Zion’s health and 3 other takeaways from Pelicans Media Day

4. Pelicans want to build strong offensive infrastructure. 

This team can’t reach their full potential without Williamson being healthy. He’s their best player, after all, so that part should be obvious.

But still, last season, when Williamson went down, New Orleans’ offense completely cratered. And given how much talent this team has across the board, that shouldn’t be the case.

The franchise recognizes this, and so they are setting out to build a more resilient offensive ecosystem – one that can succeed regardless of who is on the floor for them.

One of the team’s biggest moves this offseason was to bring in former Charlotte Hornets Head Coach James Borrego as an assistant on Willie Green’s staff. Borrego has a reputation for being a great offensive mind, and the Pelicans are hopeful that he can install creative concepts that enable the offense to function more fluidly during the spurts that Williamson is not on the court.

Even when Williamson is healthy, it seems like the team will be experimenting with new lineups – including possibly playing Williamson as a small-ball center.

If Borrego can help improve the offense’s ceiling with Williamson and their floor without him, that would make him one of the best assistant coaching hires of the 2023 offseason. And it would make media day the start of a beautiful season for New Orleans.