New Orleans Pelicans · Franchise era 5 of 5
The post-Davis young core: the New Orleans Pelicans story
Franchise era
2019–20—present
The post-Davis young core
New Orleans Pelicans
The story in one sentence
The Davis return supplied a deep young roster, though availability and fit have kept its most exciting version frustratingly intermittent.
Zion's force and another reset
Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, Herb Jones and Trey Murphy III gave the era its recognizable core.
Its final meaning is still being written.
Timeline
How it unfolded
Before 2019–20
What came before
Davis became an elite two-way star, but injuries and constant roster changes limited the era to two playoff appearances.
July 6, 2019
The Anthony Davis package that produced a title and a rebuild
The Lakers compressed nearly their entire young core into a second superstar. The Pelicans accepted a long rebuild with both immediate players and control over Los Angeles's future drafts.
08Championship wagerJuly 6, 2019LAL⇄NOPAnthony Davis to the LakersLos Angeles paired Anthony Davis with LeBron James. New Orleans received three young players, the No. 4 draft rights and years of first-round control in a three-team transaction.9 assets · 4 outcomes＋
The original receipt
Los Angeles Lakers received
- • Anthony Davis
New Orleans Pelicans received
- • Brandon Ingram
- • Lonzo Ball
- • Josh Hart
- • Draft rights to De'Andre Hunter · No. 4
- • 2022 Lakers first
- • 2023 first-round swap rights
- • 2024 Lakers first with deferral option
- • Cash considerations
Davis helped deliver the 2020 championship immediately. Ingram became an All-Star, while the draft tree kept moving through later Pelicans trades.
Open full trade tree →2022
Western Conference First Round: New Orleans Pelicans vs Phoenix Suns
2024
Western Conference First Round: New Orleans Pelicans vs Oklahoma City Thunder
Still unfolding
Where the story stands
This chapter remains active, so its final place in franchise history is still being written.
The core