New Orleans Pelicans
Another upstart team with plenty of talent and assets to set them up for the future is the New Orleans Pelicans.
Depending on how Zion Williamson develops, the road to the NBA Finals could lead through The Big Easy for years to come. The rookie has already shown flashes of being a superstar, and the Pelicans’ supporting cast could be enough to make them a power house, especially if they are able to lock up Brandon Ingram long-term.
There is also the already-established rivalry between De’Aaron Fox and Lonzo Ball. Both guys will downplay any strife, but the fire was lit on this contest back in their collegiate days. Fox and Ball met in the NCAA Tournament, and Fox took the matchup personally, scoring 39 points against his new foe. Both players were selected in the top five of the 2017 NBA Draft, and you can be sure that Fox will always remember that Ball was selected ahead of him.
Unless the Kings are able to make a quick turnaround and get every player to click on all cylinders, the Pelicans trajectory might make them too much for the Kings to handle should they ever meet in the postseason.