The NBA is coming back, with media day starting today for some teams. The first squad to get in front of the cameras is the New Orleans Pelicans. This summer, the Pelicans traded future first-round picks to move up in the draft, only to see their prized rookie get hurt.
Right now, the Pelicans look like a team without a clear direction. They are trading up for young players, while keeping veterans on the roster. Their payroll suggests a playoff team, but last season, they finished 21-61 for one of the worst records in the league. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the big takeaways from Pelicans media day.
Pelicans Media Day: Three Storylines You Can’t Miss
Zion is in Shape and Focused
Zion Williamson has one of the strangest contracts in the league, with plenty of clauses about his body weight, games played, and so on. Naturally, reporters wanted to know how he felt. He praised his personal trainer and talked about how they came up with a plan for working out, saying:
“Last year, while I was rehabbing my hamstring, my trainer and I sat down and we had a conversation. He wanted me to come back better before the injury. We talked about how to make workouts so that we are having fun and enjoying. And we came up with a plan, from boxing to working out on the football field to just random workouts. I really felt a shift in my body. I haven’t felt like this since college. Just where I can walk in the gym, and I’m like, I just feel good.”
Having Williamson in great shape is priority No. 1 for the Pelicans. With Zion at his college shape, he can be explosive and show his full potential. Looking at him on media day, he looks pumped, in shape, and without any trace of all that extra weight he had in previous years. Even his teammate Trey Murphy later said that Zion is slimmer than he has ever seen him during the summer.
Former Championship Teammates Reunite
This summer, the Pelicans traded for Jordan Poole and signed Kevon Looney. The two played together for the Golden State Warriors, even winning a title in 2022. The Pelicans expect those two to bring some championship experience and leadership to the team. Speaking about playing with Looney again, Poole said:
“I am super excited. I haven’t had a good screen in two years, so it’ll be dope. Playing with somebody who’s won a championship. Obviously, you go through a long season and you build the relationship. But in terms of just basketball chemistry, it’s really a big pickup for how I play, but I think it’s huge for our team too. He’s probably the most professional player person that I’ve been around in my seven years in the league.”
Last year’s rookie, Yves Missi could certainly benefit from having Looney on the team. Missi had a great rookie season, but with Looney’s help, he can grow his game even more. Derik Queen, the prized rookie who the Pelicans traded up to get, will also benefit.
Murphy Adds to His Arsenal of Moves
While Williamson might be the biggest name on the Pelicans roster, Murphy is probably the one with the most upside. Last season, Murphy averaged 20+ points for the first time. A lot of Pelicans fans believed he should get some consideration for the Most Improved Player of the Year Award. But since he only played 53 games, he didn’t get votes. Discussing his improvements for the upcoming season, Murphy said:
“I mean, I just think what changed was I had to work on different things earlier in the summer because I was really able to shoot threes until like the middle of July. It was hard to shoot threes. So, I worked a lot on mid-range shots and getting to that second level.”
Being a good mid-range scorer is a vital skill for great players. When the game is tight, having someone who can make a mid-range shot is the difference between being a playoff team and a lottery team. Last season, Murphy improved his scoring and expanded his game with advanced ball-handling, driving, and finishing abilities. If he adds a mid-range jumper, he can rise to an All-Star level.
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