Pelicans Projected Lineup Following Anthony Davis Trade

While it's easy for New Orleans Pelicans fans to get melancholy and think the worst after Anthony Davis was shipped off to the Los Angeles Lakers, the haul they got back should give them plenty of hope for the future. With three first-round picks, as well as Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, and Josh Hart all heading down to The Big Easy, Alvin Gentry and the Pelicans could easily field a competitive team next year and have a better one in the future. Here's what their lineup could look like next season.

5. PG: Lonzo Ball

It was almost a coin flip picking Ball or whomever the Pelicans use the No. 4 pick on--Jarrett Culver? De'Andre Hunter?--for their starting lineup. But the frantic pace that Gentry likes to play at is suited for a distributing point guard like Lonzo. While his offensive struggles are real and need to be addressed, his passing and defense are good enough to make him the Pelicans point guard of the future.

4. SG: Jrue Holiday

While Holiday, one of the most underrated players in the league who put up averages of 21.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 7.7 assists per game, ran point for New Orleans last year, he has experience as a 2 guard and will move to accommodate Lonzo. The elder statesman on a young Pelicans team, expect Holiday to be the driving offensive force once again next season.

3. SF: Brandon Ingram

Ingram's health remains a major concern, as he was dealing with blood clots in his right arm at the tail end of last season. If he's healthy, however, there is a lot to like in Ingram as a pure scorer. Ingram has upped his scoring every year in the league, going from 9.1 on 40 percent shooting as a rookie to 18.3 on 49 percent last year. Provided he gets a clean bill of health, the Pelicans just grabbed a dynamic young scorer on a rookie contract.

2. PF: Zion Williamson

With the selection of Williamson with the first pick of the 2019 NBA Draft all but confirmed, New Orleans will enter the 2019 season with the luxury of being able to build around the most naturally talented athlete to come out of college basketball in a decade. Fast, powerful, and oozing superstar personality, Zion could have a transformative effect on the franchise in the same way Anthony Davis did years ago,

1. C: Julius Randle

While Jahlil Okafor had a nice little renaissance after Davis started sitting out games, the 280-pound, back-to-the-basket center is slowly going the way of the dinosaur. A big man for a more up-tempo era is Randle, who scored a career high 21.4 points per game to go along with 9.7 rebounds last year. While the Pelicans could use some extra height now that Davis is gone, Randle should make a fine small-ball center for New Orleans.