Winless Pelicans Summer League ends with major silver lining

The Pelicans Summer League finale ended with another loss, concluding New Orleans' Summer League with a 0-5 record, losing to Denver 91-82. Despite the disappointing finish to the Summer League, which included a 29-8 first-quarter deficit versus the Nuggets, the Pelicans enter the regular season with a key contributing factor they have not established in the Zion Williamson era: Health.

The Pelicans started the offseason healthy and will end it that way. However, devastation almost struck early into the Summer League finale, when Pelicans guard Jordan Hawkins left the game just three minutes into action. A rookie last season, Hawkins averaged eight points in 17 minutes per game across 67 games, 10 of which were starts. Hawkins showed flashes of his ability as a shooter, shooting 37 percent from three and 84 percent on free throws, but only 39 percent from the field.

The Pelicans' guard is expected to continue playing a key role in the rotation as a sharpshooter once again, despite the disappointing Summer League. New Orleans sat first-round pick Yves Missi and 2022 second-round pick Karlo Matkovic in the finale but kept Hawkins on the floor, and almost paid for it. Even though the winless Summer League is alarming on paper, the Pelicans made their priorities clear, focusing on long-term health instead of a meaningless victory at the annual event.

Health will dictate New Orleans status amongst Western Conference foes

The Pelicans have been amongst the Western Conference playoff contenders for the last two seasons. With a 49-33 record in 2023-24 and a 42-40 record in 2022-23, the Pelicans are trending in the right direction towards competing for the NBA Finals and bringing a league championship to the city of New Orleans. Despite Brandon Ingram's injuries, Zion Williamson played a career-high 70 games, leading the Pelicans to their best record since 2017-18.

If New Orleans is healthy, they have the potential to be a player in the Western Conference. After acquiring Dejounte Murray in the offseason, the top end of the roster is capable of leading the Pelicans into the playoffs as a top-six team, rather than the play-in. Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson's continued injuries have held New Orleans back, but the rest of the roster has remained healthy.

Murray is an addition with a good history of health, as New Orleans will start a season healthy for the first time in several seasons. The Hawkins 'injury scare' to end the Summer League nearly ruined that momentum for New Orleans but turned out to be nothing major. Hawkins is expected to be ready for the training camp and contribute to New Orleans in his second season. Although Williamson ended his season with an injury (left hamstring strain), he appears to be ready for next season's start.