Who’s Opting Out and How Does it Affect the New Orleans Pelicans?

How Players Opting Out Helps the New Orleans Pelicans at NBA Disney

Trevor Ariza: Portland Trail Blazers

The player decision that caused the biggest positive reaction among New Orleans fans was Trevor Ariza deciding not to return. The New Orleans Pelicans and Portland Trail Blazers are both currently 3.5 games behind the Grizzlies for the eighth seed in the Western Conference, both had a fair shot of securing a play-in game appearance after the eight games were played to decide playoff seeding.

Without Ariza, Portland will be even more reliant upon Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum to score at a nearly unprecedented rate just to keep games close. The lack of wing depth will show in a schedule that includes the Celtics and Clippers, two teams that can run their offense without a traditional point guard on the floor, and still score at will.

Davis Bertans: Washington Wizards

The New Orleans Pelicans will play the Washington Wizards as one of their opponents in Orlando. The Wizards were already shorthanded without John Wall and will be even more so now that sharpshooter Bertans has opted out.

Though this is a game the Pelicans should win, they can’t overlook the Wizards just because they are not at full strength. But without Bertans, the Pels’ chances got a lot better.

LaMarcus Aldridge: San Antonio Spurs

In a game scheduled for August 9th, the Pelicans will play the Spurs. Without Aldridge this game should be an easy win for New Orleans, who can continue pushing for a playoff berth. No longer having to worry about the interior presence that Aldridge brings on both ends, the Pels will have more room to attack the basket in this game.

Bojan Bogdanovic: Utah Jazz

New Orleans opens the Orlando return with a game against the Jazz. It’ll be the first NBA game since March 12th and the teams have played in a few memorable games this season (the no-call on Rudy Gobert in early January and Brandon Ingram‘s revenge just 10 days later). But now, with no Bogdanovic, this game should lean more favorably in the Pels’ favor.

While most of the decisions won’t amount to very much basketball-wise, they could have opened the door that much wider for the Pelicans to grab the eighth seed and face the Lakers in the first round.