Recent trade indicates Pelicans are preparing for life without Zion Williamson

New Orleans now has the foundation of a new and exciting young core. Poole and forward Trey Murphy III could form a fierce one-two punch for the Pelicans. Both are high-level talents with multi-level scoring. Murphy also has the size and physical attributes to thrive as a slasher when needed.

On paper, adding Poole should make life easier for star forward Zion Williamson, too. After all, New Orleans is adding another high-level perimeter shooter to the equation. However, if you dig a little deeper, it's clear that Dumars is preparing for life without Williamson — either due to injury or trade.

Poole is at his best with the ball in his hands. He needs touches to be effective, especially when running the offense. In recent years, Williamson has been used as a point forward when healthy. It's unlikely he will get those on-ball reps as frequently moving forward.

New Orleans has tried building around Williamson. It can't trust him to stay healthy. Therefore, it makes sense to begin constructing a roster that can thrive with him and excel without him. Poole and Murphy are excellent building blocks for the future. 

If the Pelicans can add one or two more young pieces to the rotation, they could finally be on the path to relevancy. However, until Dumars finds a way to part with Williamson, question marks will hang over the franchise. 

Dumars has made the first move to future-proof, or even Zion-proof, the current roster. He's adding talent that can complement each other and form the core of an exciting NBA roster.

We should expect a few more moves in the coming months or potentially longer. Dumars is far from done, and with that, Williamson's future with the franchise remains open for debate.