New Orleans Pelicans: Things to Watch in Desperation Matchup vs. Wiz

The New Orleans Pelicans are playing for a job.

It’s time to play for your NBA life.

There are several members of this team who will not have jobs with the Pelicans next season and some that might be out of the league altogether.

Favors will get work, but is not going to be making $17 million next season, that’s for sure. Melli has to be feeling the pressure to make a shot or risk losing his minutes.

Frank Jackson, E’Twaun Moore, Kenrich Williams and Jahlil Okafor have contributed little and are playing for a new contract, or in some cases, to stay in the league.

Hayes has been mostly ineffective and will need more reps before he is ready to handle even backup minutes.

It’s very possible that none of these players will be on the Pelicans next season, as all need to prove they have some value to this roster.

The Pelicans are too guard heavy and will certainly need to replace these players with guys who can defend and who have some size.

This brings me to coach, Alvin Gentry.

VP of Basketball Operations David Griffin has said that he will not use these bubble games to make personnel decisions because it is too small a sample size under insane circumstances.

I think that is fair, and Griffin has stated that the organizational goal is to “play meaningful games” which they have.

But he can’t be happy about what he’s seen so far. The Pelicans’ rotations have been a mess (some of that is Zion’s limits), the team has looked lifeless at times, unprepared to play and didn’t show up in the biggest game of their season.

Some of that has to fall on Gentry, who may not be on the hot seat yet, but certainly will be if the Pels give this game away to the Wizards.

The Pelicans and Gentry should play and coach as if their jobs depend on it, because they might.

Look, the New Orleans Pelicans’ weren’t supposed to be good this year, but it’s still disappointing to see them give away games when the playoffs were there for the taking.

They need to show some heart today against the Wizards or this team will be very different next season.