Arguably one of the most unpredictable teams of last season, the New Orleans Pelicans managed to exceed all kinds of expectations, coming back from their disappointing record of 1-12 in the first 13 games to clinching the 8th playoff seed. With a fully healthy roster ahead of the start of the 2022-2023 NBA season, they are already starting to look like a competitive, strong contender, which is astonishing, given the fact they were among the worst teams in the league. What factors can come into play for this Pelicans’ advancement? Here they are.
Big Three.
The most important aspect of this team is their underrated yet talented big three. Brandon Ingram, CJ McCollum, and Zion Williamson complement each other perfectly. While CJ and Zion have yet to play an official match together, their chemistry on paper is unmatched. In terms of the McCollum/Ingram duo, their spectacular versatility throughout these last playoff games was undeniable, especially on the offensive side of the court. They managed to combine 49.2 points per game when playing against the Phoenix Suns, who were favorites to win the title at the time. If they stay healthy and maintain this high offensive performance, they will undoubtedly become one of the most threatening teams in the western conference.
Zion Williamson.
Even though his two co-stars are exceptional players, Zion Williamson remains the franchise player. Understandably, the New Orleans team built their roster around him due to the explosive, dominant nature of the 22-year-old forward. It is safe to say that the Pelicans’ future is in Zions’ hands, as any injury or decrease in performance can definitely hinder their long-term performance. Fortunately, his recent Rookie Max Extension he recently signed indicates his commitment to the team. Despite his perhaps unclear performance level since he is coming back from an injury, we are really looking forward to seeing Zion returning to the NBA.
Off-season movements.
Regardless of their lack of off-season movements by the front office thus far, they still have numerous options in case they are planning on making one, as they currently have ten first-round draft picks in their possession. Additionally, they can strengthen their already talented roster by extending valuable contracts, such as Jaxon Hayes, or Larry Nance Jr.
Seed Prediction: 4th
The Pelicans team’s future is looking brighter ahead of the start of the season. It will all boil down to how they manage their assets, but most importantly, how they handle setbacks. Nevertheless, the potential is there; they are truly capable of having a fruitful season.
Text sources: nba.com, basketball-reference.com
