The New Orleans Pelicans are one of the NBA’s most painfully mediocre franchises, and that has been the case for most of its existence. Whether they’ve had superstars like Chris Paul, Anthony Davis, or Zion Williamson, the Pelicans have been plagued by issues preventing them from becoming true contenders.
There are recurring themes for the struggles: unfulfilled potential and untimely setbacks. As the 2024-25 season becomes the latest to unravel, it seems clear that New Orleans needs to consider a dramatic overhaul to break free from its underwhelming history.
A History of Underachievement
The Pelicans, now in their 23rd season, have yet to carve out a lasting identity in the NBA. New Orleans has been to the playoffs nine times but has only won two postseason series. Even the best of times, with Baron Davis, Chris Paul, or Anthony Davis, were marred by inconsistency and missed opportunities.
The “AD-Era” was especially painful. The Pelicans were under local ownership and hopes were high that he would make New Orleans a basketball city.
Despite Davis’s immense talent, the team advanced past the first round of the playoffs just once in his seven seasons with the franchise. When he asked out of New Orleans in 2019, it signaled a complete reset for the Pelicans.
That rebuild, of course, was centered around Zion Williamson, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. Williamson was hailed as a generational talent, who could singlehandedly lift the franchise to new heights. At times, he’s lived up to the billing, averaging 24.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game over his career. The Pelicans have won more than 53 percent of their games when he plays.
And that’s the problem. The Pelicans’ dreams of contention have been repeatedly dashed due to his persistent injury woes. Williamson has played more than 60 games in just two of his five NBA seasons, leaving the team in a perpetual state of “what if” and fans in a state of “WTF?”
His unavailability, along with poor decisions on every level, has left the Pelicans as a team not good enough to ever be great and not bad enough to be awful. They’ve added plenty of talented players like Brandon Ingram, CJ McCollum, Herb Jones, Dejounte Murray, and Trey Murphy, but the pieces have never quite fit together.
Injuries, inconsistency, and questionable roster construction have now reached their boiling point, culminating in the disastrous 5-20 start to this season.
Zion Williamson: The Double-Edged Sword
Williamson’s talent is undeniable, but his commitment to his profession has been anything but. His latest injury—a lingering hamstring strain—has sidelined him indefinitely, further exacerbating the team’s problems.
While the Pelicans remain publicly committed to him as the face of the franchise, there’s growing speculation that trading Williamson might be the only way to move forward.
According to The Athletic, “Williamson’s near-constant injury issues have left the Pelicans in limbo for years as they’ve waited for all of their young talent to finally put it together. Moving on from Williamson could be the reset that he and the franchise need. It will remove a lot of the anxiety the franchise feels going into every season, wondering how long he’ll be able to stay on the court.”
Trading Williamson would be a gamble. His upside remains immense, and he doesn’t turn 25 until July. If he can stay healthy, he has the potential to be a dominant force in the league. But that’s a big “if,” and the Pelicans might not have the luxury of waiting any longer to find out.
Seasons All-Star All-NBA All-Def Playoffs Series Wins
Chris Paul 6 4 3 3 3 1
Anthony Davis 7 6 3 3 2 1
Zion Williamson 6 2 0 0 2 0
Brandon Ingram 6 1 0 0 2 0
Comparing Hornets/Pelicans cornerstones: How have the best players in franchise history fared?
Brandon Ingram’s Uncertain Future
While Williamson has been the focal point of the Pelicans’ struggles, Brandon Ingram’s situation is just as complicated, if not more so. The one-time All-Star reportedly turned down multiple extension offers from the team, including one worth $50 million annually. His decision has fueled speculation that he might prefer to start over elsewhere, especially given the Pelicans’ inability to challenge for a championship.
Ingram’s contract situation is particularly tricky for New Orleans. With the NBA’s new collective bargaining agreement tightening salary cap restrictions, the Pelicans are already facing significant financial constraints. Trading Ingram before the February deadline might be their best option to avoid losing him for nothing in free agency next summer.
Teams like the Miami Heat, Golden State Warriors, and Milwaukee Bucks have been linked to Ingram in trade rumors, but finding a deal that makes sense for all parties won’t be easy. A “one-for-one” deal seems impossible, and involving multiple teams and picks will complicate negotiations. Ingram’s recent ankle injury makes things more difficult, as potential suitors might hesitate to make a deal without some assurance about his long-term health.
CJ McCollum and Herb Jones: Trade Chips or Keepers?
Beyond their two stars, the Pelicans have several other players who could draw interest on the trade market. Veteran guard CJ McCollum has taken a step back this season, shooting a career-worst 31.4% from beyond the arc. While McCollum remains a steady scorer (20.3 ppg), his defensive limitations and hefty contract make him less appealing as a long-term piece for New Orleans.
Herb Jones, on the other hand, is a younger, more affordable option who has improved the Pelicans’ chances of winning games since the start of his career. Despite a rough shooting start to the season, Jones remains an elite defender and should be part of the Pelicans’ future whether they choose to retool or rebuild.
The Path Forward
The Pelicans are rapidly approaching a crossroads. Their current core, built around Williamson and Ingram, was supposed to be chasing a championship by now. Instead, they’ve fallen further into irrelevance, and time is running out to make meaningful changes.
Several paths lie ahead for New Orleans:
Trade Brandon Ingram: By dealing Ingram before the deadline, the Pelicans could recoup valuable assets and build around Williamson, Dejounte Murray, and their younger players.
Move on from Zion Williamson: Trading Williamson would be a major shift, but it could provide the clean slate the franchise desperately needs. His trade value might never be higher (or lower), and the return could set the team up for long-term success.
Blow it up: The most drastic option would be to trade both Williamson and Ingram, effectively starting over with a younger, cheaper core centered around players like Trey Murphy III and Herb Jones. While this would likely mean years of rebuilding, it could also provide the clarity the franchise has lacked for so long.
Run it back: The least appealing option is to stay the course and hope for better health and luck next season. While this would be the easiest route, it risks further alienating fans and wasting another year of potential development for the younger players on the roster.
Conclusion
The Pelicans’ history has been defined by missed opportunities and unmet expectations. With a talented but flawed roster, they’ve repeatedly fallen short of building a contender. Now, as the 2024-25 season slips away, it’s clear that significant changes are needed.
Whether they choose to trade Ingram, move on from Williamson, or embark on a full-scale rebuild, one thing is certain: the status quo is no longer an option. For a franchise that has spent too long in the NBA’s middle ground, it’s time to take a bold step forward, whatever that may look like.
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