With just over two months to go until the NBA regular season, The New Orleans Pelicans are like the other 29 teams in the league, full of optimism about their ability to compete for a title.
The Pelicans have seen some changes this offseason. New Orleans has lost players and management, but it has also made progress in some areas.
Many experts are cautious about the Pelicans’ chances this year. Bleacher Report The Red Sox have released their win-loss record projections for each team this year, and while they project New Orleans to win 46 games, that’s a step down from last season’s 49 wins.
Pelicans coach Willie Green has increased his win total every year he’s coached in New Orleans, so this would be a step backward for him.
Even on social media, many fans and pundits are unsure how this season will play out for the Pelicans. NBA fan Brett Usher recently posed a question on X, asking which NBA team has the widest range of potential outcomes this season. The post received nearly 200 comments, with many respondents pointing to the New Orleans Pelicans as a draft team.
Which NBA team has the widest range of potential outcomes next season?
— Brett Usher (@UsherNBA) August 16, 2024
The answer to that question is ALWAYS the New Orleans Pelicans.
Always.
— CWC. (@CW_Chambers) August 16, 2024
ATL heading east. I have no idea what to expect.
NOP and MEM in the west. Either/both swing as low as the lottery and as high as legitimate title contenders depending on the health/availability of their legitimate stars.
These three teams fascinate me.
I think my own team sits firmly between 33 and 38.— ChiChiandPato (@ChiChiandPato) August 17, 2024
New Orleans does not have the history to claim to be a true title contender in the league. The team returned to New Orleans in 2002 and has never advanced past the second round of the playoffs. They are one of five teams in the league to never reach the NBA Finals in their history.
The Pelicans lost a lot of players in the frontcourt this offseason. Jonas Valanciunas, Larry Nance, Jr. and Cody Zeller are no longer with the team.
Despite their best efforts, New Orleans failed to acquire a starting-caliber center this summer. They will enter the season with first-round pick Yves Missi, newly signed center Daniel Theis and former second-round pick Karlo Matkovic as their options to play center this year. That’s not ideal considering New Orleans is in the same conference as Denver’s Nikola Jokic, the Lakers’ Anthony Davis and San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama.
Pelicans star Zion Williamson could see some time at center, especially on small-ball teams. He’s played less than 10 percent of games at the position, and injuries are always a concern for him. Williamson played 70 games last year, the most in his five-year career. However, he was injured in the play-in tournament and missed the playoffs again. Williamson has yet to make the playoffs in his NBA career. He’ll need to be healthy and play at an MVP-level level for the Pelicans to have a chance this season.
The team also has a major decision to make regarding Brandon Ingram. He is currently still on the roster despite the Pelicans I’m shopping for him this summer. Ingram is in the final year of his current contract and is seeking the maximum extension, worth about $50 million per year. The Pelicans are unwilling to meet that demand and the two sides are at an impasse.
Will the Pelicans trade Ingram before the All-Star break? Will there be any distraction around the team regarding his status and future with the Pelicans?
Those questions will be answered by the time the season starts. There is real concern about the center position and Ingrams’ future in a Pelicans uniform.
New Orleans has talent, though, and has been trending in the right direction for the past few years. Coach Green will have to navigate the good and the bad to lead this team to real competition in the league.
