It was a tale of two seasons in New Orleans, where the Pelicans got off to a 23-12 start buoyed by an All-Star performance from Zion Williamson, then played sub-.500 ball the rest of the way following Williamson’s hamstring injury and lost in the first round of the play-in tournament.
Despite falling short of their preseason expectations, the Pelicans don’t believe any major roster changes will be necessary this offseason, according to executive vice president of basketball operations David Griffin.
“I know we feel like the bones of this franchise are really sound,” Griffin said, per Christian Clark of NOLA.com. “What we do to get to the next level and make this exactly what we need to be, I can’t tell you right now.
“Have we seen enough to know unequivocally that it worked when we were No. 1 in the West? No. But we’ve seen enough to know we’re close. We’re in and around it. I think it’s tweaks more than it’s huge moves. But I also know we’re open-minded if something significant has to happen.”
The Pelicans will have some free agency decisions to make during the offseason, with Josh Richardson (unrestricted) and Jaxson Hayes (restricted) among the players on track to reach the open market. But New Orleans’ core players are all locked up for the foreseeable future — Brandon Ingram through 2025, CJ McCollum through 2026, and Williamson through 2028 – and the team won’t have cap room this summer.
The front office could turn to the trade market if it decides to make more than minor tweaks to the roster. The Pelicans control all of their future first-round picks, including this year’s lottery selection, as well as the Lakers’ unprotected 2024 first-rounder and the Bucks’ unprotected 2027 pick.
While a blockbuster deal using those picks may not be in the cards this offseason, Griffin believes those assets put the team in a “strong position” to continue fortifying its roster going forward, writes Clark.
“We’re moving in the right direction,” Griffin said. “We might not be moving as quickly as you would like it to happen. But as long as we grow from what we learn, nothing is fatal. This only gets bad if you try to go too far too fast and put yourself in a position you can’t get out financially. We are really, really well positioned to be sustainable in the future with an incredibly talented core of young players that care about one another and care about winning in this city. They want to be here and want to win here.”
They should trade those picks for OG Anonoby
Forget free agency why don’t you invest in some better trainers/team medical. Players were not the issue but injuries killed them
Great stuff there lil bozo
Thanks it’s good to know at least some ppl have my back on here. Oh well they thought copernicus was crazy who had the last laugh?
Suns a la Shaq years
Problem Pelicans have in trades is they just don’t have much outgoing salary to match things
Doubt Zion’s dished , they need Cj imo , Val is the only C , Ingram is TOO awesome …… Nance on a nice 12 mill deal but He’s a value abd not a big outgoing. Tough to see The Who/How here , I understand the Why
Griffin knows he’s got a decent enough team and asking as Zion is there he will have an excuse why he didn’t achieve anything (always injured and lack of fitness).
Really Zion and Griffin are just holding the team back cause if they just traded Zion then they’d have a side capable or really doing something.
He’s there best player but he’s never available.
Imagine they had a big like Sabonis, KAT whatever. You have a near all star level guard in CJ, an all star in Brandon Ingram, probably an all defensive player in Herb Jones, Trey Murphy looks great, Jose is a great culture guy, etc and they have good picks to come.
Imagine like Zion, Daniels and Temple for Pascal, OG and 3 firsts.
Pelicans
CJ Ingram OG Siakim Big Val
Jose Trey Naji Herb Nance
3 future firsts
Raptors
Daniels, Scottie and Zion is your future and build around them. Let FVV leave, keep GTJ and Poeltl. Then you’ve also got Flynn Otto Thad Boucher Precious as bench and trade chips
“If”is the curse of the Pelicans.
What was that definition of insanity again ?