NBA Offseason Wrap Up: Out West, the Warriors reign supreme
8. New Orleans Pelicans
Key additions: Elfrid Payton (FA), Julius Randle (FA)
Key losses: DeMarcus Cousins (FA), Rajon Rondo (FA)
ANY TRUE FAN OF THE PELICANS will tell you they have completely underachieved since the team drafted Anthony Davis in 2012. Management has consistently struggled to surround him with talent that properly fits his unique skill-set. Some failed experiments: Ryan Anderson, Robin Lopez, Eric Gordon, Omer Asik, Solomon Hill. Yikes.
A once-in-a-generation talent now entering his prime at age 25, Davis will be looking to contend for championships in the foreseeable future. Finally, it seems like the Pels are stepping in the right direction towards doing so.
While they lost Cousins, his value may have been overstated. New Orleans’ most used regular season lineup of Rondo-Holiday-Moore-Davis-Cousins was a -2.0 per 100 possessions compared to a +7.2 with the same lineup in the playoffs with Nikola Mirotic in place of Cousins. Mirotic gives New Orleans more spacing and better ball movement, unlocking Alvin Gentry’s high-paced offense and complementing Davis’ skills beautifully.
Replacing Rondo with the eccentric Elfrid Payton also helps. Rondo had his predictable playoff explosion but his overall value is tampered given he treats every regular season similar to how Justin Bieber treats every fan who asks him for an autograph. Payton is younger, a third of the price, and does everything Rondo did but better. This was a smart signing.
While it was a competitive five game series with Golden State in last year’s second round, New Orleans really only had four guys you would consider even average at basketball (Davis, Holiday, Mirotic, playoff Rondo), which is what makes Julius Randle a total bargain at $8.5 million annually. He should be the immediate favourite for sixth man of the year.
While he can’t shoot 3s and isn’t quick enough to defend on the perimeter, Randle should be very effective playing alongside Davis in the front court. He is a tremendous finisher, offensive rebounder, and passer and offers Gentry much-needed lineup versatility. It would’ve been super entertaining watching him go toe-to-toe with Draymond in last year’s playoffs.
Davis’ historical ability (30-12-2, 2.0 SPG, 3.2 BPG, 51-33-85 %’s, 25.7 GmSc, 22-11 record in 33 games after Boogie went down last year) gives the Pels some hope in a series vs. the Warriors, but 2019 likely ends before mid-May for New Orleans.
Pelicans projected record: 47-35
Pelicans chances of beating the Warriors in a series: 3-5 percent