NBA Preseason Power Rankings: Where do the New Orleans Pelicans land?

Checking out the New Orleans Pelicans in our preseason power rankings. Mandatory Credit: Ashley Landis/Pool Photo via USA TODAY Sports
Checking out the New Orleans Pelicans in our preseason power rankings. Mandatory Credit: Ashley Landis/Pool Photo via USA TODAY Sports
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Looking at where the New Orleans Pelicans land in our preseason power rankings

The NBA season starts in 9 days, but preseason action has already kicked off. This means there’s no better time to conduct our first power rankings of the NBA season and see where the New Orleans Pelicans rank.

Of course, these rankings are obviously subjective, but the goal is to give fans a layout of the NBA landscape after another wild offseason filled with movement. Some fans who don’t keep track of the NBA outside of their team might be curious to know how moves around the league affect their team entering a new season. I know the New Orleans Pelicans fans are curious to know where they rank, so let’s get into it.

New Orleans Pelicans
Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

30. New York Knicks

The New York Knicks made some key changes to their organization this season, by bringing in team president Leon Rose, head coach Tom Thibodeau. Following up those changes, the Knicks brought in Obi Toppin and Immanuel Quickley via the 2020 NBA Draft to go along with an array of gritty veteran signings that included Alec Burks and Nerlens Noel. My question is was it enough?

The Knicks ranked at the bottom of the NBA in both offense and defense last season. They have two young cornerstones in R.J. Barrett and Mitchell Robinson who have both shown flashes of greatness but have yet to show that they can be stars in the NBA. Overall, it’s going to take a great coaching job from Thibodeau for this team to be better than they were last season.