Pelicans’ NBA Championship Odds Get Big Boost After Drafting Zion Williamson

• Zion Williamson was selected first by the New Orleans Pelicans in last night’s NBA Draft
• David Griffin was hired by New Orleans as Executive VP of Basketball Operations and has immediately improved the front office
• Many other NBA contenders have serious question marks entering free agency
  

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Zion Williamson is officially a member of the New Orleans Pelicans. While that draft pick alone shifted the NBA Championship odds, it was actually adding David Griffin as Executive VP of Basketball Operations earlier this summer that made it all possible.

2020 NBA Championship Odds

*Odds taken 06/21/19

Griffin traded disgruntled star Anthony Davis to the Los Angeles Lakers and to say he netted a great haul would be the understatement of the year. He swapped an angry, injury prone superstar who already told the world he was leaving after next season for players and picks he used brilliantly on draft night.

After shuffling pieces around his final compensation was Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Josh Hart, the no. 8, no. 17, and no. 35 pick in 2019, three additional picks, one pick swap, and the removal of Solomon Hill’s bad contract.

The Pelicans got a haul from the AD trade. pic.twitter.com/p8VMxdYSMn

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 21, 2019

For the Pelicans you couldn’t have drawn this up any better. Teams that lose a star don’t rebound the way they have. In fact, they may have actually improved. With that in mind, here’s the case why a flier on New Orleans at +4000 may be a lucrative play.

Williamson is the Real Deal

Williamson has been compared to LeBron James and Kevin Durant when they entered the league, but there is one stark difference, his physical frame.  James and Durant needed time to fill out. While they were good early on, it wasn’t until they fully matured that they reached the peak of their powers. Williamson is ready to contribute at the NBA level right away, not only because of his skill set but because of his physical gifts.

"She put her dreams aside for mine." ?

After being selected first in the #NBADraft, @Zionwilliamson was emotional as he shared the sacrifices his mom made for this big moment to happen! pic.twitter.com/SpQgDpMqEL

— NBA TV (@NBATV) June 21, 2019

One other reason to believe in the Pelicans is Williamson’s maturity. While Griffin has said no one player will be responsible for the teams fortune, his new no. 1 pick certainly seems capable. Davis was injured a large chunk of last year and he’s been replaced by Williamson, the three Lakers and three draft picks from last night. That certainly leads you to believe they will build on their 33 wins last year.

Many Contenders Trending in the Wrong Direction

Another reason to have some hope for the Pelicans as a big long shot? The competition. Golden State is facing a tough road after massive injuries to Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson. Even if they get the two stars to re-sign neither is likely to play much (or at all) in 2020. The Houston Rockets’ two best players are at odds and their general manager has made it known he wants to shake up the roster. The Lakers roster, meanwhile, currently has just a handful of players on it.

Do the Lakers need another star? Could they even get one if they only end up with $23.3 million in cap space? And if they DO instead go for depth over flash – do you trust LA's front office to put the right pieces together? pic.twitter.com/j5W2uaZKdx

— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) June 17, 2019

Sure, New Orleans is a longshot but would they really be that much more surprising than the Toronto Raptors?