On April 29, Beijing time, the New Orleans Pelicans lost to the Suns and missed the second round of the playoffs. However, the Pelicans achieved an average regular season record with a winning percentage of less than 50 percent, and when main player Zion Williams suffered an injury. This proves that the future of the team is very bright.
In the summer, Zion will be able to sign his first big contract. It also means that once signed, the pelicans' future lineup will be set. The team currently has a lot of young people, take advantage of this year's first round picks, next season's Pelicans will be one of the west side's strongest teams.
Zion of 2019 is a big man with three-point shooting ability, which is the core player of the New Orleans Pelicans. However, this season, Zion suffered serious injuries.
Fortunately, the team made a big deal with the Blazers in the middle of the season, and the players CJ, Nance Jr. and Snell all played a role.
But there's no doubt that Zion's future contract extension is their first step. If renewed this year, the maximum contract could reach $181 million for rookie contract renewals.
Without a contract extension, he will become a restricted free agent in 2023. Once named to the All-Rookie, his new contract could reach $215 million.
Of the 14 players, only Snell will be a free agent, and the rest are likely to all stay.
Among them, Alvarado only has an annual salary of $1.56 million, and Jones has an annual salary of $1.78 million, both of which are very cost-effective players. At the same time, Ingram is only more than 24 years old, and after playing for 6 seasons, he is only 1 year older than Alvarado and Herbert Jones.
Trey Murphy III is also only 22 years old and has a contract of $3.3 million. The Pelicans' Nos. 5, No. 15 and No. 25 are young and underpaid, but they've been through the playoffs.
Three players to stay:
1. Jaxon Hayes
Although also post-00s, Hayes Jr. was arrested last year and charged with 12 misdemeanors. In the playoffs, he was provoked by the Suns' Crowder and was sent off. But in the 26 games he started, the Pelicans defended sixth in the league. In addition, his contract is a $6.8 million rookie contract.
2. CJ-McCollum
Many people said that it was CJ's mistake that led to the team's exit. But statistically, mcCollum had 24.3 points, 5.8 assists and 4.4 rebounds in the Pelicans' season, shooting 49.3 percent from the field. These figures are all the highest in his career.
It should also be said that McCollum is only 31 years old.
3. Larry Nance
The effect is obvious, and the fourth quarter appearance allows the team to play a small lineup. If Zion could come back, the effect would be even better.
The Pelicans currently have a Lakers first-round pick (protected after 11th), and experts predict that their chances of getting a No. 8 pick are very high. The draft predicted that New Orleans could take Duke's strike-back swingman AJ Griffin.
The team is full of energy, with a lot of rookies, but lacks stable pitchers. They need a healthy CJ and Zion while strengthening their defense. In future games, opponents may be more difficult to deal with than the Suns.
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