4. New Orleans Pelicans
The Pelicans have a young core that they are banking on in the future and it begins with Zion Williamson. He was taken with the first overall pick in 2019 and is viewed as a generational player.
Serge Ibaka coming to town would help Williamson during the early years of his career.
Ibaka would be able to space the floor for Williamson. He is able to stretch his game out to the three-point line and that would open up the paint for Williamson and other drivers heading to the rim. Ibaka can also guard both positions down low.
He has experience guarding centers and can still impose his will. Ibaka is a hard-nose player on both ends of the floor. The Pelicans need a leader on the floor, especially with Jrue Holidays on the move to the Milwaukee Bucks.
New Orleans would add another pick-and-roll piece for Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball if they made this deal. They have some room to add Ibaka while thinking about Ingram’s extension in the future.
