Pelica Debrief
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Should the New Orleans Pelicans just tank the season?

By Terry Kimble

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 23: Anthony Davis #23 of the New Orleans Pelicans sits on the bench with an injury in his finger during the game against the Detroit Pistons at Smoothie King Center on January 23, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 23: Anthony Davis #23 of the New Orleans Pelicans sits on the bench with an injury in his finger during the game against the Detroit Pistons at Smoothie King Center on January 23, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /
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The New Orleans Pelicans are at crossroads sitting currently at 22-27, five games out of the eighth seed in the West.

The New Orleans Pelicans are a battered and bruised team. Their superstar Anthony Davis is out with a sprained index finger. Their sharpshooting big man Nikola Mirotic is out nursing a calf strain and their young productive forward Julius Randle is day-to-day with an ankle sprain. To make matters worse, the Pelicans next five games are against playoff teams.

Shams Charania of The Athletic is reporting that AD will make a “full evaluation” of the Pelicans in the offseason and start to mold his future from there. But before the Pelicans get there, should they try to make another splash move to get a star here? My answer would be no.

Part of the Pelicans issue is they have abandoned the youth movement that allows players that they drafted to grow with the franchise. Since the 2012 draft when AD was taken number one overall, the Pelicans have drafted three players also in the first round. All three players were traded away within three years.

The one that probably stings the most is Buddy Hield. While he was included in the deal that brought DeMarcus Cousins to the Big Easy, Hield has flourished this season in Sacramento averaging 20 points and 5 rebounds a game. Think the Pelicans couldn’t use that production this season? Aside from AD and Darius Miller, no other Pelican draft pick since 2012 remains on the roster today.

Waiting this out and not making a knee-jerk decision before the trade deadline protects the Pelicans if AD makes it abundantly clear he won’t re-sign with the team next summer and wants to move on. It’s highly unlikely that any “star” the Pelicans might trade for this season will ultimately stay in New Orleans. As the Pelicans have learned from the Boogie situation, having young assets on the team is the best way to have more clarity for what your future may hold.

If the Pelicans do trade AD next year then the haul in return will consist of young players and future picks that the team can use to try to rebuild. This piece milling a team on the fly to appease AD has left the roster in shambles as they have overpaid on players who have certainly under-delivered.

light. Related Story. What Mirotic's injury means for the Pelicans

It’s more than likely the New Orleans Pelicans will play this tough stretch without the services of AD. If the Pelicans go 1-4 during this stretch and find themselves say 7 or 8 games out of the last playoff spot, it may be time for the Pelicans internally to consider trying to position themselves for the draft. I think an internal hashtag of #LyingforZion should be the mantra moving forward.

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