The New Orleans Pelicans may see Anthony Davis leave during the approaching offseason, but they will acquire Zion Williamson after being victorious in the 2019 NBA draft lottery this Tuesday in Chicago.
The Pelicans began the evening possessing odds tied for seventh-best when it came to securing the No. 1 pick (6 percent). Good fortune favored David Griffin, the executive vice president of basketball operations.
Many people anticipate Davis’s departure after he officially requested a trade prior to the Feb. 7 trade deadline. Thanks to Williamson, the Pelicans will possess a player around whom they’re able to build moving forward.
Here’s a rundown of the lottery results.
10. Atlanta Hawks (by way of Mavericks)
11. Minnesota Timberwolves
14. Boston Celtics (by way of Kings)
20. Boston Celtics (by way of Clippers)
21. Oklahoma City Thunder
25. Portland Trail Blazers
26. Cleveland Cavaliers (by way of Rockets)
27. Brooklyn Nets (by way of Nuggets)
28. Golden State Warriors
29. San Antonio Spurs (by way of Raptors)
31. Brooklyn Nets (by way of Knicks)
33. Philadelphia 76ers (by way of Cavaliers)
34. Philadelphia 76ers (Chicago Bulls)
36. Charlotte Hornets (by way of Wizards)
38. Chicago Bulls (by way of Grizzlies)
40. Sacramento Kings (by way of Timberwolves)
41. Atlanta Hawks (by way of Lakers)
42. Philadelphia 76ers (by way of Kings)
43. Minnesota Timberwolves (by way of Heat)
44. Atlanta Hawks (by way of Hornets)
46. Orlando Magic (by way of Nets)
47. Sacramento Kings (by way of Magic)
52. Charlotte Hornets (by way of Thunder)
55. New York Knicks (by way of Rockets)
56. Los Angeles Clippers (by way of Blazers)
57. New Orleans Pelicans (by way of Nuggets)
58. Golden State Warriors
60. Sacramento Kings (by way of Bucks)
Some spectators speculated that the results were predetermined when both the New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers ascended into the top four. The Knicks weren’t a massive shock considering that they possessed a 52.1 percent likelihood of obtaining a top-four selection. The Lakers, conversely, only had 9.4 percent odds.
Nevertheless, fans based in New York and L.A. likely ended up feeling let down by the lottery’s outcomes. It’s a discouraging situation for the Knicks and Lakers specifically given that they could have utilized the chance to select Williamson as a significant enticement within a trade offer for Davis.
At this point, those squads will need to get inventive to successfully acquire the six-time All-Star.
Naturally, certain individuals questioned whether Davis might experience any misgivings regarding forcing his departure from New Orleans considering he will now be joined by a remarkably gifted young player.
Several months prior, the outlook for the Pelicans appeared fairly bleak. They seemed to be nearing the loss of their foundational player and possessed limited alternative strategies aside from constructing their team through the draft—a plan that might yield mediocre results for many years.
Currently, New Orleans boasts a recognized front-office executive (Griffin) assembling the roster and the franchise’s prominent figure (Williamson), even if it concludes a transaction involving Davis prior to the commencement of the 2019-20 season.
Almost everyone is anticipating Williamson as the top selection June 20.
The Duke Blue Devils forward distinguished himself greatly during his singular season of collegiate competition. He averaged 22.6 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.1 steals, and 1.8 blocks per contest. Standing at 6’7″ and weighing 285 pounds, Williamson represented a physical phenomenon and stood noticeably above his peers.
As electrifying as Williamson’s slam dunks proved to be, his offensive skill set exceeded simple highlight-reel plays. He averaged 2.1 assists per game and achieved a 33.8 percent success rate from three-point range. If he manages to develop into a marginally more dependable long-distance shooter, he might virtually become unstoppable.
The intrigue pertaining to the 2019 draft largely centers on which player emerges from the board at No. 2 overall.
Ja Morant is widely considered the second-most talented player available.
Morant averaged 24.5 points and 10.0 assists per contest during his sophomore year at Murray State. For those who did not actively follow the Racers throughout the year, the gifted guard showcased his capabilities during his team’s initial NCAA tournament round, securing a victory against No. 5-seeded Marquette with a triple-double performance. He accounted for 17 points, 11 rebounds, and 16 assists.
The disparity between Morant and individuals like RJ Barrett, Cam Reddish, Coby White, and De’Andre Hunter is not so considerable that another player couldn’t leap ahead of him on draft boards—particularly Barrett.
Although Williamson constitutes the premier star of this class, a team may manage to discover an overlooked gem further back in the lottery.
Anthony Bennett was designated as the No. 1 overall selection in 2013, yet the Milwaukee Bucks emerged as the undisputed victors from that year’s draft. They transformed their trajectory when they incorporated Giannis Antetokounmpo with the 15th pick.
