Team Name
New Orleans Pelicans
Division
Southwest Division
Last Season's Record
34-48 (5th in division)
Roster additions / losses
Omer Asik
Asik joins the Pelicans after a tumultuous season in Houston where he demanded a trade and was generally frustrated. He will bolster a solid frontcourt alongside Anthony Davis and Ryan Anderson if he can return from his devastating injury last season. Asik should be inserted immediately into the PF/C slot and is a major upgrade from Jason Smith and Al-Farouq Aminu. Look for Asik to have a solid season, especially on the boards and on the defensive end.
John Salmons
Salmons was signed in the offseason to provide depth at the wing position. He should have an immediate role on this team, as there is certainly a need for scoring at the small forward spot. Though his production has waned over the last few seasons, the Pelicans need the depth and he is a proven veteran.
Jimmer Fredette
Fredette is somewhat of an enigma so far in his NBA career. He can light up teams when given the opportunity, but his defensive deficiencies have limited his playing time overall. We thought we would see him get some playing time in Chicago, but apparently his defense was not good enough to justify playing time for the Bulls. His role on the team is not established, but he could assume the role of sharpshooter that has been left open by the departure of Anthony Morrow.
Key Success Factors
1. Return impact players from injury – Injuries ravaged this team last season more than perhaps any other team in the NBA. Ryan Anderson was having a career year last season, averaging almost 20 points per game before a freak accident in Boston that ended his season, and almost his career. His neck is on the mend and if he can return healthy he can provide spacing for Asik and Davis to work in the paint. Anderson is one of the best stretch power forwards in the league, and his shooting was needed after his injury.
Also returning from injury is guard Jrue Holiday, the centerpiece of the trade that sent Nerlens Noel to Philadelphia. If Holiday can come back from his leg injury in January, he can provide scoring and quality point guard play. His backcourt mate, Eric Gordon is also coming off knee surgery in April and his return will be vital to the Pelicans recipe for success next season. Gordon was one of the premier young players before injuries got him off track. If he can stay healthy, he is a breakout candidate.
Finally, Tyreke Evans rounds out this all-star injured reserve team. Evans says he is not fully recovered from his own knee surgery in May, so don’t be surprised if the team takes it slow with his return. He is a quality scorer on a team that lacked offense last year.
2. Run the offense through Davis – There is no question that Anthony Davis is the star of this team. Davis has cemented his reputation as a rim protector and offensive jackknife, averaging 20 points, 10 rebounds, and almost 3 blocks per game. He is a premier player who is already being considered in the MVP conversation, and rightfully so. If Davis can improve those numbers and keep this team motivated and energized, the Pelicans will be a very dangerous team in the West. He is the team’s captain, and he showed this summer with Team USA that he is ready and capable of handling a leadership role, leading the team on the way to the gold medal. Davis is the alpha dog in New Orleans, and the Pelicans need to realize that if they want to be successful.
3. Overcome inexperience – This is the eighth youngest team in the league, and many of their rotation players are very young. Salmons is the oldest player on the team, and no one else is within five years of him. Davis is only 21, and six players who are expected to make the team are entering their third year in the league or less. The depth on this team is very young, and even starting center Alexis Ajinca is relatively inexperienced in the NBA. He has only played 127 games in the NBA in his career, so the Pelicans will need a boost from him to remain successful and competitive.
Fantasy Impact
Studs
Anthony Davis – This one seems pretty obvious, as Davis is one of the most well rounded big men in the league. It is rare to find a power forward who can average 20 points, 10 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 3 blocks and shoot 80% from the free throw line. Those are bonafide superstar numbers. Realistically, Davis should be going in the top 5 of any league.
Jrue Holiday – If Holiday comes back from his injury healthy, he is a top-15 point guard in the league. He averaged 14 points and 8 assists per game last season, while shooting 39% from beyond the arc. He has consistently averaged 1.5 steals per game as well, and is surrounded by scorers. Again, his health is a concern, but is poised for a breakout season.
Duds
Tyreke Evans – Evans had a pretty good season last year, but his numbers have declined over the last few seasons. Coming to New Orleans continued that trend, and then he had to have surgery in May which he admits he is not recovered from yet. This is also a case of having too many mouths to feed, with Davis, Anderson, Gordon and Holiday all vying for minutes and shots. He shot a career low from three-point land and averaged his second lowest shooting percentage in his career. Avoid Evans if you can.
Sleeper
Alexis Ajinca – Ajinca sat out the FIBA World Cup this summer because of family matters, but he could be a breakout player at a traditionally weak position. He only averaged 17 minutes per game last season, but is poised to play a significant number of minutes with Jason Smith gone in front of him. He is long and rangy, and I expect his points, rebounds, and blocks to all improve this season. You can probably get him pretty late, but he is worth a roster spot.
2014 Season Predictions
MVP – Anthony Davis
LVP – Tyreke Evans
Finish – 8th seed in the West, First round exit
As much as I think this team will improve this season, the eighth seed in the west is this team’s ceiling. The west is simply too deep and too strong for the Pelicans to make any serious noise. I think New Orleans takes a step forward, but ultimately is headed out of the playoffs before the second round.