After trading Anthony Davis to the Lakers nearly a week before the draft, the Pelicans have landed their next face of the franchise.

New Orleans used the first overall pick it surprisingly landed in last month’s draft lottery to select Zion Williamson, the consensus top prospect in the 2019 NBA Draft. Williamson averaged 22.6 points and 8.9 rebounds in his lone season at Duke, showcasing his otherworldly athleticism and offensive skill at every opportunity. He also averaged 2.1 steals and 1.8 blocks per contest – an indication he could become a two-way force as an NBA player.

The Pelicans were reeling in the wake of Davis’ trade demand at the end of the season. VP of Basketball Operations David Griffin expressed hope the star would stay when taking the job. That hope appeared to be turning into reality when New Orleans landed the No. 1 pick in the lottery, but Davis squashed those dreams, saying his demands hadn’t changed. Had the Pelicans not been given the No. 1 pick, they likely would have attempted to acquire Williamson as the lone asset in a trade for Davis. In landing Williamson with their own pick, they were able to acquire a package full of players and picks to help fill out their roster for years to come.

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The Duke forward immediately becomes the face of the franchise, and Griffin’s rebuilding job will operate with that vision in mind. He surrounded LeBron James with championship-caliber lineups for four seasons and he’ll now have to do the same for Williamson. As Davis just showed, the timeline for surrounding a superstar with a winning team starts almost immediately.

Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram and Josh Hart, acquired in the Davis deal, will be some of the players supporting Williamson in New Orleans. Veteran PG Jrue Holiday should provide a strong two-way presence to help Williamson ease into the NBA. His leadership will be an example for the young prospect to build on.

Ultimately, it’ll be what Williamson does on the floor that will determine his ceiling in the NBA. His offensive ability is second to none, highlighted by his explosiveness in transition. Pelicans Head Coach Alvin Gentry’s up-tempo style with Ball and Williamson should scorch defenses, especially on the break. Williamson’s aggressiveness carries into his halfcourt game. He’ll be able to blow by bigger power forwards and back down smaller wings. He’s a strong finisher near the basket, although he’ll have to navigate bigger defenders and double teams often.

There are some concerns with Williamson on and off the floor. On the court, his 3-point shooting needs some work. The Duke star shot a respectable 33.8 percent from behind the arc in college, but he’ll have to develop that skill to bait defenders in before he can attack them off the dribble. Williamson will also need to avoid turning the ball over in situations with multiple defenders, something he struggled with at Duke.

Defensively, will he be able to check taller power forwards at 6-foot-7? Can he hang with quicker wing players if he weighs in at 285 pounds, as reported? Williamson has the athletic ability to potentially guard all five positions on the floor, but will that translate at the NBA level where the competition is better suited athletically?

Off the floor, the young star has a $100 million lawsuit on his hands. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Prime Sports Marketing, Williamson’s former agency, is suing the star and CAA Sports for breaching a contract and taking the star away from the agency. In the grand scheme of things, this shouldn’t impact the Pelicans. But after the situation that occurred with Davis and Rich Paul of Klutch Sports, you can bet New Orleans is closely monitoring this case.

All in all, the Pelicans were lucky to land the top pick and select the consensus top player in the draft. Williamson has the makings of a superstar even before he plays a minute of NBA basketball. The stage is set for both he and Griffin to build a contender in New Orleans.

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