New Orleans Pelicans: 5 Positives from Alvin Gentry’s Final Season

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - OCTOBER 11: Head coach Alvin Gentry of the New Orleans Pelicans talks with Josh Hart #3, Kenrich Williams #34 and Jaxson Hayes #10 during a preseason game against the Utah Jazz at the Smoothie King Center on October 11, 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 Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - OCTOBER 11: Head coach Alvin Gentry of the New Orleans Pelicans talks with Josh Hart #3, Kenrich Williams #34 and Jaxson Hayes #10 during a preseason game against the Utah Jazz at the Smoothie King Center on October 11, 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 Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
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New Orleans Pelicans, Zion Williamson
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JUNE 20: Zion Williamson of the New Orleans Pelicans (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

The New Orleans Pelicans can add talent in the offseason.

More Talent Coming

Another positive from this season is that the Pelicans have a chance to add real talent to their roster in the offseason.

They didn’t tank, but still ended up in the lottery, which means they got competitive reps but will still get some of the benefits of the miserable teams who lost on purpose all season.

They weren’t shameless tankers but still get a shot at the number one pick.

Sure, it is a small one, but the Pelicans will still have around a six percent chance to jump into the top-five and a snowball’s chance in Hades of landing the number one pick.

If you can get improvement from your young players, play meaningful high-pressure basketball and still get a lottery pick, then your season is a success even if you don’t make the playoffs.

Not only will the Pelicans have a chance to add talent via the draft, but they have all the ammunition to make trades, move up in the draft or grab a free agent.

If you could ask David Griffin his ideal situation for this season, he probably would have been thinking “make improvements, play meaningful games, get a top-five pick.”

By those measures, the season has been a success and even though the Pels’ shot at a top pick are small, this draft is a complete crap shoot and they might get the guy they want anyway.