New Orleans Pelicans Team Review

 

2022-23 Finish: 35-47

 

Season Highlight:

Not much went well for the Pels last season in what was an extremely frustrating season for GM Leeroy. Lack of internal development and their franchise player going off the rails its really hard to see what was a highlight. I guess through all the animosity and frustration that did make the play-in which could be something to build on. Extracting maximum value out of Ja and bringing in Luka Doncic in the offseason can also be seen as a highlight.

Season Lowlight:

Ja Morant� I mean, the guy has all the talent in the world but decided to go play gangster and got himself in trouble. The Pels season was already up and down and Ja was just the icing on the cake. Lack of development from guys like Keldon Johnson, Wendell Carter Jr. and Patrick Williams hurt the Pels chances as well but all in all things just didn�t click. They had some big names come through to help like Paul George, Kristaps Porzingis and Desmond Bane but again, just nothing really worked.

Best Trade:

22/12/10            -              The LA Lakers send Kristaps Porzingis, Shake Milton and Austin Reaves to the New Orleans Pelicans. The New Orleans Pelicans send Terry Rozier and John Collins to the LA Lakers.

The New Orleans Pelicans send a 2nd-Rounder (Cha), 1st-Rounder (NO) and 1st-Rounder (Cle) to the LA Lakers.

The LA Lakers receive 15 GM points. The New Orleans Pelicans trade -15 GM points.

I really liked this trade for the Pels, you bring in a stud like Zinger(who ended up being a key part in the move for Luka) and Reaves who has developed into a very nice 2 way player for 2 role players and 2 picks likely to be in the 20s, I think they did real well here as a whole.

Worst Trade:

22/07/11            -              The Cleveland Cavaliers send Obi Toppin to the New Orleans Pelicans. The Cleveland Cavaliers send Nassir Little to the Phoenix Suns. The New Orleans Pelicans send Mikal Bridges to the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Phoenix Suns send Devonte Graham to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Cleveland Cavaliers send a 1st-Rounder (Cle) to the New Orleans Pelicans. The New Orleans Pelicans send a 2nd-Rounder (Sac) to the Phoenix Suns.

Hindsight is always undefeated. Toppin is a solid offensive player and a 1^st is always nice but how Bridges ended up going throughout the season, this trade hurt. TBH I don�t think anyone saw his offensive breakout coming, but a trade to the Nets set Bridges off and the Pels would love to have him right now, beside Luka.

Other Notable Trades:

22/11/05            -              The Phoenix Suns send Wendell Carter Jr to the New Orleans Pelicans.

The New Orleans Pelicans send a 1st-Rounder (Tor) and 1st-Rounder (Pho) to the Phoenix Suns.

The New Orleans Pelicans use their trade exception over $ 14,150,000.

The picks ended up being moved by the Suns, but pretty much the Pelicans ended up with WCJ for Noah Clowney and Jalen Hood-Schifino. That�s a win for the Pels.

23/06/25            -              The Atlanta Hawks send Pascal Siakam and Rookie Draft Pick Round 1 Pick 8 to the New Orleans Pelicans. The New Orleans Pelicans send Kyle Lowry, Rookie Draft Pick Round 1 Pick 12 and Desmond Bane to the Atlanta Hawks. The New Orleans Pelicans send Malaki Branham to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Atlanta Hawks send a 2nd-Rounder (Atl) to the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Atlanta Hawks send a 2nd-Rounder (Atl) to the New Orleans Pelicans. The Cleveland Cavaliers send a 1st-Rounder (Cle) to the Atlanta Hawks. The Cleveland Cavaliers send a 1st-Rounder (Phi) to the New Orleans Pelicans.

The Cleveland Cavaliers use their trade exception over $ 2,925,600.

Love this move right after the season for the Pels. Siakam is going to be the perfect fit with a guy like Luka and in a front court with WCJ and new addition Dereck Lively(selected at pick 8 which they also got in this deal), he�s going to fit in so well.

Free Agency:

Austin Reaves (RFA)

Moritz Wagner (UFA)

Kevin Love (UFA)

Cameron Payne (UFA)

Moses Brown (UFA)

Austin will definitely be back and you�d imagine the Pels have Love and Wagner as priorities to return. I imagine they want to bring back both Payne and Brown but if they don�t, they�re both replaceable types of guys. Their biggest need is probably the backup PG spot and depending on Keldon�s role, maybe some more punch scoring wise from the bench. Most their GM points will go towards retainment so it will be interesting to see what plan Leeroy has going in.

Star:

Ja Morant

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Ja is a star and one of the biggest talents in the league and on the court he brought it most nights for the Pels. 21.1/4.8/3.4 on 48/41/79 splits is solid in a year in which PG�s weren�t at their best(other than a few outliers) and his energy alone would get the Pels cranking at times. The problem is, Ja is an idiot and that�s where we go to flop of the season�

Flop:

Ja Morant

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Dude seemed to forget about basketball when he stepped off the court and thought he was a gangster. I don�t know what type of people he has around him, but seriously, get rid of them. Dude could legit throw away his career and GM Leeroy had no time for this. He was sent packing for Luka and it�s the only positive out of the whole situation, that he still had the value to pull in potential all timer like Luka Doncic. Grow up Ja.

Draft Grades:

Pick 8 � Dereck Lively II

Probably the best big prospect, not named Victor, in this draft and the Pels didn�t hesitate to take him in the top 10. Pels needed a big and while it was assumed he�d take some time to find his feet, he become and NBA starter after 1 game. His rating jump is most welcome in New Orleans and now they have the possibility to play both him and WCJ together.

The Future:

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ITS LUKA TIME BABY! The most anticipated, waited on trade possibly in NSL history, finally happened and Leeroy couldn�t be happier I think. After the crap Ja put this franchise through, he�s somehow got arguably the best player in the league out of it. Luka is a bonafide superstar and someone you can put a whole franchise on his back. Mix that in with the addition of Spicy P, Lively in the draft and hopefully internal development from guys like Keldon, Austin and Carter Jr� Things are looking up for the Pelicans. Will this be the season their talented roster finally puts it all together? This write thinks so.

Depth Chart:

Centre: Wendell Carter Jr./Dereck Lively/Moritz Wagner(UFA)/Moses Brown(UFA)

Power Forward: Pascal Siakam/Kevin Love

Small Forward: Keldon Johnson/Patrick Williams/AJ Griffin

Shooting Guard: Austin Reaves/Terence Mann

Point Guard: Luka Doncic/Cameron Payne(UFA)/Tre Mann