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Scotto: David Griffin’s comments really raised the antennas of rival executives around the league. He said, “In the past, we’ve always erred on the side of continuity, and our takeaway has always been, let’s see this group healthy. I think we’ve seen it enough. I think we had some really good opportunities to see Zion (Williamson) play a career-high in games.”

It came across as there’s a bit of pressure or urgency in New Orleans to improve this team to try and make a run. When you look at the West, not only was it stacked this year, but Memphis was injury-riddled. If they’re healthy next year, they’re going to be back. Houston is going to actively look to improve to get better. Jalen Green seemingly took a step forward. (Victor) Wembanyama is only going to get better. They’ve got a lot of cap space. I don’t think they’re going to go all in now. It’s a little too early, but they have the flexibility to improve that roster around Wembanyama.

Guillory: I think you used the right word, urgency. You feel it around this team and organization. A big part of it is how good the West is. There were 10 teams with 46 wins this year in the West. All those teams that didn’t reach .500 are going to be better next year. The West is going to be a dogfight for everybody and a race not just to hold your spot, but it feels like you’ve got to make significant improvements just to be able to keep up with what everybody else is doing. That’s not even talking about the teams at the top of the West, like OKC or Minnesota, that we expect to keep getting better as their young stars continue to mature.

I think a big part of it is their contract situation, with Brandon Ingram entering potentially the final year of his contract. CJ McCollum has two years left on the extension he signed a couple of years ago. Jonas Valanciunas will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. You’ve got to make some financial decisions about what this team is going to look like for years to come.

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Guillory: In the previous years we’ve talked about this team, the big questions surrounding this team were what was Zion going to be like? Is he going to play? Is he healthy? Is he a superstar? You saw in the latter part of the regular season that this guy is legit and was playing at an All-NBA level post-All-Star, and you saw those superstar traits. Now, the big question is how do you build a team around him that can succeed in the West?

Scotto: The Pelicans are going to build around Zion Williamson. I’m told the Pelicans recognize this roster around Zion is a little bit disjointed. I’ve heard New Orleans will seek positional upgrades to improve their spacing and not bring in someone who clogs the paint and is in Zion’s way.

When I talk to executives and scouts around the league about this, I remember one scout said to me, “The Zion you saw at the end of the season is the guy that can take the Pelicans far. They wouldn’t be able to go as far with Brandon Ingram as the focal point. Zion has to be that guy for better or worse with his injuries if New Orleans is ever going to make an eventual championship-type run. Zion has that special type of talent.”

Guillory: With Zion, there’s always going to be some concern about him being injured. That’s just the way he plays the game, his injury history, and the way his body is. There’s always going to be in the back of their minds a level of concern there. The big thing with Zion this year was the Play-In Tournament was a seminal moment for him. Having that experience where he got slapped around in front of the whole world, embarrassed, and everyone was talking about him being out of shape, his commitment to the game, and whether he was ever going to be that guy in New Orleans. I think it was the first moment in his life where he really had to take a long look in the mirror and figure out what was going on with him and why he wasn’t playing at the level he thought he could. It was a moment where he said he had to get his stuff together and figure it out.

Everybody you talk to with this team behind the scenes says he’s been a different person the past couple of months of the season with his connectivity with the team, his commitment to putting in work off the court, and the way he’s committing to defense. It’s the little things he’s been doing. That’s where they saw the superstar jump. We always say the ability and the numbers with how he dominated offensively, but I think there were always questions about whether he was able to do the little things that are required of a superstar. I think he started checking all those boxes towards the end of the season.

That’s what made his injury against the Lakers so unfortunate and a gut punch for this team because they were like, he’s finally figuring it out and getting there. It all came crashing down at the worst moment, and he missed another postseason with the Pelicans.

I think they feel really good about where he is mentally and where he is with his game, and he played the best defense of his career this year. You saw him shoot a couple of mid-range jumpers towards the end of the season. They started playing him at the five a little bit more. I think you saw him making the key adjustments to his game and improvements, but the biggest thing is he’s got to stay healthy and be available for this team.

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Scotto: Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram is considered the most likely player to be traded by rival executives who spoke with HoopsHype. Those executives believe the fit with Ingram and Zion isn’t ideal on the court. With Ingram entering the final season of his contract at $36 million, he’s been a trade candidate before, but he’s a prime trade candidate now.

I was brainstorming and just wondering in my head. I’m not reporting this. Depending on what happens with Cleveland this round, I wonder if an Ingram for Darius Garland trade could make sense for both sides this summer if Cleveland is able to re-sign Donovan Mitchell long-term (to an extension). I think there’s some question in Cleveland if they’re going to go with the two small guards lineup. They’ve got the two bigs in Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley they could break up if they wanted. It seems like they’ve been missing a three since they got rid of Lauri Markkanen in the Donovan Mitchell trade. For the Pelicans, I know CJ McCollum can handle the ball, and they want the ball in Zion’s hands, but a true point guard is something they haven’t had. They’ve got an Ingram replacement in Trey Murphy, and Herb Jones would play more.

Guillory: I’ve been torn on this topic (if Ingram will be traded). The way he ended the season was so bad. He looked terrible in the first round of the playoffs. Lu Dort had him in jail for a lot of that series. At the end of that game, he told us this was the worst year he’s had in a Pelicans uniform going back to Team USA and the struggles he had last summer. His scoring was down this year. He improved his passing, and his defense was a little better this year, but I don’t think he had quite the same impact we’re used to seeing from him. I think a big part of what happened with him at the end of the season was him getting injured against Orlando a month before the playoffs. I think they would’ve had a good chance of dodging the Play-In Tournament if he was healthy all the way through. They probably would’ve been over that 50-win mark.

The financial situation is what it is, and they’ve got to make a big decision about whether they want to give him the amount of money he’ll be looking for in a contract extension and what that means for how they’re building the rest of their roster. They also are staring down a big-time extension with Trey Murphy this summer, which I’d assume gets done this summer. I think they’re really committed to having him as a complimentary piece next to Zion Williamson with his shooting, size, and athleticism. He fits a lot of what they want to be.

One of my rules of thumb is I hate trading a guy when his value is at an all-time low, and I think that’s where Ingram is right now. If you were trying to trade Ingram coming off last summer, where he was averaging 25 points per game, they made it to the Play-In, and Zion was out, I think you would’ve gotten a way better value for him then than now.

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When you look around the league, that Cleveland situation is an interesting one, whether it’s Donovan Mitchell. I think Jarrett Allen is another guy the Pelicans would be interested in for their center position. I’m just not completely sold that there are a lot of great options out there where the Pelicans can trade Ingram and feel like they’re making an upgrade over the team they have right now. Maybe they decide the financial situation overrides that. If I look at your Darius Garland scenario, I’d say he and CJ McCollum would be an interesting fit, being two smaller guards. Would they move Murphy into the starting lineup, and McCollum would go to the bench as a $30 million guy? I think that’s something that has to be discussed. I think the Cleveland situation overall is definitely going to be something the Pelicans will be interested in.

The Pelicans were also having conversations with Atlanta going into the trade deadline about potentially Dejounte Murray and maybe one of their bigs. I think that’s another team to keep an eye on.

Scotto: You brought up Jarrett Allen. Excellent point. We’ll touch on Jonas Valanciunas in a bit, but Allen played for Trajan Langdon when he was a Brooklyn Nets executive. He was certainly a fan of Allen.

Let me ask you this: Do you know ballpark-wise what Ingram and his camp would be looking for in an extension as he enters his final season at $36 million?

Guillory: I think they’d certainly be wanting to swim somewhere near those max waters. He’s still a guy in his mid-20s who is going to be a really good scorer in this league for a long time, a playmaker, and a guy who’s had success with this team as the No. 1 option at times when Zion’s been out. I think there are teams around the league who’d be interested in paying him, if not the max, all the way up to the max for the potential he brings as a wing scorer, can make plays off the dribble, is a versatile defender, and is a good locker room guy. I think he’s going to have value on the open market. Does it make sense to pay him and Trey Murphy if you’re going to maximize Zion? I’ve been banging my head against the wall, trying to figure out what’s the good Ingram trade. I keep coming back to Cleveland and Atlanta — and I think Miami is another interesting one. Maybe Brooklyn. I’m not sure any of these trades make them better.

Scotto: You brought up a couple of teams. Miami needs to make an upgrade, but I don’t know if it’s Ingram. I think they need more of a four. Ingram isn’t banging in the low post against fours. I’d say with Brooklyn, Mikal Bridges is their three. If you’re going to play small ball and have Ingram as the four, yeah. I know there are people in the Pelicans’ organization who like Nic Claxton. I also know there are people in the Nets’ organization who like Trey Murphy. I don’t think that makes sense for both teams. It’s more of an affinity for a player from afar. When you reminded me of the Pelicans and Hawks trade talks before the trade deadline, it’s interesting if it was Dejounte Murray and maybe Onyeka Okongwu or Clint Capela, depending on which big they’d want. Cleveland with Jarrett Allen is interesting, as you pointed out, but I don’t think Allen on the surface for Ingram is enough.

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Scotto: This is what I’ve been told regarding CJ McCollum’s future. While he’s not untouchable, he’s viewed as the grown-up in the room for a young Pelicans squad, providing stability on the court and a good locker room presence for the team. I think that’s going to be a guy whose name you’ll hear come up in trade talks, but for those reasons I mentioned, I don’t know if they will move him.

Guillory: I agree with everything you said as far as how much they value him on and off the court. His maturity and perspective, having those previous playoff runs in Portland under his belt and being a President of the NBPA. A guy who they really respect as a voice in that locker room. He’s also a guy, when you mention putting the right pieces around Zion, he broke the franchise record for threes in a season.

He’s the typical example of a guy who’s more valuable to the Pelicans than others. They see him as a guy who’s really important to what they’re doing and marked the winning point of Willie Green’s tenure. They were losing a whole lot in the beginning, and when they brought CJ in, they became more of a serious team, and they want to keep that vibe. I’m not sure he has that same type of value for other teams if he’s put on the trade block.

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Scotto: There’s a sense Jonas Valanciunas won’t return as a Pelican this offseason in free agency, I’m told. Valanciunas essentially split center minutes with Larry Nance Jr. this season and was benched often to close games. When Zion is healthy and playing, Valanciunas occupies the paint and clogs driving lanes for Zion. While he’s still a double-double threat, he’s not an ideal fit for this roster, and his near double-double production will likely be more valued by other teams on the unrestricted free-agent market.

Guillory: I’d be pretty surprised if he was back because of how they were treating his spot in the rotation late in the season. There were a few times when they didn’t play him in the second half and prioritized having space around Zion, and I think they’ll want that in a center of the future next to Zion moving forward. There are a lot of valuable traits Valanciunas brings. He shows up every night and played all 82 games and was a really good paint scorer in games where Zion didn’t play.

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Scotto: If Brandon Ingram is moved as some expect potentially, this will open up more minutes for Trey Murphy, and while the Pelicans want to get him more playing time, what’s the number for a potential extension New Orleans and his camp would be comfortable with?

Guillory: With his size, 3-point shooting, and athleticism, I think he can definitely get a big number. I think you want to be smart about what that means for the rest of the roster. I definitely don’t think he’s a max guy or anything like that, but over the $100 million mark, I think there is no question.

Scotto: You mean over four years, I assume?

Guillory: Yes. I think going into this offseason, I can see him getting somewhere in that neighborhood. Maybe it’s closer to $20 million a year.

Scotto: I don’t think he takes an extension for $20 million a year. If this is going to be a real conversation, you’re Murphy, and you’re betting on yourself, and you think you’re going to have a breakout year, you’re signing an extension beforehand, and it’s got to be in the middle where it’s a number where he’ll grow into that production. I don’t see it being a conversation unless it’s at least four years, $100 million. Look at the extensions Jaden McDaniels and Devin Vassell signed. You’ve got to look at those as starting points. If you don’t do an extension and Murphy really breaks out, then it could be even more than that.

Guillory: He’s got a ton of leverage if you’re moving forward in a world without Brandon Ingram. Murphy would need a new contract, and they’d want to keep Zion happy. I think they’d prefer to get a deal done this summer. He might have more power if he waits this thing out, but guys want the security of signing a big-money contract.

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Scotto: We touched on Murphy spreading the floor, but shout out to Herb Jones for working on his 3-point shot. He’s become a 3-and-D guy now. We always knew he could play All-Defensive Team defense, but the 3-point shot has been big.

Guillory: He’s at 42 percent. The guy was having 18-point playoff games. This is stuff I never thought I’d see from Herb. He was running away from the ball a lot of times during his rookie season. This year, he was one of the best 3-point shooters on the team, and the value on the contract they have him on. You brought up McDaniels. Look at that contract compared to what they paid Jones last summer. It’s night and day. 

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Scotto: I’ve heard the Pelicans love Jordan Hawkins and would like to get him more playing time in the rotation next season. If you’re trying to add spacing around Zion, Hawkins moves without the ball and can hit catch-and-shoot threes, was a winning player at UConn on a national championship team.

Guillory: This team has such incredible depth at the guard position with CJ, Herb, Dyson Daniels, who was a lottery pick last season, Jose Alvarado as one of the best backup point guards in the league, and Naji Marshall played well this year and is going to be an interesting piece in free agency this summer as a 3-and-D guy. With Jordan, there’s room for him to grow defensively. He’s explosive offensively, and he can do more off the dribble than I expected. The way they envision this team next to Zion is a team that can hit 20-25 threes each night with CJ, Trey, and Jordan out there. They’re going to want to lean into those guys and be a high-volume 3-point shooting team with Zion playing downhill.

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Scotto: Other changes to keep an eye on heading into the offseason include a possible assistant coaching change somewhere on Willie Green’s staff towards the end of the bench after losing in the first round and potentially with the G League head coaching position. If Trajan Langdon ever left, Bryson Graham would be the likely GM replacement, I’ve heard.

Guillory: I think Naji Marshall is going to be an interesting character going into the offseason. They’re pretty much sold that he’s leaving because they’ve got all these other financial situations going on. He’s going to try and get paid this summer after coming in as an undrafted free agent and former two-way guy. He really proved a lot this season as a defender and played well in that first-round series. He had some teams sniffing around, seeing how much value he had during the trade deadline. There were some people at the playoff games scouting him.

I also think Jose Alvarado’s contract situation is going to be interesting. They’ve got a team option for him this summer. You saw what they did with Herb Jones last summer. I think he’s very motivated to get a deal done with New Orleans. I’m not sure they’re going to be as motivated to get it done early with him. They value him, and he values being in New Orleans, but with everything else they’ve got going on, how much do they want to pay him?

You can follow Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) and Will Guillory (@WillGuillory) on X, formerly known as Twitter.