It seems not a day goes by where I don’t see some publication slamming the New Orleans Pelicans or calling them “losers” for the offseason they have had so far.
I have no problem with this, as it is debatable whether the Pelicans have improved and it’s natural that writers are going to have differing opinions.
But could these publications at least find someone who watched a Pelicans’ game last season? It seems like every article has huge mistakes that come from a simple lack of knowledge of the team.
Here are some examples I’ve seen recently and why they are wrong.
New Orleans Pelicans: Does anyone actually watch this team?
Aside from Zion Williamson‘s dunk highlights, I am not certain anyone outside of the Pels’ faithful actually watches this team play.
There are endless samples of writers calling the Pelicans the biggest losers of the offseason and here are the reasons they cite (as well as why they are wrong.)
- CLAIM: Zion Williamson is disgruntled! FACT: One anonymous source from Zion’s family said this to a reporter. Zion himself has never said this and seems to fit in with the culture of New Orleans quite well. No star player has ever passed on their rookie extension, so it’s very likely Zion is going to be in NOLA for years to come.
- CLAIM: Lonzo Ball was a fan favorite that the Pelicans should have never let go. FACT: Ball was the most polarizing player on the team and a guy the Pels weren’t comfortable giving an $85 million contract. Lonzo has talent and upside there is no doubt of that, but is he really the 3rd-best player on a title team? If the Bulls sniff a title in the next four years, please let me know.
- CLAIM: Devonte’ Graham is a big step down from Lonzo Ball. FACT: The two are very similar players as both can shoot but don’t penetrate or get to the rim much. I think Lonzo is slightly better but he’s getting paid nearly double what Graham makes. Is he twice as good? Would you rather have Graham and Josh Hart or just Lonzo Ball? Graham is one of the best value contracts in the league and Lonzo Ball is not, it’s that simple.
- CLAIM: The Pelicans gave up too much to get Jonas Valanciunas. FACT: Hahahahaha, sorry, this one makes me laugh. Giving up Steven Adams and Eric Bledsoe was addition by subtraction even if the Pels got nothing in return. Neither player was good for the Pelicans and in the case of Bledsoe, actively made them much worse. They got a much-better center in Valanciunas who is a better fit with Zion and is on a team-friendly contract that pays him $3 million less next season than Adams. The Pelicans picked up a $17 million trade exception in the deal, so essentially got a better player and a huge amount of cap space in exchange for what will likely be a late first-round draft pick. If you think the Pelicans lost this trade, then you didn’t watch Bledsoe last season and don’t understand the salary cap. The Pels now have zero bad contacts, a big chunk of money and a ton of draft assets still sitting there to make a big move. I thought the Valanciunas trade was one of David Griffin’s finest moments as a GM and I still can’t believe Memphis did it.
Again, I don’t have problems with criticizing the Pelicans’ offseason or their roster construction, but if your reasons for doing so are that the Pels lost Bledsoe, Lonzo and Adams, then you didn’t watch the team last season.
Fans of the New Orleans Pelicans know that these three players did not live up to expectations last season and that was the main reason the team failed.
It’s yet to be seen if the new additions can get the New Orleans Pelicans to the playoffs, but they are certainly better off financially and could add a third star soon. Maybe then people will start watching the games.