Ranking Celtics among 8 teams that should pursue Chris Paul immediately
By Tyler Watts
7. New Orleans Pelicans
Chris Paul was drafted by the then-New Orleans Hornets with the fourth overall pick in 2005, and he played his first six years with the franchise. The six-foot point guard started immediately and was an All-Star by year three. He led New Orleans to the playoffs three times, including in 2008 when they lost a seven-game series to the Spurs in the second round of the playoffs.
Paul was traded in the summer of 2011 to Los Angeles, but he still has a deep bond with New Orleans. He even admitted that he did not want to leave, but the team was going in a different direction.
Could CP3 return this summer? New Orleans has a young roster chalked full of talent, but they are missing a starting point guard. Paul could help organize the offense and mentor Zion Williamson. Having an elite ball-handler and playmaker could take the Pelicans to the next level.
New Orleans likely makes the playoffs after adding Chris Paul, but are they competing with the Nuggets for West supremacy? The Pelicans were 17-12 with Zion healthy last season, which is a 48-win pace over the 82-game season. Adding Chris Paul only makes them better, but it still feels like a long shot that he returns to New Orleans this summer.