New Orleans Pelicans: Ranking the Pels’ roster from bottom to top

New Orleans Pelicans: Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson are the cornerstones of the franchise

The Stars

I thought about ranking these two equally, as they are both very talented and will be the cornerstones of this franchise for years to come, but one gets a slight edge for a couple of reasons.

#2: Brandon Ingram

Ingram won Most Improved Player last season and may add a scoring title or two before his career is over. The guy can flat-out score from all over the floor, especially now that his 3-point shooting has improved so dramatically. He is going to handle the ball more in SVG’s offense and we will see a ton of pick-and-roll involving Ingram. He’ll get the touches to be the top scorer on the Pelicans, and if his defense improves, he has a shot at an All-NBA team this year. Ingram just got paid, should be happy, comfortable and ready to dominate. I’m excited to see what new wrinkles he has added to an already impressive offensive arsenal.

#1: Zion Williamson

I thought about putting Ingram here but Zion just has that extra something that very few players in the league have ever possessed. He has the size, skill and talent to be the best player in the league, a generational star who could end up winning multiple MVPs. I just don’t see that ceiling for Ingram, even under the best circumstances. Zion is going to play more with the ball in his hands this season, which could lead him to becoming a LeBron-like “point guard” who initiates the offense and strikes terror into the hearts of opposing defenders. Zion was able to get 24 and six on a bum leg with no training camp, practice and an extremely limited playbook. Imagine what he can do when fully healthy and a coach that actually knows how to design an offense. Zion is going to be scary.

The Pelicans still have a lot of question marks, but should be improved just by the internal improvement of their young players and the addition of Steven Adams.