Should the New Orleans Pelicans tank? What it might look like if they do
The New Orleans Pelicans dropped another game on the homestand, this one to the Sacramento Kings, who seem to be their nemesis.
The Pelicans are now (7-12), a full 8-games out of first place but only three games out of the 8th spot.
The fact that many of the other teams in the West are not playing well is really the only thing keeping the Pels afloat.
The issue is not whether the New Orleans Pelicans have time to turn their season around because they do. The issue is whether this team is equipped to do it and if they should even be trying.
New Orleans Pelicans: The argument for tanking
I should start by saying that I absolutely loathe tanking and do not think the New Orleans Pelicans should or can do it.
They have too much talent to lose on some nights and tanking has never proven to be a path to building a great team unless you want to take seven years to do it.
That being said, there are some good reasons to change the expectations of this season. The Pelicans have shown no signs that this roster is built to compete in the Western Conference.
They are too small, don’t have enough defenders on the wing and their bench is abysmal.
If you aren’t going to win anyway, then why not try for a draft pick that could yield an impact player?
There just happen to be a few that would look great on the New Orleans Pelicans.
New Orleans Pelicans: What are the Pelicans’ lottery odds?
The New Orleans Pelicans are currently the 5th-worst team in the NBA, with a 42.1 percent chance at a top-4 pick and a 10.5 percent chance at the number one overall.
Last year’s draft was deep but didn’t have a consensus star in it but 2021 has 4-5 depending on who you ask.
The New Orleans Pelicans aren’t likely to be a perennial lottery team (let’s hope) so this might be their last opportunity to get a top pick for a while. Considering there is impact talent up and down this draft, it wouldn’t be a bad year to be in the lottery.
New Orleans Pelicans: What would a tank look like?
If the New Orleans Pelicans tank it will be through roster moves, not through intentional poor play or benching their stars.
The first move would be to trade J.J. Redick to a contender, next would be Lonzo Ball.
The Pelicans could also move Eric Bledsoe. Trading these three guys would be a white flag for the season, as Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Kira Lewis Jr. probably aren’t ready to be starters in the NBA.
This could be a win-win for the Pelicans, as they would gather more assets for the future, shake up a roster that needs it and get their young guards some run all at the same time.
This is not how anyone expected the season to go. I hope the New Orleans Pelicans can turn things around but a roster churn is probably coming either way.