BY DAVID THORPE
Nobody really thinks Anthony Davis wants to play with Zion Williamson, do they?
Let’s be clear that for the Pelicans, Zion is the plan, now and for the long haul. The first job for newly appointed Pelicans VP David Griffin is to sell Zion on the vision, which won’t be simple; the Pelicans don’t have the best reputation, clearly. There have already been reports that Zion was not thrilled New Orleans won Tuesday’s lottery. And don’t forget that the NBA’s best players are more empowered than ever, and can force transactions if they’re unhappy, as the Pelicans know better than anyone.
Griffin, though, can make a case to Zion and his family that this is a brand new day for the team. Griffin is very personable and has a 2016 championship ring from his tenure as general manager of the Cavaliers. The team is under new ownership (Tom Benson died a year ago and bequeathed the team to his wife Gayle), new management, new medical staff, and—as I’ll explain—has a way that he can put…