Three players that will need to step up in Zion Williamson's absence

3. CJ McCollum

This is what CJ was brought to New Orleans for.

When the Pelicans swung a trade for CJ McCollum in February of 2022, it was for moments like this. McCollum is a veteran guard who possess solid talent with legitimate postseason experience. He was second on the team in minutes, points, threes made, and assists on the 2018-19 Trail Blazers squad that fell to the Warriors in the Western Conference Finals. On a Pelicans roster littered with young talent, McCollum is the rare veteran with experience on the biggest of stages.

The 12-year veteran has averaged 20.2 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 63 games in the playoffs in his career, and he'll need to better that point total without Zion on the floor. The full emergence of Point Zion in 2023-24 has allowed McCollum to slip into a secondary playmaking role at times, something his older legs needed. That luxury won't be available against the Kings.

McCollum's playmaking and shot making abilities have wavered in the latter stages of his career, but the diminutive guard still has microwave scoring potential on his best nights. Hopefully for Pelicans fans a vintage CJ McCollum game is in the cards for Friday night to extend the Pels season.