Pelicans player rankings show difference between promise and production

The New Orleans Pelicans have not had a great start to the 2024-25 NBA season. That's an objective, undeniable, irrefutable fact. Ravaged by injuries, they've plummeted to the bottom of the Western Conference standings while mostly deploying lineups full of fringe players that even some of the most die-hard basketball fans don't know.

Through 16 games, they're just 4-12, sitting at 14th in the West. They come into the season with aspirations to be a dark-horse title contender; their intentions were made clear when they traded away future assets, including Dyson Daniels and draft compensation, in return for All-Star guard Dejounte Murray.

Unfortunately, due to the sheer amount of injuries they've suffered, the Pelicans haven't been able to field a competitive team for a long time. Even in the games they did have a relatively healthy rotation, their lack of chemistry while integrating a new system and new pieces was evident. There's no denying that the New Orleans Pelicans are struggling, but the talent is clearly there when this team is fully healthy.

It's easy to forget how talented the Pelicans are with their early-season troubles

With the Pelicans more in competition for the first-overall pick in the upcoming draft than for a playoff spot so far this season, it's easy to dismiss how talented their roster actually is. Player rankings are incredibly subjective and can be a disingenuous way to compare the impact of two different athletes. That said, gauging the consensus esteem that players hold through the years is an important way to accurately record the history of the league.

Once the book closes on the 2024-25 season, the Pelicans may go down as one of the most disappointing squads in the NBA's annals. According to The Ringer's latest update of their top 100 players, New Orleans supposedly has six top-100 talents.

Zion Williamson clocked in as their best player at 36th, followed by Brandon Ingram at 55th, Dejounte Murray at 61st, Herb Jones at 64th, CJ McCollum at 80th, and, lastly, Trey Murphy III at 81st. The Pelicans' six selections are tied for the most in the NBA with only the Minnesota Timberwolves matching that number. Only a handful of teams have five, including the Boston Celtics and Oklahoma City Thunder, true title contenders.

The Pelicans are dwelling in the basement of the league, but it's clearly not due to a lack of talent. Injuries are a constant in sports, especially in the NBA's grueling 82-game season, but the way that New Orleans's rotation has been decimated is far beyond usual wear and tear. No matter how they end this campaign or which direction their brass decides to take, it's important that fans, analysts, and executives avoid overreacting to this dismal stretch from the Pelicans.