[2] This was the first season since 2011-12 that long-time power forward Anthony Davis was not on the roster, as he was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers for Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart, 3 future first round draft picks, and the right to swap first-round picks with the Lakers in 2023, on June 15, 2019.
Five days trading Davis, on June 20, the Pelicans selected Duke phenom Zion Williamson first overall in the 2019 NBA draft, and due to an injury, he wouldn't play his first professional game until January 23, 2020, where in a game vs the San Antonio Spurs, he had dropped 22 points in just 18 minutes during the 4th quarter.
[3][4] The season was suspended by the league officials following the games of March 11[5] after it was reported that Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19.
[6][7] The Pelicans failed to qualify for the postseason for the second consecutive season following a loss to the San Antonio Spurs along with a win by the Trail Blazers over the Philadelphia 76ers on the same day.
In his only season in Duke, Williamson earned many honors and awards for his play, including the consensus National College Player of the Year.