New Orleans Pelicans

New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson came into media day lighter and more focused as he explained how much of a breath of fresh air this offseason felt to him. According to Evan Sidery, the superstar power forward lost 15 pounds over the summer and Williamson said that being able to "really lock in on basketball" and break down film while working on things in the gym was a welcomed difference. In past offseasons, Williamson has worked on coming back from injury or battling some weight issues, according to many reports at the time. After playing a career-high 70 games last season, he's heading into his sixth season feeling as healthy as ever.

According to NBA insider Shams Charania, New Orleans Pelicans guard Jose Alvarado agreed to a two-year, $9 million extension with the team. The 26-year-old has spent his entire career in New Orleans, averaging 7.5 points, 2.7 assists, and 1.2 steals. Unfortunately, he has struggled to stay healthy, logging 61 games or fewer in each season since entering the National Basketball Association. Alvarado will hold a consistent spot in the rotation behind Dejounte Murray and CJ McCollum this season. However, he won't be a routine fantasy provider, although his defensive prowess gives him added value in category formats.

Guard/forward Javonte Green is set to sign a one-year contract with the New Orleans Pelicans, sources have told NBA insider Shams Charania. After starting out in the G League, Green had an impressive nine-game spell with the Chicago Bulls at the end of last season, averaging 12.2 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 1.1 steals. However, a repeat of it in New Orleans appears unlikely, as Green will be limited to a bench role. The 31-year-old has posted 5.4 points and 3.1 rebounds in 16.3 minutes across 195 career games in the National Basketball Association.

New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson played a career-high 70 games in 2023-24. However, it appears Williamson remains committed to staying on the floor, with the 24-year-old appearing slimmer in a recent photo posted to Instagram. Without question, his durability has been an issue since entering the league as the No. 1 overall pick in 2019. His work ethic has also been questioned. Yet, while Williamson's statistical numbers were down slightly last season, fantasy managers will take it as long as he stays healthy. With that said, he has top-10 fantasy potential. But the former Duke Blue Devil has an uphill climb to convince fantasy managers he's no longer injury-prone.

According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the Hawks traded guard Dejounte Murray to the Pelicans in exchange for Larry Nance Jr., EJ Liddell, Dyson Daniels, and two first-round picks. The backcourt pairing of Murray and Trae Young didn't work, so the 27-year-old will head to New Orleans, a team hoping to re-enter the championship conversation. Murray finished last season by averaging a career-high 22.5 points with 6.4 assists, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.4 steals. Without question, he's an All-Star caliber player, and his fantasy value should improve even more if he becomes New Orleans' primary ballhandler in 2024-25. While Murray's shooting percentages aren't the best, category managers will still get a reliable fantasy asset, even more so since he's played at least 74 games in each of the last two seasons.