Predicting The 10 Best NBA Teams Of The 2020’s

The 2010’s had many teams dominate the decade. The Golden State Warriors had 5 straight Finals appearances from 2015-2019, including 3 championships in this span. The Miami Heat dominated the early 2010’s with 2 championships and 4 Finals appearances in a 4-year span. The Cleveland Cavaliers also dominated in the 2010’s with 4 straight Finals appearances, one of which included the greatest series comeback ever in an NBA finals.

There were also many great players who headlined the 2010’s. Lebron James was undoubtedly the best player of the decade and had 8 straight finals appearances during the decade. Stephen Curry also dominated the decade with his back to back MVP awards, along with his 3 championships in 5 straight Finals appearances. Stephen Curry’s former teammate Kevin Durant also proved himself as one of the best players of the 2010’s. Durant earned 4 scoring titles and 2 championships during the decade. He also won 2 Finals MVP’s during the 2010’s.

With every decade, there are player’s and team’s that highlight a whole decade of basketball. With the 2020’s decade just beginning, which players and teams will dominate the next 10 years of basketball?

In this article we will be predicting 10 teams that will rule the 2020’s. It will be near impossible to predict the teams that will dominate for the next 10 years due to the league’s unpredictability. We took market size, management and young cores into consideration when evaluating which teams will be the best of the decade. These teams are listed in no particular order. With that being said, let us begin.

Denver Nuggets

The Denver Nuggets have already started off the 2020’s on a high note. During the 2020 NBA playoffs, the Nuggets reached the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 2009. The 2020 Denver Nuggets also defeated the Clippers in the 2nd round of the playoffs. The Clippers were heavy title favorites going into this series. Denver has already found success in the playoffs while having one of the brightest young cores in the NBA.

Jamal Murray gained popularity over a terrific playoff run. His emergence was one of the biggest surprises of the 2020 playoffs and his high level of play can potentially carry over to future seasons. Murray averaged 26.5 points per game in the playoffs while shooting 50% from the field and 45% from 3 on 7 3-point attempts per game. Jamal is only 23 years old and is finally starting to tap into his potential.

The biggest issue in Murray’s NBA career has been his consistency. He has struggled at being consistent throughout his whole career. In the playoffs, Murray played very consistently and showed he can be a main option on a winning team night in and night out. Hopefully, his amazing performance wasn’t a fluke, and he can consistently play like how he was in the playoffs. This will be a big deciding factor on the future of the Denver Nuggets.

Denver also has Nikola Jokic on their team. Jokic is only 25 years old and is just entering his prime. This playoff run established Nikola Jokic as the best center in the league. He led the Nuggets to the Conference Finals and has the potential to lead them to many more. Jokic is going to be a leading MVP candidate for many years to come and thanks to his talent, he can help the Nuggets reach new heights.

The Nuggets have another young player who will be a bright spot for them for many years to come. That player is Michael Porter Jr. MPJ has shown huge flashes of becoming an elite scorer, but he hasn’t been given consistent playing time. Moving forward the Nuggets are most likely going to give him more minutes and have him play a bigger role in the offence. The sky is the limit for Michael Porter Jr, and he can potentially be a very important piece to a contending Nuggets team.

Denver has one of the most promising young cores in the league. This young core also has a deep playoff run under their belt. Experience is very important in the NBA and the Nuggets are a young team with playoff experience. We’ve seen how far this group can get and they can get even farther in the playoffs if their young core develops even more. They are building a great culture in Denver. They are an exciting young team who focus on inclusion and team basketball. The Nuggets also have a great development system. With all these factors included, Denver should look to be a dangerous team for the next decade.

Dallas Mavericks

This season the Dallas Mavericks proved their going to be an elite team for many years to come. Luka Doncic is only 21 years old and he’s already establishing himself as one of the league’s best players. In his sophomore season, Luka earned himself an all-NBA first team selection and led his team to the playoffs. Doncic also led his team to have the highest offensive rating in NBA history. In the playoffs, the Mavericks fell to the Clippers in the first round, but it was a close and competitive series. Luka has the potential to claim the title as best player in the league and could go down as one of the greatest to play the game of basketball. With Luka Doncic on your team, you are already instant contenders for the next 15 years.

The Mavericks also have Kristaps Porzingis on the team. Porzingis is under contract with the Mavericks until 2024 and looks to be one of the main focal points of the team for many years to come. Kristaps is only 25 years old and is showing he can be a great fit next to Luka. Porzingis is one of the best floor spacing big men in the NBA and he is also an elite rim protector. In the playoffs Porzingis showcased his value even more. He averaged 23.7 points per game and shot 53% from 3 in the series against the Clippers. Luka and Porzingis are going to get even better and build even more chemistry over time. They have the potential to be the best duo in the league one day.

Dallas has also found the formula to build a great team around Luka. They have surrounded Luka with great shooters and great rollers to fully maximize Doncic’s elite playmaking abilities. The Mavericks just need to get more defense on the team, specifically from the perimeter. They also are looking for another shot creator that can play off-ball and relieve some pressure off Luka. The Mavericks have already expressed interest in acquiring a 3rd star for the team. With Luka on the team, it will make the Mavericks more enticing in free agency. They also have a great culture, a great owner and one of the lowest personal income tax rates in the U.S.

If the Mavericks keep Luka Doncic on their team, and Porzingis can stay healthy, then the Mavericks will look to be one of the league’s most dominate teams for the next decade.

Boston Celtics

Ever since the Bill Russell era, the Boston Celtics have found a way to be one of the league’s top teams. This streak looks like it will continue throughout the 2020’s decade.

The Celtics are led by one of the league’s most promising players in Jayson Tatum. Tatum is only 22 years old and he’s already considered a superstar in the league. He has had 2 Conference Finals appearances so far in his 3-year career and looks to add many more to his resume. Tatum has the potential to be one of the league’s best players, due to his elite scoring ability and 2-way play. He has gotten better every year so far throughout his career and projects to become an even better player in the following years. Tatum has also proven that he can step up when it matters the most, showing he can be a gamechanger in the playoffs and in the 4th quarter.

Boston has another promising young player on their roster who has improved in every season of his career. That player is Jaylen Brown. Jaylen is only 23 years old and has already proven to play a major factor in the Boston Celtics success. He is one of the best young two-way players in the league, while also proving he can be a main part of an effective offence. Brown averaged 20 points per game in the 2019-2020 season on good efficiency. He has also proven to thrive in the playoffs and at times has looked like the Celtics best player. That consistency, energy, and defense that Jaylen brings is going to be a major part of the Celtics success in this decade.

The Celtics have more young players on their roster right now who can grow into quality NBA players. Players like Grant Williams, Romeo Langford and Robert Williams are all young players with lots of room to grow that can be great role players for a potential championship contender.

Teams that find success in the NBA are almost always led by good management. Luckily for the Boston Celtics, they have one of the best front offices in the entire league. Brad Stevens has been the head coach of the Boston Celtics for 7 seasons and he’s proven himself to be one of the best coaches in the league. The Boston Celtics are one of the best player development teams in the league, mostly because of Stevens. He recently signed a contract extension with the Celtics and looks to be the head coach for many more seasons to come.

The Celtics also have Danny Ainge, who is one of the best general managers in the NBA. Danny Ainge is the man who assembled the Celtics championship team back in 2008. He is also responsible for drafting players like Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, two players who are key pieces to their current team. The Celtics are one of the best drafting teams and one of the best trading teams for a reason. It’s because of Danny Ainge.

Boston is also one of the biggest markets in the NBA. If they stay competitive, they shouldn’t have any issues attracting big name free agents to play for them. If history does repeat itself, then it will be no surprise if the Celtics dominate yet another decade of basketball.

Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers have already started the 2020’s decade with a Finals appearance, but they have the potential to make many more appearances during this decade.

Los Angeles has been one of the winningest franchises the NBA has ever seen. The Lakers have dominated every decade of basketball they’ve been in. During the 60’s they made 6 Finals appearances while being led by hall of famers Jerry West and Elgin Baylor. During the 70’s they won an NBA championship and had 3 Finals appearances during the decade. They had all-time greats like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Wilt Chamberlain play for them during the decade. During the 80’s they had 8 Finals appearances and 5 championships during this decade. This state of Lakers basketball is widely known as the Showtime Lakers, who were led by Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

The Lakers only had one Finals appearance during the 90’s, but they had players like Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O’Neal and Magic Johnson play for them during this decade. They 3-peated early in the 2000’s and then finished off the decade with another championship. The Lakers earned 6 Finals appearances during this decade and players like Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant highlight this era of Lakers basketball. The 2010’s was a darker era of Lakers basketball, but they still earned a championship during this decade.

The Lakers have dominated every decade of basketball since they entered the league. There’s no reason for them not to add the 2020’s to decades of basketball they have dominated.

Market size in today’s league is more important then it’s ever been. With that being said, the Lakers are the largest market in the entire NBA. They have shown that they can sign hall of famers in free agency with ease. The Lakers signed Shaquille O’Neal and Lebron James in free agency, two players who are widely considered to be top 10 players of all time. They have also traded for many all-time greats, such as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kobe Bryant, Wilt Chamberlain, Pau Gasol and Anthony Davis. Greatness runs within the organization and almost every player in the NBA would love to play for the Lakers. The Lakers are the most desirable franchise in the league.

The Lakers have Lebron James already on their team, who has led the Lakers to a Finals appearance. Although he is 35 years old, he is still one of the leagues best talents. He is under contract until 2022 and it appears like he will retire as a Laker. Regardless of age, if Lebron James is on the Lakers, they will be title contenders.

The Lakers have another elite player currently on their roster. That player is Anthony Davis. He is an expiring free agent but he’s very likely to resign with the Lakers for long term. Davis is only 27 years old and has just entered his prime. He is going to be one of the league’s best players for most of this decade, and that will most likely be as a member of the Lakers.

The Lakers don’t have any young assets like the other teams on this list. Despite this, they always find a way to be great. Even if they go through a couple years of rebuilding during the decade, it won’t be long until they are back at the top.

Miami Heat

Just like the Lakers, the Miami Heat are another team that has started off the decade with a bang. The Heat already have a Finals appearance during this decade and could potentially earn more during the 2020’s.

Since the early 2000’s, the Heat have been one of the league’s most successful franchises. They won a championship in 2006 with Dwyane Wade and then Miami would go on to form a big 3 with Lebron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh during the early 2010’s.

Miami is one of the biggest markets in the NBA. They are a top free agent destination thanks to their market, and location. They also have Pat Riley who is the best free agent pitcher in the league. Lebron James was the unanimous best player in the league during 2010 and Pat Riley convinced Lebron to leave the Cavaliers and team up with Bosh and Wade in Miami. Giannis Antetokounmpo is an upcoming free agent that the Heat have already expressed interest in pursuing. Miami can make a strong free agency pitch to Giannis during the 2021 free agency. Miami’s culture, recent success and large market will really strengthen Miami’s pitch to Giannis. If the Heat find a way to lure Giannis Antetokounmpo to Miami, then they will be a shoe in as title contenders for the rest of the decade.

Not only are the Heat one of the most enticing free agent destinations, but they also have great young players on their current roster. Bam Adebayo is only 23 years old and is most likely going to be a valuable player for the remainder of the decade. He made his first all-star and all-defensive team this season and was the runner up for the most improved player award. Bam Adebayo is still improving and hasn’t reached his prime yet. Due to his athleticism, playmaking, and versatility on defense, Bam looks like he can be a main piece for the Miami Heat for the rest of the decade.

The Heat have another young player on their roster with lots of potential. That player is Tyler Herro. This season Herro has emerged as one of the best rookies in his class. He is only 20 years old and yet he’s making a huge impact on a contending team. Offensively, he is very lethal. He’s a great shooter, can create his own shot and can handle the ball. Herro still has lots of room to grow, especially in the playmaking category. If he continues to improve and keep adding to his game, then he can be one of the most versatile offensive players in the league. The Heat have found a real gem in Tyler Herro, hopefully they don’t let him out of their reach.

The Miami Heat have done a great job of establishing a hard-working culture that has led to success. They are well coached and are one of the best drafting teams in the NBA. Miami is also one of the best teams when it comes to player development. They turn unknown players into quality NBA players. Miami is on the right track and they project to be one of the league’s best teams for the remainder of the decade.

Memphis Grizzlies

The Memphis Grizzlies have one of the best young cores in the NBA. Memphis surprised a lot of people this season by earning the 9th seed in the stacked Western Conference. The Grizzlies are only going to get better with more experience and look like they can be a top team in the Western Conference in the following years.

Memphis is led by Ja Morant, who is one of the most promising young players in the league. Ja is coming off an amazing rookie season for Memphis. Ja Morant is one of the few players in NBA history to average at least 17.5 points and 7 assists in their rookie season and have their team win more than 30 games. The other players to accomplish this was Oscar Robertson and Magic Johnson. Ja Morant has potential to be a future hall of famer. He’s going to keep improving and can become the best point guard in the NBA one day. He is only 21 years of age and still has lots of great basketball left in his career.

Ja Morant isn’t the only promising young player on the Grizzlies roster. They also have former 4th overall pick Jaren Jackson Jr. Jaren is a near 7-footer who shot almost 40% from 3 last season. He is one of the best young floor spacing bigs in the league, which makes him the perfect fit next to Ja Morant. Jaren also has shown great potential as a rim protector. He has incredible length and averaged 1.6 blocks per game last season. Jaren Jackson Jr is the perfect modern day 3 and D big man. He is also only 21 years old and will continue to develop alongside Ja Morant.

Memphis also has an abundance of young players who can be great role players for many years to come. Brandon Clarke just came off one of the most efficient seasons from a rookie in NBA history. He shot 61% from the field in his rookie season, which is currently the record for highest field goal percentage by a player in their rookie year. Clarke also shot 36% from 3 and proved to be a good defender. He is only 23 years old and looks to be an elite role player for many more years to come.

Memphis also has Justice Winslow who is only 24 years of age. He is a former 10th overall pick and has some decent potential, but he’s coming off a rough season. Winslow only shot 22% from 3 and averaged a career low in steals per game. He had a difficult year due to injury, so hopefully he can comeback fully healthy and be a valuable defending point forward for the Grizzlies. Lastly, the Grizzlies have former 4th overall pick Josh Jackson. He hasn’t lived up to his expectations so far in his career, but he can still be a valuable role player for the coming years. He’s only 22 years old and can still develop into a serviceable NBA player. He can potentially become a valuable perimeter defender on this team.

The Grizzlies have assembled a good young core and are already establishing a style of basketball that is geared towards the modern NBA. Memphis is playing a fast-paced offence which allows them to get more offensive possessions per game. During the 2019-2020 season the Grizzlies ranked 7th in possessions per game. This style also creates more fast break point opportunities. Memphis ranked 3rd in the NBA last season in fast break points per game. When you have one of the fastest players in the league on your team in Ja Morant, it makes sense why you would want to run a fast tempo offence. However, moving forward the Grizzlies need to acquire more perimeter shooting. They ranked 24th in 3-pointers attempted per game. In a league where 3-point shooting is more valuable then ever, you need more players who can create and finish 3-point opportunities.

The biggest concern for Memphis moving forward is their market size. Market size plays a huge factor in signing free agents, as well as retaining players currently on your roster. Memphis is one of the smaller markets in the NBA which will make it difficult for them to be title contenders in the future. It is not impossible, but it’s a very challenging task. The Grizzlies have already done a good job at drafting, developing, and building good chemistry, but it simply might not be enough moving forward. Memphis absolutely needs to keep Ja Morant for the next decade if they even want a chance at being contenders.

Atlanta Hawks

Although the Atlanta Hawks were one of the worst regular season teams this season, they still project to be one of the best teams in the league for the next decade.

When building a serious championship contending team, it’s very important to have a player who can create for himself and create for others at an elite level. Trae Young checks off both these boxes.

There are only a few players in NBA history to average at least 29.5 points and 9 assists per game in a single season. This list includes Oscar Robertson, Russell Westbrook, Nate Archibald, and Trae Young. Trae has accomplished this elite feat at only 21 years of age. Trae ranked 7th in points per game in 2020 as well as ranking 2nd in assists during that season. Young is putting up these historic statistics while being double teamed every single night. The Hawks only won 20 games this season, but Trae Young is in no way the reason for the lack of success. Atlanta has one of the worst rosters in the league. On top of that, the Hawks second best player John Collins missed significant time this season.

The Hawks are attempting to surround Trae Young with more talent for him to succeed. They drafted Cam Reddish and Deandre Hunter back in 2019, who look like they can be great fits next to Trae once they develop. Atlanta is also trying to surround Young with great defenders to mask the fact that Trae Young is the worst defender in the league. Atlanta is attempting to use the Golden State Warriors blueprint on how to build a dynasty. They see the similarities between Stephen Curry and Trae Young and they are trying to replicate the Warriors style of basketball. The Warriors were the most recent dynasty, so it makes sense for the Hawks to attempt to recreate what made them so great. Whether or not it will work out is the real question.

The Atlanta Hawks do have one major advantage that they could potentially abuse for the next decade. Atlanta is in the Eastern Conference. The east has famously been known as the easier conference in the NBA. The west has always been known as the more competitive conference, so the Hawks being in the east may give them more of a chance to make a deep playoff run. Atlanta can potentially dominate the east for the next decade if they play their cards right.

Although they have an advantage with being in the easier conference, there is one major factor that can be the downfall of their success. That downfall may be their market size. Like I previously stated, as of right now market size plays a huge factor in a team’s success. This could change throughout the decade, but as of right now it looks to become an even more apparent problem throughout the years. Atlanta already has a great and youthful foundation and have laid the groundwork for future success. However, they cannot rely on acquiring free agents to establish them as contenders for the next decade.

Golden State Warriors

Some people may think that the Golden State Warriors dominance is coming to an end. I think it’s just getting started.

The 2019-2020 season was a blessing and curse for the Golden State Warriors. They began the season without Klay Thompson due to injury, however they still had Steph Curry, who most people believed to be an MVP candidate. The Warriors also acquired D’Angelo Russell in the previous offseason, who just came off a 21 ppg season. Curry got injured very early on in the season and would only play a total of 5 games that season. With Steph Curry and Klay Thompson out, the Warriors struggled tremendously. The team was horrendous and finished the season off with 15 total wins.

Despite the poor season, it looked to be a blessing in disguise for the Warriors as they were awarded the 2nd overall pick in the 2020 NBA draft. With Klay Thompson and Steph Curry being fully healthy for next season, it looks as though they have returned to being contenders once again.

This 2nd overall pick is going to play a huge factor in deciding the Warriors future. As of right now, we are unsure if the Warriors are going to draft a prospect with this pick, or if they will trade this pick away to acquire a player who can immediately strengthen their championship odds.

If they choose to draft with their pick, then they can potentially develop a prospect who can help them win for the remainder of the decade. Developing a young rookie with a lot of potential within the Warriors system might be perfect. Most of the time a high overall pick is expected to immediately make a huge impact and turn the entire franchise around. If the Warriors draft a prospect with this pick, they won’t have that same amount of pressure placed on them early in their career. Plus, they can potentially take over the franchise once Steph and Klay’s time in Golden State is up.

If they choose to trade this pick for an NBA established talent, then they will likely be serious title favorites until Stephen Curry retires. Some might worry that Curry and Klay will take a massive decline next season due to their major injuries, but this may not be the case. Despite them both suffering major injuries, both of their games don’t rely heavily on athleticism. As long as they can still shoot at an all-time great level, they’ll be just fine. Golden State can without a doubt contend for the next 3 seasons if they decide to go all in for the short term.

The Warriors have another key factor they need to consider for their future. Golden State owns Minnesota’s 2021 first round draft pick. They acquired this pick in the Andrew Wiggins trade. The Timberwolves do not look to be a playoff team next season, so this pick can be very valuable. It is a top 3 protected pick, but that pick can still be very valuable. Minnesota has Karl-Anthony Towns who will most likely lead his team to a better record than a bottom 3 team in the league. Plus, the 2021 draft is supposed to be loaded with elite level talent. Even if the Warriors end up with the 4th pick, they could still potentially draft a franchise altering player with their selection. They could also explore trading this pick to strengthen their championship odds even more.

Over the past decade the Warriors have done a fantastic job at building a winning culture. Culture generally does not leave once star players leave. The culture is usually instilled into the franchise. Great franchises always find a way to be great. Even if they go through a drought where they experience a lack of success, they eventually find their way back to the top. This could be the case with the Warriors.

They have Bob Myers at the helm, the main man responsible for building the Warriors dynasty. He is one of the best executives in the league and is great at acquiring talent. They also have an established winning coach with Steve Kerr who has played a big part in establishing their system. Golden State is also benefited from playing in California and have the luxury of being a large market team. With all that being said, they shouldn’t have problems dominating this decade, even when Steph and Klay’s time in Golden State is up.

Toronto Raptors

Once Kawhi Leonard left the Raptors after their 2019 championship run, most people thought it was time to hit the reset button. However, this season the Raptors have proved that they can still dominate the Eastern Conference, even without Kawhi Leonard.

One of the main reasons the Raptors still had success even after losing Kawhi was because of their elite management. Toronto has Nick Nurse, who is considered one of the best head coaches in the entire league. He won a championship in his first year as the head coach. Nurse also helped his team exceed expectations in his second season. A big part of the Raptors success this season was due to Nick Nurse. He is great at defensive scheming and strategies. Nurse is also great at helping players reach their full potential. Nurse has taken the Raptors places that previous head coach Dwane Casey could not.

Toronto also has an elite executive on their team with Masai Ujiri. He drafted Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby, two players who have turned out to be amazing draft steals. Masai also signed Fred VanVleet, traded for Serge Ibaka, traded for Norman Powell as well as trading for Kawhi Leonard in one of the most lopsided trades in recent memory. The Knicks have heavily pursued him to join their management team, since he is one of the best executives in the league. He knows how to make smart front office decisions. This is something very crucial in building a long lasting contending team.

The Raptors also have one of the best development systems in the league. It is a common myth in the NBA that you need to build your team through the draft. When Toronto won their championship back in 2019, they proved that you don’t need high draft picks to win a championship. When they won their championship they had 0 lottery picks on their roster. That is an impressive feat which should be very progressive towards the future of the NBA. Tanking in the NBA does not work. The Raptors have proved that tanking doesn’t equal success. Culture and player development equals success.

Toronto has built an elite player development system, as well as an elite culture. They have a culture built on hard work, dedication, and grit. The Raptors have established an identity of being one of the hardest working and one of the grittiest teams in the league. They also have top notch developing and have been progressing how you develop NBA players. The Raptors have used the G-league as a great developing system for NBA players. They had 6 players on their roster during the 2019-2020 season that have G-league experience. They are also great at finding undrafted talent like Terence Davis and Fred VanVleet. With great drafting, developing and trading, you can contend for multiple decades. Hard work beats talent and the Raptors have shown this mindset can result in championship success.

Toronto already has a young core in place that can help them be competitive. Pascal Siakam keeps improving even after winning the most improved player award in 2019. He is an all-star caliber player who perfectly embodies the Raptors culture of grit and hard work. During the 2020 playoffs, Pascal Siakam struggled, but he’s the type of player to turn his loses into wins. I think with hard work and dedication he can bounce back from his disappointing 2020 playoff run.

The Raptors also have OG Anunoby on their team who has shown to be one of the best isolation defenders in the NBA. He fits perfectly into the Raptors system and is only 23 years of age. He still has lots of room to improve and can increase his role on the Raptors moving forward. Toronto also have Fred VanVleet who has shown to be a very valuable player for the Raptors. Unfortunately, he is a free agent in the 2020 NBA free agency, and he will draw interest from many teams. Hopefully the Raptors can keep VanVleet as he is going to be a very crucial part of the Raptors for the following years.

Although they aren’t a top free agent destination, they are a decently sized market that can make an enticing pitch to a big name free agent. Even if they don’t find free agent success, the Raptors will still find a way to be successful.

New Orleans Pelicans

The Anthony Davis trade set the Pelicans up nicely for the next decade. They acquired Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball and Josh Hart to play alongside rookie phenomenon Zion Williamson. With this combination of youth and potential, they have one of the most promising young cores in the league.

Their core is led by 2019 1st overall draft pick Zion Williamson. Zion has only played 24 games in his career, but he has already shown flashes of greatness. Zion is the only rookie in NBA history to average at least 22 points in under 30 minutes per game. He’s averaging 22 points per game in under 30 minutes strictly off of athleticism. Once he develops his game, he will become an even bigger threat. He has the potential to be one of the league’s best players. He is a versatile athletic freak who can handle the ball and throw down highlight reel dunks. One of the main issues so far with Zion has been his conditioning and injury concerns. Over time hopefully these issues can be resolved. Zion is too good and has too much potential to have his career held back by injuries.

The Pelicans have already found a young promising player who can play alongside Zion. That player is Brandon Ingram. Ingram was just awarded the most improved player award and he will most likely continue to improve. He’s only 23 years old and has already made an all-star team. He averaged 24 points per game on great efficiency and looks to be one of the league’s top scorers this decade. Ingram is also very versatile and can potentially be one of the most versatile players this decade. He can playmake and handle the ball, create from the perimeter, play off the ball and finish efficiently in the paint.

Zion and Ingram are hopefully going to lead the Pelicans for the remainder of the decade. They haven’t had a lot of time on the court together to grow chemistry, but they are both in the Pelicans long term plans so they will have plenty of time to form chemistry.

Lonzo Ball has had his rough spots in his career, but he’s still a promising part of the Pelicans. He has made improvements to his shooting every season which is going to be crucial to playing alongside Zion Williamson. You need to surround Zion with shooting and Lonzo was a very good catch and shoot player this season. He’s also an amazing playmaker who can facilitate the Pelicans offence. He’s also great in transition and can help maximize the Pelicans fast paced style of basketball. Lonzo is also a great perimeter defender. He’s only 22 years old and is a former 2nd overall pick who still hasn’t reached his full potential.

The Pelicans have other young pieces like Josh Hart, Jaxson Hayes, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker. These players can develop into key rotational pieces for the Pelicans and help provide great depth for the future. The Pelicans also have the 13th overall pick in this upcoming draft. With this pick they could potentially select another great role player who can be a good fit next to their young core. New Orleans also have future Lakers first rounders. They can either draft their own players, or they can use these picks as trade assets.

New Orleans currently have David Griffin as their executive. Griffin is responsible for assembling the 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers championship team. It is very vital to have a winner already established within the organization. Griffin knows how to build a team and it’s reassuring that he has previously won a championship. Zion Williamson has drawn many comparisons to Lebron James early on in his career. Since David Griffin built a championship team around Lebron James, maybe he can do the same for Zion Williamson.

Head coaching is also very important in the league. As of right now the Pelicans do not have a head coach. They need to choose their next coach carefully as it could heavily impact the future of the team. They should prioritize hiring a coach that can utilize the Pelicans young players to the best of their abilities. When looking for a coach they should also hire someone that can help develop their young players.

Although the Pelicans have one of the most promising young cores, history can repeat itself for the franchise. The Pelicans have had 2 superstars in their franchise history. Anthony Davis and Chris Paul. Both of which they were forced to trade away. Both players were traded from New Orleans to go play in Los Angeles. Zion is a potential superstar, and it is pretty concerning that they lost two superstar players in an 8-year span. Hopefully, history doesn’t repeat itself and Zion doesn’t leave for a bigger market team, but it can happen.

The Pelicans have never been a great free agent destination. It may be very difficult to convince free agents to play for them. What may make luring free agents easier is having Zion Williamson on your team. We have already seen the gravity that Zion Williamson has on the league. He has taken the NBA media world by storm. Zion is already one of the most popular players in the league at only 20 years old. He also was named a cover athlete for NBA 2K21, despite only playing 24 games in the league. The more Zion plays, the more popularity he will gain. Maybe Zion will have the same effect and gravity for luring free agents.