3 Pelicans that earned untouchable status, 3 that should be cut loose
By Tyler Watts
The New Orleans Pelicans season ended in the Play-In Tournament this year after making the playoffs in 2022. There were plenty of positives early on, and the team looked headed for a breakthrough season before Zion Williamson suffered what turned into a season-ending hamstring injury in early January. It was not just Williamson who struggled to stay healthy, as Brandon Ingram missed 37 games, and only four players on their roster played in more than 70 contests.
New Orleans is facing an important offseason as they look to jump into contention. Can they get and keep Williamson healthy? The 22-year-old has played in just 114 games over his four NBA seasons. He missed the entire 2021-2022 campaign and took part in just 29 contests this year. If Zion is healthy, the Pelicans will be a feared team in the Western Conference, but that is no guarantee.
With roster changes coming this summer, who improved or decreased their value? Who must the Pelicans keep moving forward? What players should they be looking to move on from? Here is a closer look.