A starting lineup of Dejounte Murray, Herb Jones, Saddiq Bey, Trey Murphy, and Derik Queen, with Jeremiah Fears, Zion Williamson, and Yves Missi coming off the bench, could be enough to push the New Orleans Pelicans back into the playoff picture.
The season is over, and Head of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars and General Manager Troy Weaver haven’t yet tested my patience with an absurd trade. So, for now, I’m choosing optimism. Yes, the Pelicans were bad last season, at times, downright terrible. On the surface, the idea that this same team could make the playoffs sounds far-fetched. But if you look a little closer, there were legitimate bright spots, even on a 26-win team.
Let’s start at point guard. I wasn’t even sure Dejounte Murray would play at all last season. Given the Pelicans’ history with injuries, there were no guarantees. But not only did Murray return from a ruptured right Achilles tendon, he exceeded expectations. With a full offseason and training camp ahead of him, there’s reason to believe he’ll come back faster, stronger and playing at his usual high level.
I’m not going to dwell on that trade Dumars and Weaver made … you know, the one involving a certain draft pick. I’m trying to stay positive, so let’s focus on what they got right. The Pelicans’ front office duo nailed both of their first-round picks in last year’s draft.
Pelicans rookies were ballers
Jeremiah Fears and Derik Queen had their ups and downs, but both showed flashes of high-level play. As rookies, inconsistency is expected, and there’s plenty of room for growth. More time in the gym and the right coaching should help both take meaningful steps forward. I truly believe both Fears and Queen will be high-impact players and potential stars for the Pelicans.
Natural improvement from Murray, Fears and Queen alone would elevate this team. Add in another year of continuity, and the Pelicans’ chemistry and overall performance should improve as well.
Of course, Zion Williamson remains the ultimate wild card. If he stays healthy, his talent is undeniable. And yes, I would still bring him off the bench. In that role, he could thrive and even emerge as a legitimate Sixth Man of the Year candidate. I think Fears and Williamson could be an explosive bench combination in The Big Easy.
Saddiq Bey, Trey Murphy, and Herb Jones are all in their primes, giving the Pelicans three reliable, versatile pieces who can range from solid contributors to high-impact players on any given night.
As for Yves Missi, his floor is that of a high-energy reserve big. But given his age and tools, he has the potential to develop into an above-average rim protector. He offers a more defensive-minded alternative to Queen at the center position
No team makes it through a full season without injuries, but the Pelicans have been hit harder than most in recent years. If they can finally catch a break and stay relatively healthy, this roster has enough talent to make a legitimate push for the playoffs.
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