New Orleans Pelicans Team Review

2021-22 Finish: 47-35

This time last year, a big season was projected for the Pelicans who were fresh off a deep playoff run. Once again the New Orleans would enter the season led by two of the most exciting and athletic young stars in Donovan Mitchell and Ja Morant, who formed arguably the league�s most exciting back courts. An often-overlooked franchise ran by one of the most talented GMs in the NSL, New Orleans appeared on a mission to put their name on the map as one of the premier franchises in the NSL.

 

Season Highlight/ Season Lowlight:

The Play-In

Coming into the regular season as one of the most hyped franchises, the Pelicans were widely regarded as a top 5 Western Conference contender. Many pundits had New Orleans in the top 5 overall teams in the NSL with some expecting Conference finals in the loaded West.

From the offset of the season challenges arose with health concerns to numerous key players in the rotation and even though always showing a winning record, the Pelicans looked a tier down from the top of the West. After finishing the season with a 47-35 record (a great record), they found themselves sitting in the play-in mix. 8^th in the West would mean they would have to play for their season and win one from the next two games to advance to a showdown vs one of the top 2 in the Conference.

With a good run of health heading into the playoffs, the Pels ship looked steady. They faced a team who finished with equal record, the Nuggets and Steph Curry in game 1 of the play-in tournament. Many tipped the Nuggets who were a few players down, including their 3^rd best scorer in Michael Porter Jr, with most citing the fact that they had the best player in the league and reigning MVP at the helm.

The Pels pulled out all the stops in the play-ins and produced their best basketball for the season. They dominated all areas of the game making light work of a quality team in a one-sided affair. Awaiting them on the other side of the play-in tournament, the second seed Portland Trailblazers!

 

 

Trading:

GM Leeroy is never one to be afraid of a deal, however he approaches each one cautiously, always waiting for the best possible outcome for his franchise. It�s no surprise that he regularly ends up on the winning side of deals with an approach like this and it�s fair to say he is amongst the best in the business in the art of negotiating.

Best Trade:

Pelicans send: Paul Reed
Pelicans receive: Pick 21-Jaden Hardy (on traded with second rounders for pick 14- AJ Griffin) & Isaiah Joe

This trade became another trade which resulted in a player I really like. AJ Griffin out of Duke, a freshman (I�m pretty sure), has a superb outside shot and all the physical tools to become a good-great defender in the NBA. He carried an injury through last season which pushed him to mid first round, however prior to he was touted as an elite prospect in the mid-high lottery. A great asset for the price.

Worst Trade:

Pelicans send: Brooke Lopez
Pelicans receive: Juan Toscano-Anderson

There�s nothing wrong with this trade at all and it freed up $11 million in salary for the Pelicans. Juan Toscano is a good player and Lopez was/is notoriously slow and unathletic in 2k land. A good deal for both but probably the least valuable return for an asset that the Pelicans had all season.

 

Free Agency:

The Pelicans could be a sneaky player in the free agency with the use of their MLE, depending on what their management decides to do with fringe contracts. Currently they have 16 players with the rookies yet to be signed and they will have to make decisions on the following players:

Joe Wisecamp RFA � after being drafted in 2021, Wisecamp has made minimal impact in the NBA and is rated a mere 70 overall in 2k land. The NBA Spurs look terrible this year and will hit the tank button from the tip-off which could mean some opportunity for the sophomore.

Isaiah Joe- Another Joe, this time of the Isaiah variety, is unlikely to be retained though he is on an NBA roster.

Oliver Sarr- Likely to be unsigned to make room for the incoming rookies, Sarr is rostered in the NBA but has a no real long-term outlook.

 It will be interesting to see what role, if any, the Pelicans play in free agency. With minimal room under the hard cap once all rookies sign, it�s most likely they stay the course and hold their assets. However, the Pelicans have been savvy wheelers and dealers in the past and could clear a roster spot to attempt to steal another target with a bit of thought and planning.

Star:

Ja Morant x Donovan Mitchell

Looking over the stats it�s pretty incredible to see a team led by two stars with nearly identical averages! Both stars averaged 23.5 points, either 4 or 5 assists and 4 rebounds a game with the edge in rebounds going to Mitchell and the edge in assists going to Morant. Both stars contributed on the defensive end with around a steal each per game. There�s no real surprise as to why GM Leeroy decided to move one of his stars (Mitchell) for a different positional star (Paul George) as the Pelicans may have had �too much of a good thing� last season with their talented back court. The trade signified who the Pelicans viewed as their long-term superstar, an investment in Morant with the keys to the offense and complimentary stars means Morant will likely take the leap into NSL superstardom in the coming season.

 

Flop:

Keldon Johnson

A terrific NBA player, Johnson looked a terrific fit playing the forward with Mitchell, Morant, Bridges surrounding. In the NBA he averaged 17 points and 6 rebounds, playing second fiddle in a young Spurs team giving him an above 80 rating in the 2k game for the duration of the season. Becoming a valuable 2k asset can take time as the game catches up with tendencies and badges.

On a crowded NSL New Orleans roster, Johnson could only muster 6 points and 4 rebounds per game with a net plus minus of -2.2. Disastrous. GM Leeroy will be confident in his improvement in the upcoming engine as Keldon appears ready in both 2k and NBA to make the jump as a prime �Most Improved� candidate. If he elevates his game in the coming season, the Pelicans will be amongst the elite teams in the season. He�d want to step up after a shocking 2021-22 season. 

 

Draft Grades:

#14 SF- A.J Griffin
#19 Malaki Branham       A+
#60 John Butler            

GM Leeroy just continues to add to his roster through savvy moves and draft picks with high upside. As mentioned earlier, I was really keen on Griffin and there�s a big chance he could one day become one of the steals of the draft with his size, shooting prowess and versatile skill set.

Malaki Branham could work out to be another steal at the wing position. Drawing comparisons to Khris Middleton with his all-round skill set, Branham has landed in a rebuilding San Antonio- one of the best places at developing talent in the NBA. He will get plenty of reps this season as well as the best coaching and development any rookie could possibly want.

Hitting on these two youngsters after shuffling picks around could absolutely put New Orleans over-the-top in the next couple of seasons and their already loaded roster could the premier roster in the competition in the upcoming season.

 

The Future:

The future looks incredibly bright in New Orleans. They�re loaded with young stars, prospects who could absolutely boom and they recently acquired Paul George- a 2k darling and NBA superstar. They will contend this coming season and will surely be in the title race for the next 10+ years.

 

Projected Line Up

C:  Richaun Holmes
PF: John Collins
SF: Keldon Johnson
SG: Paul George
PG: Ja Morant
Bench: Terry Rozier, Obi Toppin & Patrick Williams

This loaded roster is ready to do some damage this season while continuing to build for the long-term. Watch out for the Pelicans to potentially beef up the Centre spot in the free agency and flick the switch in the coming season to become a genuine contender. Good luck to GM Leeroy and his stacked Pelicans roster.