In the NBA, every team struggles after player trades and coach changes. The New Orleans Pelicans faced such a dilemma.
Zion Williamson underwent surgery on his foot this offseason. In the 2021-22 NBA game, Zion has not played so far.
New Orleans' main moves in the offseason: sending away Lonzo Ball, Steven Adams and Eric Bradso, getting Dervent Graham, Jonas Valanciunas, Garrett Temple and Thomas Satoranchi. The Pelicans' summer draft players Trey Murphy III and Herbert Jones have also been given significant playing time this season.
In addition to these changes on the roster, there is also a change of head coach, with Stan Van Gundy being replaced by assistant coach Willie Green. In five games of the new season, the New Orleans Pelicans have won just one win (a win over the Minnesota Timberwolves). Their four losses were against the Philadelphia 76ers, Chicago Bulls, Minnesota Timberwolves and, most recently, the Atlanta Hawks.
Stan Van Gundy held out for just one season for the New Orleans Pelicans, leading the team to a record of 31 wins and 41 losses, failing to make the playoffs. Many believe that the Pelicans, who have three core players, Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball, have failed to make the playoffs, which is the main reason why Van Gundy is out of class.
The New Orleans Pelicans are clearly one of the youngest teams to hit the playoffs. Willie Green may be more likely to mingle with the players than the old-school Van Gundy. Green himself had a 12-year NBA career, the last of which was 2014-15, bringing him closer to his players.
It's too early to discuss whether Green's makeover of the New Orleans Pelicans was successful. The point is, it takes time to adapt to a new coaching staff and a new style of play. Willie Green replaced Stan Van Gundy and certainly gave the New Orleans Pelicans a bumpy start this year.
The New Orleans Pelicans' wing depth, made up of Herb Jones, Trey Murphy III and Najib Marshall, was clearly substandard. The team's defender rotation, with players like Kira Lewis Jr., Nikkor Alexander Walker and Derwent Graham, also doesn't look very reliable.
With Josh Hart sidelined with an injury after playing just 10 minutes in the season opener, the New Orleans Pelicans had to hire more youngsters. Currently, the New Orleans Pelicans have seven under-25 players in their rotation.
The problem with most NBA rookies is that they don't perform consistently enough every night. Brandon Ingram, the New Orleans Pelicans' well-deserved best player, needs to take on a heavier role. Jones and Alexander Walker have been the starters of the New Orleans Pelicans, with mixed performances.
Josh Hart's absence caused trouble for the team at the start of the season, but he should be able to make a comeback in the near future, while Zion Williamson's comeback timeline remains uncertain.
In the past offseason, Zion quietly had foot surgery, and the New Orleans Pelicans management has not been vocal. Until the week before the start of the season, most people were still looking forward to the young star's performance for the new season. As a result, the Pelicans announced Zion's injury.
In 61 games last season, Zion averaged 27.0 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. The Pelicans had a bad start, most not least because the team lacked a top star who could contribute 27 points.