Should the Pelicans just “Trust the Process”?
By Terry Kimble
The New Orleans Pelicans opponent on Monday night may be a model for a successful future.
As the New Orleans Pelicans take on the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday night, many may wonder if their blueprint may be a model success for the Pelicans in the future. The Sixers have built themselves into an Eastern Conference powerhouse and may be considered a favorite to get to the NBA finals for the first time since 2001. How can the Pelicans mimic this blueprint?
Build through the draft. The Pelicans blueprint has been to pick up veterans as the quick fix solution for seemingly temporary winning. This has often caused them to overpay for veterans who haven’t come close to giving the Pelicans a return on their investment (i.e. Omer Asik and Solomon Hill). This has led the Pelicans to become cash strapped later on down the line with dead money tied into players riding the bench.
The Sixers are led currently by two of their former draft picks. Joel Embiid, chosen in the 2014 draft and Ben Simmons taken in the 2016 draft are currently the pillars of the Sixers organization. Conversely, out of the Top 6 scorers on the Pelicans, only Anthony Davis was drafted by the Pelicans. It is important moving forward that the Pelicans draft and develop talent for the future.
Smart free agent signings. Plain and simple the Pelicans need to be smarter in free agency. As seen throughout history, it is hard to get major superstars to sign with small market teams. The onus is then on the team to use their available money to fill in necessary needs of the team frugally. The Pelicans cannot keep swinging and missing on free agents year in and year out, especially when this has been their method of acquiring talent instead of drafting it.
Take the Sixers as an example. Their signing of J.J. Redick a couple years ago has been an integral part of their success. Though not a superstar, Redick has fit nicely in the Sixers system. He is averaging a career high 18 points per game on nearly 40% three-point shooting. Guys like T.J. McConnell and Robert Covington (who has since been traded to Minnesota) were undrafted free agent pickups who were key rotation players.
Don’t be afraid to tank. Since 2012, the New Orleans Pelicans have drafted 11 players. Only two of them, Anthony Davis and Darius Miller, still remain on the team. Some of this has to do with the Pelicans not drafting in the first round every year, due to trading picks away for veterans. The fact remains the Pelicans may have to give a season or two away in order to retain high draft picks.
The Sixers may have set the blueprint for tanking and acquiring draft picks. Since 2012, the Sixers have drafted 11 players in the first round. They have drafted 33 players overall during this same span. They have achieved these high draft picks by tanking seasons. During a three year span between 2013 and 2016, the Sixers won a total of 47 games. That very next year Simmons was drafted and the franchise’s fortunes have vastly improved ever since.
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As the New Orleans Pelicans look across the court Monday night, they should see not only an opponent, but a blueprint. Hopefully that blueprint then turns into a mirror for success.