Every NBA team’s biggest question mark for the 2021-22 season

New Orleans Pelicans: Can Zion and Jonas really play together?

Zion Williamson and Jonas Valanciunas are both good NBA players with really distinct, unusual sets of skills. That makes it a challenge for the Pelicans to play both guys together as their starting frontcourt.

The most obvious deficiency facing the duo is that neither projects as a good three-point shooter. Williamson is inconsistent in that area and Valanciunas only places the floor via trail threes when he’s given a lot of time and space to line his shot up.

There’s also a concern about the pair’s compatibility on the defensive end of the floor. Both players are arguably at their best when guarding opposing centers. That’s the only position Valanciunuas can hold up against and it’s the best matchup for Williamson to take advantage of his quickness.

The other options for New Orleans at center aren’t great, so the Pelicans are going to give this duo a lot of time to work things out on the floor. Whether or not that costs this team too many wins early in the season is an important issue for the franchise to monitor.