New Orleans Pelicans: 4 Teams that will Make a Big Leap Next Season

The New Orleans Pelicans

2019-20 Record: 28-36 (10th seed in West)

Predictions for 2020-21:  50-32 (5th seed in West)

Why they’ll be better:

The New Orleans Pelicans will make the biggest leap of any team (aside from the Warriors) next season for a few reasons.

They are one of the youngest teams in the NBA and have a lot of room to improve, even though they are already very good.

The Pelicans should have a full season of Zion, Lonzo and Ingram, a big three that forms the best young core in the NBA.

They only played 19 games together this season and had just begun to scratch the surface of their potential.

The Pelicans will get a full offseason to condition, build strength and plug holes in their roster.

They will likely need a defensive 3-and-D type wing, a center and a backup point guard, all which should be easy enough to get in free agency, a trade or the draft.

If the New Orleans Pelicans can fix some of the weaknesses in their roster, and get improvements from the guys they already have, they should make a big leap next season.

Lonzo Ball is going to be a lot better with a full season of Zion, Josh Hart has a good shot at 6th Man of the Year, and Ingram very well could make his first All-NBA team if he doesn’t this year.

Alvin Gentry will have a full offseason with the whole team to implement his systems and the Pelicans will likely have a lottery pick in the draft.

All of these things should spell big improvements for the young Pelicans, who are talented, brash and hungry to take the first step towards a title.

They were craving that first round series with the Lakers, and though we might not get to see it, the Pelicans put the league on notice that there was a new team in town to reckon with and they’ll be here to stay.

These four teams suffered for various reasons in 2019-20 but are ready to change all of that next season and get back to the top of their conference.