New Orleans Pelicans

New Orleans:

          New Orleans had a rough first season as the Pelicans, winning only 34 games thanks in large part to injuries. Eric Gordon, Jrue Holliday and Ryan Anderson missed 18, 48 and 60 games respectively. Gordon is not the player he once was with the Clippers because of constant injuries. Gordon makes almost 15 million this year is just an albatross at this point. Gordon might not be the Pelicans only overpay though as Jrue Holliday, (11 million) Tyreke Evans (11.2 million) and Ryan Anderson (8 million) all carry significant risks. 

From Left to Right: Evans, Holliday, Davis, Anderson and Gordon

           Holliday was at one point an underrated point guard, then he got paid 11 million and was dealt for a first round pick to the 76ers. Holliday isn’t a star but he is a serviceable point guard. Tyreke Evans enjoyed a tremendous rookie year but has failed to impress ever since. His contract looked bad from the start but he has potential as a small forward and averaged 17.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, 6.3 assists and more than one steal after the All-Star break. Anderson has had trouble staying healthy but is an elite stretch four. These contracts could all be relatively cheap or complete busts. A lineup consisting of Holliday, Evans or Gordon, Anderson, Davis and Asik could be dangerous. This team just needs to stay healthy in order to contend for the playoffs.

Question: Is Anthony Davis the next Tim Duncan or Kevin Garnett?

Davis (above) is a superstar

I’m not sure anyone expected Anthony Davis this good this fast. Davis always projected as a superstar but was supposed to be raw. Davis is so good that he might be the third best player in the league in only his third season and here’s the scary part: he’s only 21. Davis has the potential to overtake Kevin Durant as the future of the NBA after Lebron James. Davis is already the most gifted shot blocker in the league and averaged 20 and 10 with a limited offensive repertoire. If Davis develops a post up to compliment his mid range jump shot, he’ll be unstoppable. Davis has the chance to be the best player in the league in the very near future, as I already see him as the third best player in the league. If I was starting a franchise right now, I’d choose Davis before Durant and Lebron.  

X Factor: Omer Asik

The Pelicans knew they needed a center to pair with Davis and found one in Omer Asik. Asik offers nothing on the offensive end but is a great rebounder and interior defender. Asik’s career was on the rise before Dwight took his talents to Houston. Asik is the perfect compliment to Davis, which means that scoring against New Orleans is not going to be easy. Asik could lift the Pelicans into a defensive powerhouse. Asik is in a contract year and needs to remind executives of how good he can be. If Asik returns to form, he’ll be in for a nice pay day and maybe, just maybe, a trip to the playoffs.

Best Case: The Pelicans make the playoffs thanks to an injury free season. Anthony Davis and Omer Asik are as good together as they look on paper and the contracts of Jrue Holliday, Tyreke Evans and Ryan Anderson look like steals.

Worst Case: Everyone gets hurt again, Evans, Anderson and Holliday’s contracts look like busts and Asik plays like 2013 Asik instead of 2012.

Bold Prediction: Monty Williams gets fired. Anthony Davis is the second best player in the NBA.