2019–20 New Orleans Pelicans season

The 2019–20 New Orleans Pelicans season was the 18th season of the New Orleans Pelicans franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). On April 17, 2019, the Pelicans named David Griffin the executive vice president of basketball operations.^[1] On May 14, the Pelicans won the top draft choice, making it the second time in franchise history they won the lottery. Five days later, the Pelicans named former Brooklyn Nets assistant general manager Trajan Langdon their newest general manager, replacing interim general manager Danny Ferry.^[2]

This was the first season since 2011-12 that long-time power forward Anthony Davis was not on the roster, as he was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers for Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart, 3 future first round draft picks, and the right to swap first-round picks with the Lakers in 2023, on June 15, 2019. With the Lakers, Davis, along with LeBron James would go on to lead the Lakers to their 17th championship title and the franchise's first in the post-Kobe Bryant era. Five days trading Davis, on June 20, the Pelicans selected Duke phenom Zion Williamson first overall in the 2019 NBA draft, and due to an injury, he wouldn't play his first professional game until January 23, 2020, where in a game vs the San Antonio Spurs, he had dropped 22 points in just 18 minutes during the 4th quarter.^[3][4]

The season was suspended by the league officials following the games of March 11^[5] after it was reported that Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19. On June 4, the Pelicans were named as one of the 22 teams heading to the NBA Bubble at Walt Disney World's ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex for the continuation of the NBA season.^[6][7] The Pelicans failed to qualify for the postseason for the second consecutive season following a loss to the San Antonio Spurs along with a win by the Trail Blazers over the Philadelphia 76ers on the same day. It was also the first time in his career that shooting guard JJ Redick missed the playoffs.^[8]

Draft

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	College / Club
1	1	Zion Williamson	PF	United States	Duke
2	57	Jordan Bone	PG	United States	Tennessee

The Pelicans will hold the first pick in the draft this year due to them winning the NBA draft lottery, along with two second-round draft picks.^[9] On June 15, the Pelicans agreed to a trade involving star forward/center Anthony Davis where, in exchange for a few of the Los Angeles Lakers' young, promising players, they also acquired a multitude of first-round draft picks, one of which includes the fourth selection of this year's draft. However, the trade was not finalized until July 6.^[10] On the night of the draft, the Pelicans agreed to a deal with the Atlanta Hawks, where they would give up the Lakers' fourth pick of the draft (which became De'Andre Hunter from the University of Virginia), their 57th pick, a future second-round pick, and Solomon Hill in exchange for Picks 8, 17, and 35. Just like their trade with the Lakers, however, this trade wasn't finalized until July 6.^[11]

With the #1 of the draft, New Orleans selected star power forward Zion Williamson from Duke University. In his only season in Duke, Williamson earned many honors and awards for his play, including the consensus National College Player of the Year. With the 39th pick, the Pelicans acquired Serbian power forward Alen Smailagić from the Santa Cruz Warriors in the NBA G League, but traded him to the Golden State Warriors for two future second-round picks and cash considerations.^[12] With the 57th pick, the Pelicans selected point guard Jordan Bone from the University of Tennessee. He would end up being traded to the Detroit Pistons after multiple trades.

Roster

2019–20 New Orleans Pelicans roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. No. Name Height Weight DOB From G 0 Alexander-Walker, Nickeil 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1998–09–02 Virginia Tech G 2 Ball, Lonzo 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1997–10–27 UCLA F 45 Cheatham, Zylan (TW) 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1995–11–17 Arizona State F/C 22 Favors, Derrick 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 265 lb (120 kg) 1991–07–15 Georgia Tech G 5 Gray, Josh (TW) 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 1993–09–09 LSU G 3 Hart, Josh 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1995–03–06 Villanova F/C 10 Hayes, Jaxson 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 2000–05–23 Texas G 11 Holiday, Jrue 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1990–06–12 UCLA F 14 Ingram, Brandon 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 1997–09–02 Duke G 15 Jackson, Frank 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1998–05–04 Duke F 20 Melli, Nicolò 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 236 lb (107 kg) 1991–01–26 Italy F 21 Miller, Darius  6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1990–03–21 Kentucky G 55 Moore, E'Twaun 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 191 lb (87 kg) 1989–02–25 Purdue C 9 Okafor, Jahlil 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 270 lb (122 kg) 1995–12–15 Duke G 4 Redick, JJ 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 1984–06–24 Duke G 12 Thornwell, Sindarius 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 215 lb (98 kg) 1994–11–15 South Carolina G/F 34 Williams, Kenrich 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 1994–12–02 TCU F 1 Williamson, Zion 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 284 lb (129 kg) 2000–07–06 Duke	Head coach Alvin Gentry Assistant coach(es) Jeff Bzdelik (Associate HC) Chris Finch (Associate HC) Jamelle McMillan Fred Vinson Legend (C) Team captain (DP) Unsigned draft pick (FA) Free agent (S) Suspended (GL) On assignment to G League (TW) Two-way affiliate player Injured Roster Last transaction: 2020–01–30

Standings

Division

Conference

Game log

Preseason

Regular season

Transactions

References