is to win titles then you should do it when you can, not when it is most convenient for your future salary cap and draft capital.
Small market teams are particularly bad at selling their fans on some distant “future.” Look! we have shiny draft picks forever! Don’t pay attention to the fact that we didn’t make the playoffs again! It is coming in the future!
This line of thinking is what causes teams to miss opportunities for titles. Here are three reasons why the New Orleans Pelicans should go for it now.
New Orleans Pelicans: Trading for James Harden or another superstar makes this team a contender.
Reason #1: The OKC Thunder
The Oklahoma City Thunder once had a team with Kevin Durant, James Harden and Russell Westbrook on one roster. If you’re counting at home, that is three MVPs on one team.
The Thunder came achingly close to beating the Warriors in the playoffs and may have won a title that year if they had. Every real basketball fan wanted them to run it back, as it seemed like the Thunder/Warriors rivalry would be one for the ages.
That’s until Durant walked in free agency and the Thunder shipped out James Harden and eventually Westbrook. The Thunder still made the playoffs this season and they have 800 future draft picks but that may have been their one shot to win a title.
It was right there but they didn’t do enough to get it done and now they might never get another chance like that. Then again, maybe they will. Maybe Sam Presti will work his magic again, but the Thunder could taste that title and then watched it disappear.
The Pelicans cannot make the same mistake. They are not in the same situation yet, but what happens when Zion is a free agent and they are still trying to sell him on the future? Still trying to sell him on a new cast of 20-year-old teammates every season, still trying to sell him on potential?
The Pels may not have to go for it now but if they wait too long to at least try, Zion will go somewhere else and the Pels will be back to a Thunder-like existence of hoarding assets in perpetuity.