Pelicans can help themselves by putting Lakers in a bigger hole

The New Orleans Pelicans will try to push their record to 5-2 tonight against the Los Angeles Lakers on the road with more than just a win at stake.

The Pels are favored in this one, as they’ve been rolling while LA has been reeling.

New Orleans has been playing well even though they’ve been shorthanded without Brandon Ingram, Herb Jones and Dyson Daniels and only recently getting Zion Williamson back.

The LA Lakers have been going in the other direction, as they’ve started the season 1-5 amidst drama and rumors about when they are going to trade Russell Westbrook.

It’s still very early, but New Orleans looks like a playoff team, while the Lakers have already dug themselves a hole that the Pelicans can make even deeper tonight.

While wins and losses are always important, New Orleans has even greater motivation to help the Lakers on their slide.

New Orleans Pelicans: The Victor Wembanyama watch

As most Pelicans fans are well aware of (yet some Lakers fans still aren’t), New Orleans owns a pick swap with the Lakers in the 2023 NBA Draft.

Currently, this swap would give the Pels a 14 percent chance at the number one pick in next year’s draft, while the Lakers would get the 23rd pick from New Orleans.

We are still very early in the season, so this could change drastically over time, but getting a shot at the number one pick is huge, as prospect Victor Wembanyama looks like a guy who could change a franchise.

Considering the Pelicans already have a deep roster and tons of young talent, we’re looking at a 14 percent chance at a dynasty if the Lakers end up as one of the worst teams in the league.

The Lakers play the red-hot Jazz, then the Cavaliers, then the Jazz again after tonight, so a win for the Pels could set the Lakers up for the worst record in the league by the start of next week.

A win tonight is a double victory for the New Orleans Pelicans, as it helps them in the present, but also potentially in the future.

This is going to be something Pels’ fans keep an eye on all season, as New Orleans has the chance to build a super team off the back of the Anthony Davis trade.