New Orleans Pelicans · Franchise era 5 of 5
The post-Davis young core: the New Orleans Pelicans story
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.
- 08TradeJuly 6, 2019
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.
To LAL
To NOPDraftPICKround asset+5 assetsAnthony Davis to the LakersLAL receives Anthony DavisNOP receives Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart + 5 more9 original assets · 4 outcomes tracedOpen trade → 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