Hey there, Last Night In Basketballers — I am, as I do every year, re-appropriating the Three Things I Noticed on League Pass format to preview the upcoming season. Instead of three things I noticed, it’ll be something more along the lines of three things I’m looking forward to, interested in, or want to see. Some of them might be narrative-based, some might be stats, and some might include video. But they'll all be focused on the 2026-27 campaign.
The schedule for those posts will be as follows (podcasts previewing each division with Mo Dakhil are in parentheses):
- Atlantic Division (BOS, BKN, NYK, PHI, TOR) (Podcast)
- Central Division (CHI, CLE, DET, IND, MIL) (Podcast)
- Southeast Division (ATL, CHA, MIA, ORL, WAS) (Podcast)
- Pacific Division (GSW, LAC, LAL, PHX, SAC) (Podcast)
- Northwest Division (DEN, MIN, OKC, POR, UTA) (Podcast)
- Southwest Division (DAL, HOU, MEM, NOP, SAS) (Podcast)
So without further ado, let's get to the New Orleans Pelicans, who might very well be the strangest team in the NBA.
Just a heads up, this entry will be on the shorter side because I don't have a lot of time today.
Where are we going?
I continue to not understand this team, just like last year. Joe Dumars once again said that the goal is to make the playoffs, just like last year. Which, obviously. But how? They went 26-56 last year and finished 11 games back of the play-in, and they're bringing back essentially the exact same roster but with Bennedict Mathurin in the mix.
Is the idea that getting a healthy season from Dejounte Murray — who only played 14 games last year — is the difference between finishing 11 games back and getting into the play-in tournament? I guess you could say that they also only got 56 games from Herb Jones, but he only played 20 the year before so it's not like he's a guarantee to play a ton. And what are the odds that Zion Williamson plays 62 games again? He's been in the NBA for seven seasons and played more than 30 games three times.
And yeah, the Pellies came in 11th place in the conference last season and Golden State should be worse, but Dallas and Utah should be a lot better, so it's not like there isn't competition for what could be an open play-in spot.
I just don't understand why this team isn't pivoting into a rebuild around the young guys, and why everybody is seemingly off limits in trade talks. I don't understand why DeAndre Jordan is getting two-year minimum deals. I suppose I do understand the Saddiq Bey extension because he's good and he's only 27 but what are the odds that he's on the next really good Pelicans team? This organization is just so frustrating on so many levels.