The Pelicans started last season with some hope as they had won 49 games the previous season – their best record since the Chris Paul era with the team in the 2000’s. However, their season was a disaster at every level: Zion Williamson (52 games), Dejounte Murray (51), Trey Murphy III (29) and CJ McCollum (26) all missed extended time. The Pelicans also traded away Brandon Ingram midseason and they ended the year with just 21 wins.
The team’s new front office decided to be very active during the offseason. They traded away CJ McCollum to Washington in exchange for Jordan Poole. I also remember that Dejuante Murray tore his achilles and he will be out until 2026. So, Poole will have the role to run the PG position, something that he didn’t have to do at Washington.
New Orleans also signed Kevon Looney from GSW in order to give some experience to the team’s frontcourt, but he got injured in the preseason and he will miss the first few weeks of the season. So, the Pelicans will only have Yves Missi as a big man with some NBA experience for a while and this doesn’t sound good for them.
The main core of this team will rely on three relatively young players who can have some impact on the floor if they remain healthy: Zion Williamson, Herbert Jones and Trey Murphy III. We all know the problems around Williamson, but he seems to be in his best ever shape and that’s great news for the team. With Zion, the Pelicans can be a dangerous team on offense who will effectively pound the paint.
In the draft, New Orleans selected Jeremiah Fears with the #7 pick and they also managed to land the #13 pick that they used to select Derik Queen (who is currently injured). If they remain healthy, the Pelicans might be a dangerous team but I fear for their lack of depth and quality at their PG and Center positions. Their office thought the same and this is why they drafted a PG and a Center. If both rookies make an immediate impact, then the Pelicans might be able to step into the right direction, but that sounds unlikely.