Report: Pelicans Sold 3,000 Season Tickets After Winning Lottery Amid Zion Hype

The prospect of drafting Zion Williamson is good for business, as the New Orleans Pelicans are finding out. 

Per Marc Stein of the New York Times, the Pelicans have sold "in the neighborhood" of 3,000 season-ticket packages since winning the No. 1 pick in the 2019 NBA draft lottery.  

The Pelicans seemed to be prepared for the box-office boost when the lottery results were announced Tuesday, based on this reaction from their ticket office:

If the Pelicans end up selecting Williamson first overall, he figures to have a profound impact on the franchise on and off the court. 

Per Kurt Badenhausen and Mike Ozanian of Forbes, the Pelicans were the second-least valuable NBA franchise, ahead of only the Memphis Grizzlies. 

Prior to winning the lottery, New Orleans appeared to be entering this offseason in dire straits. Anthony Davis requested to be traded in January and was essentially shut down in the second half of the season, averaging just 22 minutes per contest in 15 games from Feb. 8 through March 24. 

Whatever happens with Davis, the Pelicans know they can add a potentially franchise-changing talent with the top pick if they are locked on Williamson.