With the next regular season only two months away, most teams have already upgraded their roster and are ready to take a giant leap. Sure enough, the New Orleans Pelicans are among those aspiring teams. Pulling off a blockbuster trade last month, they acquired former All-Star Dejounte Murray to add more firepower to the roster. However, his addition has put Brandon Ingram’s future in jeopardy due to the Pelicans’ financial constraints.

While the Pelicans deal with the situation, their superstar Zion Williamson is excited for the upcoming season. During a quick courtside interview, he revealed his goal for next season, “I wanna win it all. I’d be lying if I said anything else. I want my team and myself to win it all.”

Having missed the playoffs last year, the Pelicans performed much better this past season and bagged the 8 seed. Unfortunately, they were matched with the young Thunder squad in the first round and faced a humiliating sweep. But the addition of Murray could get them over the hump this year.

Revealing his thoughts about the Murray trade, Zion deemed the point guard a “Straight Killa!” Yes, the Hawks did not make the playoffs this past season. But Murray had a great individual year, averaging 22.5 points. Moreover, his playmaking skills were on full display all year as he dished out over six assists per game. Once you surround him with multiple star players like Zion and McCollum, who are elite scorers and can finish easily at the rim, Murray’s productivity is only going to increase.

Even Murray recently revealed that he aims to make Zion better, “If I see something I think he can be better at, if he sees something to me, we’re going to be open to that… I’m excited to push him to the next level because there are a bunch of levels he can reach.” So, Zion’s idea of the Pelicans winning it all, even though bold, might not be too far-fetched.

Will Brandon Ingram be a part of the Pelicans’ title pursuit?

While Zion made his intentions clear for next season, there is one mystery still left to be solved in New Orleans. The future of Brandon Ingram! With multiple superstars locked in for the next few years and Murray’s massive contract entering the mix, the Pelicans are hesitant to give BI his desired contract extension. Entering the final year of his deal, Ingram is set to make $36 million next season and is eligible for an extension. Moreover, both parties reportedly want to stay together.

However, the introduction of a second apron of luxury tax is making it difficult for them to reach an agreement. As per insider Shams Charania, BI is looking for a nearly $50 million per year extension which is difficult for the Pelicans to afford because of their stacked roster. But the trade market for him is also very limited and there is a high chance that the Pelicans will not get much in return even if they decide to part ways with Ingram.

Therefore, he is expected to start the season in New Orleans but could be on the move mid-season if the Pelicans feel like they need to make adjustments. What do you think the Pelicans should do?

Before you go, do not forget to check out this crossover between BG12 and Georgia Bulldogs star Asia Avinger