Being traded in the NBA is certainly a situation that could be a hard adjustment. In the case of Josh Hart, Lonzo Ball and Brandon Ingram, being traded after just two seasons in the league is an even harder task. After adapting to the league and a team, being traded to a new team and a new franchise resets the process in some regards.
The good news for Hart, Ball and Ingram, though, is that they were traded as a group. During his Media Day interview, Hart was asked about building on-court chemistry with the Pelicans and whether having Ball and Ingram with him helps with the matter.
“It definitely helps. Obviously, I’ve been with those guys the last two years. I know how they play, where they like the ball. I know a lot of their tendencies. Obviously, that helps a lot.
And then, we just have to build that camaraderie on and off the court (with the new players). We’ve been hanging out with these guys a lot just doing different things. That’s where you build that foundation and build relationships. When you do that off the court, it translates onto the court. We’re all not going to see eye-to-eye. We’re all going to make mistakes but we all know that it’s coming from the right place. We all know that we want this team to be successful more than ourselves as individuals. When you have a team full of those guys, those high-character guys, everything kind of falls into place.
Hart would also be sure to add the necessity for patience in the process as well, something fans rarely had in Los Angeles.
It’ll take a while. October 22, things aren’t going to be perfect. We’re not going to score 150 and be in a blowout. It’s going to take time. But like I said, we have high-character guys that want to be Pelicans and want to be bought into this place.
The Pelicans have constructed a very unique roster but one that lacks familiarity. A handful of returnees in Jrue Holiday, E’Twaun Moore, Frank Jackson and Jahlil Okafor played together last season. Ingram, Ball and Hart represent a separate group with familiarity but the rest of the roster has limited experience playing together if any at all.
It’ll lead to a feeling out process but Ball, Ingram and Hart, three players that will either start or be regular rotation members, having chemistry will help not only the three of them succeed but the team as well.
