To get us through the late-Summer doldrums of the NBA, we’re reviewing teams from around the league and how their offseasons went.
New Orleans Pelicans
Key Additions:
Dejounte Murray
Daniel Theis
Yves Missi
Key Losses:
Naji Marshall
Jonas Valanciunas
Dyson Daniels
EJ Liddell
Larry Nance Jr
Cody Zeller
Matt Ryan
Offseason Review and 2024-25 Season Outlook:
The New Orleans Pelicans offseason is hard to judge, because it feels incomplete. Perhaps that’s the judgment in itself. The Pelicans started with a major move, trading Dyson Daniels, Larry Nance Jr, EJ Liddell, Cody Zeller, and 2 first round picks to the Hawks for Dejounte Murray. This felt like step one in a roster overhaul that next depended on finding a trade partner to take Brandon Ingram, but that move never came to fruition. Add in Jonas Valanciunas and Naji Marshall leaving in free agency for nothing, and it feels like the Pelicans got weaker. They lost a good chunk of their depth, and they are especially weak at the center position.
This season, as has been the case for the Pelicans for several seasons, hinges on the health of Zion Williamson. When healthy, Zion is an absolute force of nature. And New Orleans still has a glut of talented wings between Ingram, Herb Jones, and Trey Murphy III. I’m sure the Pelicans will mix and match lineups playing their wings up to the 2 spot or down to the 4, because based on the current roster they don’t have many other options. For Kings fans, we can only hope that the Pelicans have lost enough depth to stop being our never-ending nightmare.
Why We Hate Them:
6 losses. 6 goddamn losses to one team in a single season. If the Kings never played the Pelicans again, I’d be fine with it. Disband the franchise and distribute the forwards around the league to rebalance the market.
How many times are we scheduled to play them this season?
Too many
I could be wrong but I believe 3. 2 of them are back to back.
All within a 6 day span. The two back to back are in the Smoothie King Center and are the Wednesday and Thursday right before the All-Star Weekend starts on Friday.
Oh those NBA schedulers. They hate Sacramento so very much.
They are the Pelicans.
We are the Pelicants.
Gotta beat them this year.
I don’t pay a hell of a lot of attention in the offseason (or the regular season, going by my comments), but your take is pretty much the same as mine, no offense. The Kings have gotten better, I’m confident about that, but New Orleans lost a lot of guys who gave Sacramento fits last season.
The Pelicans still have a ton of talent, but they may hit a learning curve as so many new players are integrated into the team’s ability to
completely embarrass the Kingsplay cohesively, even if for only part of the season.And of course, so much depends on the ability of BI & ZW to be healthy and effective. My prediction is that Sacramento will have more success against New Orleans this season, assuming both of those guys and at least one of Jones and Murphy are all sitting.
I really don’t understand what the Pels are doing at the wing position. They now have 3 guys who should be playing 30+ minutes a night a the 3 spot. Ingram, Murphy III, and Herb Jones are all that good, but play the same position. It really would make a ton of sense for them to move Ingram for a legit starting center. A straight swap of Ingram for Ayton makes a lot of sense to me. A rebuliding PDX gets out of Ayton’s deal for Ingram’s expiring contract and goes full rebuild with Clingan at the 5. PDX can also flip Ingram later for future assets. Pels get their defensive anchor at the 5 with Ayton and frees up roster positions and time for Murphy III and Jones. A trade like that really is a win for both teams.
Just my guess:
I think that Ayton remains in The Rose City rather than The Crescent City speaks more to the player than GM Trajan Langdon** of the Pels and Joe Cronin of PDX. I’d like to see a KAT for BI trade. Conley, Ant Man, BI, Jaden McDaniels, Naz Ried, Rudy Gobert ain’t shabby.
Again, this is just my hunch, and it’s likely incorrect.
I’d like to see a KAT for BI trade. Conley, Ant Man, BI, Jaden (not Jalen) McDaniels, Naz Reid, Rudy Gobert ain’t shabby.
In the same light, I don’t quite understand why NOP let Jonas V head out to sign with Washington for $30M/3 years. (or why Sacramento didn’t come up with a deal).
Man, the Pelican back court is Dejonte Murray and CJ (Kings Killer) McCollum with Jose Alvarado off the bench. Pretty formidable. At the Wing – BI (who has played SG in the past), Trey Murphy, Herb Jones – do you like that trio over the Celtic Jay-Jays? (-len and -son) throw in Sam Hauser as a 3rd 3).
Zion, at 281 lbs claims to be lighter than his Duke days (#285).
**
Trajan Langdon’s middle name is… Shaka. This portends a future whereby he will eventually end up in Sacramento should Monte McNair exit. Remember, you heard it here first!
Langdon left the Pels this summer to run the Pistons. David Griffin is still President of the Pelicans, and they promoted Bryson Graham to GM.
Shaka!
I should know that. Google told me Langdon was still in charge and I blindly reported. Bad on me. Apologies.
Ayton sucks and has one of the worst contracts in the league. He’s mailed it in. Not complicated why no one wants him.
I had roast pelican at a local restaurant the other night. It was quite tasty but the bill was enormous.
Good one!
Shams just reported that the Pelicans are bringing Matt Ryan back on a new contract.
Boo this team!
Badge Legend