During All-Star Weekend, NBA commissioner Adam Silver faced many questions about the league's future, including tanking and expansion. While the internet isn't too happy with some of the suggestions Silver mentioned for fixing league-wide issues, one comment will definitely bring a smile to the face of many New Orleans Pelicans fans.
When the topic of expansion came up, Silver was asked about the possibility of relocation, and he said, "relocation of franchises is not on the table."
This statement from Silver isn't just a win for the New Orleans Pelicans, who were floated as a potential relocation candidate by prominent NBA media members like Bill Simmons. But it's also a win for small-market teams in general, as the NBA is clearly backing them and has no plan to tear away teams from cities.
So now that it is clear that there is no plan to relocate the Pelicans from the Big Easy anytime soon, it's time for the front office and ownership to start building.
It's time to start building
With the team staying put, it's time to pick a timeline and commit to it. The Pelicans can no longer afford to be complacent and try to build a team around two different timelines. They must commit either to building around Trey Murphy III, Jeremiah Fears, and Derik Queen or the core the previous front office built with Zion Williamson, Herb Jones, Dejounte Murray, etc.
With expansion very much a possibility over the next couple of years, the Pelicans need to pick a clear direction. If the expansion draft rules stay the same, the Pelicans will only be able to protect eight players — and right now, it’s not even clear who those eight would be. Obviously, Murphy III would be a lock. I'd assume the same for Fears, DQ, Bey, Herb Jones, and Zion, too, but after that, it's unclear who would really stay or who would really go.
And unless they can define a direction, the expansion draft could be a straight-up disaster.
In general, Adam Silver's statement that relocation is off the table and that all 30 NBA cities will remain NBA cities is a massive win for the Pelicans and their fans. But it also raises the stakes. The front office now has to act with greater urgency and prove to the league they aren’t making a mistake by keeping basketball in New Orleans—by laying out a long-term plan and building a stable, sustainable future for Pelicans basketball.