New Orleans Pelicans: It’s too early to hit the eject button on this core
Is it time for the New Orleans Pelicans to hit the eject button on this core?
Even though the New Orleans Pelicans have struggled mightily to begin the season, it’s way too early to hit the reset button on a potential reshuffling of their roster.
The Pelicans currently have the 2nd worst record at 2-14; there still are plenty of games to be played and all is not lost just yet. Head coach Willie Green, who was just recently hired took over after Stan Van Gundy was fired after just one season at the helm after compiling a 30-42 record and failing to qualify for the postseason, hasn’t had enough time to fully establish his culture.
The main priority for the Pelicans front office should be to establish some type of stability and longevity at the head coach position. It all starts at the top and it’s imperative that the organization allows Green the opportunity to mold this team, implement his system, and create a winning culture inside that locker room.
The organization must be careful not to place Green under any unnecessary pressure by giving him deadlines or time frames but, instead, needs to give him the assurance of job security and exercise patience while he works to improve the team. It would be different if the cupboard was and if they were starting from scratch and it would be senseless to tear something down and try to rebuild right after starting over just a few seasons ago.
Green inherited two of the brightest young talents in Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram as both players haven’t even begun to scratch the surface of their enormous potential. Ingram is only 24 as he was named to his first All-Star team and was also awarded the NBA’s Most Improved Player Award during his first season in New Orleans.
Williamson, who the Pelicans drafted with the No. 1 overall selection in the 2019 NBA Draft, is only 21 years old and is expected to be not only the face of the Pelicans franchise but the face of the NBA also in the near future. Williamson had an outstanding season last year as he averaged 27 points per game with 7.2 rebounds as he was virtually unstoppable in the paint as he was also named to his first All-Star team last season.
However, Williamson has yet to play this season due to recovery from foot surgery. Whenever he does return, Williamson will have to adjust and get acclimated to playing in Green’s system as most of the opposing teams they face will more than likely revolve their game plans around slowing him down and limiting his production.
Williamson and Ingram have the potential to be one of the most dangerous and dynamic scoring duos in the league and the front office should prioritize building a solid team around them. Williamson is still under his rookie contract as he enters his 3rd season and Ingram is under contract through the 2024-25 season.
The main thing that general manager Trajan Langdon will have to figure out is the role of the other players on the roster and how they will complement his two-star players. Langdon must also realize that this is a young roster and has to allow them to develop chemistry and grow together.
At this point, the best-case scenario for this team is that Williamson returns healthy and fuels the team as they turn their season around and compete for a low seed in the playoffs. A worst-case scenario would be continuing to lose even after Williamson comes back and finishing amongst the bottom of the league in wins.
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If that’s the case, then the Pelicans would at least have the opportunity to add another impact player in the draft as they will likely be in the lottery with a top-15 pick. Either way, this season transpires, patience is key for this organization as it’s too early to give up on this promising young team.