NBA Preseason Power Rankings: Where do the New Orleans Pelicans land?
By Nick Alvarez
The New Orleans Pelicans land at number 15 in our preseason power rankings with a chance to rise above that ranking early in the season
15. New Orleans Pelicans
We’ve made, here you go New Orleans Pelicans fans, to open the season we have the team ranked at 15th, right in the middle of the league, now some of you might think the Pelicans are too low on this list, but hear us out.
We know the Pelicans had a stellar offense, acquiring Steven Adams and Eric Bledsoe in a blockbuster four-team trade, and then selecting Kira Lewis Jr. with the 13th pick in the draft. However, the Pelicans still have a lot of work to do to make this team as great as it is on paper.
They need to learn new head coach Stan Van Gundy’s system while trying to establish who will be in the team’s rotation as the second unit for the season. Given that this has been an abbreviated offseason and training camp, we believe that these things could take some time.
That means the New Orleans Pelicans might be slow out the gate early and even stumble down these rankings, but with time we expect they’ll find their way into the upper tier and a playoff spot as well. So maybe this isn’t the ranking fans want to hear but it’s a fair one.