The New Orleans Pelicans have officially hit rock bottom after losing to the Minnesota Timberwolves by ten points.
This is even worse than the 13-game losing streak from last season, as at least last season there was an excuse for it. The Pelicans were missing Zion Williamson and didn’t really have playoff aspirations coming into the season.
This year is different. The New Orleans Pelicans are at full strength, their two stars are playing well and yet they are still losing.
The biggest reason for this is that the Pelicans do not have a single reliable bench player except for Josh Hart, who is a willing defender and rebounder but not a great shooter.
Something has to change or the Pelicans are going to be watching a lot of Cade Cunningham games this season.
New Orleans Pelicans: Can the Pels make a trade?
If the New Orleans Pelicans believe they can turn this season around then they need a shake-up.
This could be trading Lonzo Ball for a wing who can score or defend. It could be packaging someone like Nickeil Alexander-Walker and a few picks for a more consistent player.
It could also mean just giving some other guys a chance. It would be nice to see players giving effort and if that means playing a guy like Naji Marshall or Wenyen Gabriel, so be it.
Right now the personnel the Pelicans have are not getting the job done.
Fans love to blame Stan Van Gundy and yes, he has to take some of it, but sorry, these are professional players who can’t make open shots, defend and often don’t play hard.
Is it SVG’s fault that JJ Redick can’t make a shot or that Lonzo Ball won’t shoot one that’s not a 3-pointer? Is it his fault that Brandon Ingram disappears for long stretches of the game?
Is it his fault that the team literally does not have a backup forward?
You can blame the coach and I am sure he would agree, but the players have to take the brunt of it, as they aren’t getting it done.
If things don’t change soon, Pels’ fans will soon be Googling the following question.
What are the New Orleans Pelicans lottery odds?
The Pelicans are currently 4th in the lottery standings behind the Detroit Pistons, Minnesota Timberwolves and Washington Wizards, aka, the three worst teams in the NBA.
If the lottery were held today the Pelicans would have a 48 percent chance at a top-four pick and a 12.5 percent chance to get number one overall.
We’re not there yet, but if the Pels keep losing we will be and maybe that’s not the worst thing. This team is clearly not ready to compete at a high level in the Western Conference and perhaps we got ahead of ourselves thinking they could make the playoffs.
Perhaps.
But it’s tough to watch a team with so much talent throw away a season, so let’s hope the Pels can get things turned around with a trade or some new life off the bench.
If not, we can start watching college games to see who the Pels might draft.