Head coach Willie Green referred to them as “the best duo in the NBA” 13 months ago, but it’s time for that Pelicans admit that the pairing of strikers Zion Williamson And Brandon Ingram didn't work, claims Christian Clark from NOLA.com (Subscription required).
As Clark points out, injuries have continually dashed any hope the Pelicans had of building momentum behind Williamson and Ingram, who have played just 73 games together since Green was signed in July 2021.
Differences in the way the two stars need to be motivated have also created a discrepancy, according to Clark, who says Williamson “requires rhythm and structure” while Ingram has done his best under player-friendly coaches like himself Alvin Gentry and green.
When David Griffin When he was hired as the Pelicans' head of basketball operations in 2019, he had two opportunities this offseason to bring in a player who could be New Orleans' “tentpole” star to build around, Clark writes. The front office acquired Ingram in the Anthony Davis Trade and selected Williamson No. 1 overall. However, Clark argues that there is now enough evidence to suggest that neither is the face of the franchise the team had hoped to be.
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- Communication was an issue during Williamson's tenure in New Orleans. according to ClarkTo illustrate this, he gives an example from the opening game of this season, which the 24-year-old missed due to illness. Williamson missed the shootout that morning, then showed up at the arena and was said to have made a game-time decision before being ejected. His lack of communication about his status “confused” several team employees, Clark says, citing the reason for the Pelicans' disappointing fall.
- True, there were rumors that Williamson's camp before him had been dissatisfied with CAA for years separated from the agency in November, Ingram's decision to leave According to Clark, Excel Sports Management came as a bit of a surprise.
- Both Clark and Shamit Dua from In The NO reported that Ingram was expected to sign with Klutch Sports sooner ESPN's Shams Charania This was confirmed on Sunday. Dua speculates that Ingram changed agencies because Excel couldn't secure him the extension he wanted or a trade for a desired landing spot, while Klutch is known for “pulling out all the stops” for his clients. Williamson is not expected to follow Ingram to Klutch, Dua adds.
- Multiple league sources tell Dua that the Pelicans and jazz There were discussions about a possible Ingram transfer at the beginning of the year, but these fell through because the striker was not interested in signing long-term in Utah. Brian Windhorst of ESPN reported this week that finding a team that Ingram would be willing to extend with was one of several factors complicating the Pelicans' trade efforts.
- In case you missed it, so did we passed along a few Pelicans notes on Saturday evening.