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Do you believe in ping pong balls?
Well, you'd better.
For the second time in the history of the New Orleans pelicans franchise, these round spheres that define the fate of randomness have appeared to perfection and have delighted NBA fans suffering with an incredibly important injection optimism.
Zion Williamson, Pelican of New Orleans.
It's as strange to read as it is to think, and even harder to imagine. But that's true.
The star of Duke, and the most coveted university player to enter the repechage in a generation is extremely (like, really Massively) will probably head to New Orleans to take part in one of the most inconceivable rebounds in NBA history.
Just five months ago, Anthony Davis wanted to go out. After six losing seasons in seven years, the core of the pelican world could not even contemplate winning in New Orleans and asking for an exchange.
The franchise's trajectory was crushed after Davis' declaration, turning Pelicans into a laughing stock. For weeks, the media have set aside the carcass of the team, not only to lament, but to ask in which city they would move and what parts the Pelicans would have recovered in exchange for Davis.
This prompted the owner, Gayle Benson, to act for the first time since she took control of the team last year, expressing for the first time loudly her desire to stay in the city.
Benson then fired his longtime general manager, Dell Demps, and hired Executive Vice President David Griffin to manage basketball operations, commissioning him to methodically rebuild the franchise with the rubble left by Davis.
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It was supposed to be difficult. And it was probably going to be slow. But the pelicans said they were in the long run, no matter how bored.
Then, in a single envelope opening, everything changed.
All.
The besieged sales representatives at the Pelicans factory in Metairie have vacated their seats. Casual fans who had not watched a game for months crashed text messages with capital letters and exclamation points.
"IF WE!!!"
Just like that, pelicans have gone from joking to a league craving.
A name. A face. A quick turnaround for pelicans to sell the region and the nation.
"It's a great night out for our city and our fans," Benson said in a statement. "It's a fresh start as we continue to work on forming a championship team with David Griffin and Alvin Gentry. And of course, Mr. (Tom) Benson continues to watch us all.
No, Tuesday's surreal scene at Hilton Chicago, the site of the lottery project, did not allow the Pelicans to win a single win in the standings. We still do not know what position the 6-foot-7-inch 285-pound player will play or what he's capable of in a league now defined by length and shooting.
But for now, it does not really matter. Because Zion Williamson completely transforms the image of the Pelicans from a desperate team into a team in full swing.
And their most important audience is Davis, which the Pelicans will try to convince to sign again at a meeting scheduled for the end of the month. Griffin will show the freshly renovated franchise, starting with senior management and descending to the rank of the most coveted rookie since, and well, Davis himself.
Even though AD refuses, however, the possibilities are endless.
A Davis exchange can generate new assets and build an arsenal of players and choices among Williamson and Jrue Holiday players, bringing a sense of renewal and hope to a team up to 20 hours. Tuesday night was largely devoid of it.
Certainly, the way to go is long. Griffin knows it more than anyone else.
Rookies do not win championships and individual players can not win alone.
But absolutely nothing could provide the rush of adrenaline and the radical change of perception that these ping pong balls have made. The Pelicans saw their 6% probability become one of the most coveted No. 1 choices in recent memory.
And just like that, everything is different.
No more laughing. No more fighting for identity. No more shame.
No, pelicans have Zion.
And for now, that's what matters most.
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