2016-17 NBA Season Preview: New Orleans Pelicans
Welcome to theScore's 2016-17 NBA preview, where you'll find comprehensive coverage of all 30 teams and storylines to watch this season.
New Orleans Pelicans
2015-16
| Record | Southwest | Western Conference | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30-52 | 5th | 12th | N/A |
Offseason Roundup
| Additions | Departures |
|---|---|
| Solomon Hill (4 yrs/$52M) | Ryan Anderson (Rockets) |
| Langston Galloway (2 yrs/$5M-6M) | Eric Gordon (Rockets) |
| Terrence Jones (1 yr/$1.5M) | Toney Douglas (Waived) |
| E'Twaun Moore (4 yrs/$34M) | James Ennis (Grizzlies) |
| Lance Stephenson (1 yr/$1.22M) | |
| Buddy Hield (Draft) | |
| Cheick Diallo (Draft trade) |
- Re-signed Tim Frazier (2 years, $4.1M)
- Re-signed Alonzo Gee (2 years)
Projected Starting 5
- PG Langston Galloway
- SG Buddy Hield
- SF Solomon Hill
- PF Anthony Davis
- C Omer Asik
Player to watch: Buddy Hield
You can never have too much shooting in a game that's moving away from the basket, and that's a skill Hield has down pat.
He was truly elite in putting up points from the perimeter during his senior year at Oklahoma, leading the Big 12 in practically every offensive category - including 3-pointers made (147) - en route to receiving the John R. Wooden Award for the best college basketball player.
Hield is one of the more NBA-ready rookies at 22 years old, filling the vacancy at the two-spot left by Eric Gordon. He's an offensive outburst waiting to happen, especially if his high percentages (50.1 from the field and 45.7 from deep) carry over to the pros.
With personality to boot, Hield has everything going for him both on and off the court, and a steady dose of playing time should make him a nice sleeper pick in the Rookie of the Year race.
Season Expectations
As phenomenal a talent as Anthony Davis is, he can't carry the often-depleted Pelicans on his broad shoulders alone without a little on-court support.
Before the regular season even gets underway, former All-Star Jrue Holiday has been ruled out indefinitely to tend to his wife as she undergoes brain surgery, and Tyreke Evans may not be available right away as he continues recovering from surgery on his right knee.
It's not the situation Davis probably envisioned for himself when he inked his then-record five-year, $145-million extension, but it's the harsh reality he must endure. The bigger issue, though, is that he too has been stricken by the injury bug. Davis has missed 14 or more games every season he's been in the league, including 21 in 2015-16.
The additions of glorified role players like Moore, Jones, Hill, and Stephenson were designed to improve the depth of the rotation, although none of them are good enough to act as the Robin to Davis' Batman.
The Southwest Division is incredibly tough. Considering the humdrum moves they made, the temporary loss of Holiday and Evans, and the injuries they're almost sure to endure, the Pels' postseason aspirations look very bleak.