The 2026 offseason has been a dud for the New Orleans Pelicans. Zero trades, with the only major move being the hiring of Jamahl Mosley as the franchise's next head coach. After 26 wins last season with this core and 21 the year before, many fans are rightfully upset, as once again it feels like the Pelicans are a directionless franchise. Too good to tank, too bad to compete. New Orleans is right in that murky middle, and while the NBA draft lottery reform is expected to help teams in that area, it’s also such an unconventional way to team build.
Whether the decision to be mid comes from Joe Dumars and his staff or Gayle Benson and ownership isn’t clear. But what is clear is that without major internal growth, this roster has zero shot of competing in the Western Conference.Â
This is why new Pelicans assistant coach God Shammgod’s recent comments regarding Zion Williamson are so eye-catching. In a recent interview, Shammgod spoke about his offseason with Zion and said that Z is working on becoming a three-level scorer this summer.
Zion locked in!! 3 level scoring is the focus!! pic.twitter.com/lGcZCZGWf6
— alvin (@just_adavis) July 2, 2026
Obviously, this should be taken with a small grain of salt, as every offseason it feels like the Pelicans PR team tries to hype up Zion. But what makes this feel different is the source it’s coming from, because while Shammgod is his coach, he is also known as one of the league's best developmental coaches.
Zion as a three-level scorer changes everythingÂ
What does being a three-level scorer mean for someone like Zion and the Pelicans? It means he could truly be a No. 1 option in the modern NBA and give New Orleans the star a roster of this caliber needs to compete out West.
Zion’s biggest tool for his entire basketball career has been the ability to put constant pressure on the rim and finish over everyone. The issue is that, aside from attacking the basket and scoring in the paint, Zion is extremely limited, making life easy for opposing defenses. When he’s initiating offense, teams can drop way back and simply pack the paint to stop him and stall New Orleans’ offense. With over 77 percent of his shot attempts last season being dunks or layups, his game has become too predictable, and as a result, his offensive impact has shrunk.
This is where the talk of him becoming a three-level scorer becomes intriguing because if Zion can add a little 15-foot pull-up game and hit the odd three, things would get interesting. If he can be a threat off the pick-and-pop and not just rolling, it adds another thing defenses have to be prepared for. Or in transition, instead of gliding to the rim looking for a lob if he could hit a trail three, it would change the way this group is guarded.
The most important thing that being a three-level scorer can do for Zion is maximize the skill that already makes him special: his rim finishing. If Williamson can be a threat from places other than the paint, his ability to put pressure on the rim becomes more valuable because stopping him is no longer a predictable thing. This wouldn’t just open things up for him but also for his teammates.
For Zion to work on this part of his game is one thing. But for him to be working on it with someone like Shammgod is another. Throughout his coaching career, he has always focused on the developmental side, dating back to his pre-NBA coaching days with Providence. So, to put that guy in charge of Zion and his offensive development should give Pelicans fans hope during an offseason full of disappointment.
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