New Orleans Pelicans’ Fans: What to expect in these wild six weeks

New Orleans, we have a start date. December 22 will bring on the 2020-2021 NBA season and we can see our New Orleans Pelicans in action.

As we inch closer and closer to next week’s NBA Draft, the start of free-agent signings and the first game, it’s safe to say that the next six weeks will be unlike any other in the basketball world.

Gone are the days of rookie player development in the summer league. At least for this year. Anyone who is drafted by the Pelicans next week will need to mesh quickly with the team in order to log some playing time. Otherwise, we’ll be paying close attention to the NBA G league to evaluate the new talent. That is, if there actually is a G league this year.

We’ve captured all of the likely, crazy, unlikely and completely out of the blue scenarios for the Pelicans on draft night. While it remains a mystery, especially given the new coaching staff and unknowns of potential trades, it’s guaranteed to be fun.

New Orleans Pelicans: Draft, free agency, trades…the next six weeks will be crazy

There are a few things that are still outstanding for the Pelicans to keep an eye on the next few weeks:

First is the lingering question on whether or not Jrue Holiday will be in a Pelicans uniform in December.

We’ve looked at the various possibilities for a trade that would allow Jrue to compete for a championship immediately and give the Pelicans a player to help build on the success seen at the back end of last season.

Second, Stan Van Gundy needs to complete his staff. With retaining Fred Vinson, the players at least have one familiar face to lean on during the transition at the top.

The third is getting the remaining players back in town and starting up practice again. Based on social media posts, Jaxson Hayes and Josh Hart are back in the Crescent City. Other players are likely to show up soon to start training with their teammates as well.

The final, and really most important item hanging out there for the fans, is if we will be able to cheer on this team in person at the Smoothie King Center.

As Christian Clark wrote in the Times-Picayune, city officials are looking at the re-entry of fans to the Superdome as a guide:

"“The New Orleans Health Department will use a similar model as we have done for the Superdome and other sports stadiums for the Smoothie King Center and other arenas,” a city spokesperson told The Times-Picayune | New Orleans Advocate."

It’s going to be a fast and furious six weeks. With each passing day, anticipation is building for the coming season and we cannot wait to see this New Orleans Pelicans team take the court.