Over/Unders

Poll: Brooklyn Nets’ 2017/18 Win Total

It has been a tough couple years for the Nets, who have lost a total of 123 games since the start of the 2015/16 campaign. Brooklyn’s 41 wins during that time wouldn’t even have been enough to surpass the .500 mark if they’d come in a single season.

Still, there are some reasons for optimism in Brooklyn, as fans start to glimpse the light at the end of the tunnel. The Nets used their cap flexibility to acquire some assets this offseason, most notably acquiring D’Angelo Russell from the Lakers. The franchise has lost its own lottery picks to Boston in recent years, but the Nets essentially got one back in Russell – 2015’s second overall pick – for their willingness to take on Timofey Mozgov‘s unwieldy contract.

While longtime Nets mainstay Brook Lopez departed in that trade with the Lakers, the team has added some other interesting pieces, with Allen Crabbe, DeMarre Carroll, and rookie Jarrett Allen among the new players entering the mix. The roster still isn’t exactly brimming with transcendent talent, but GM Sean Marks and head coach Kenny Atkinson have worked hard to build a positive culture in Brooklyn as the team takes small steps forward.

Oddsmakers are forecasting a step forward in the standings this season, with offshore betting site Bovada putting the Nets’ over/under for 2017/18 at 27.5 wins. Brooklyn would have to improve by eight games over last season to beat that projection, which will be a tall task without Lopez, the club’s leading scorer. But the Nets’ competition in the Eastern Conference makes the number a realistic target.

What do you think? Will the Nets finish among the NBA’s bottom-feeders again, or will this be the season that the team starts its climb up the standings, winning 28 or more games? Vote below in our poll and weigh in with your thoughts in the comment section!

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Previous over/under voting results:

Western Conference:

  1. Golden State Warriors: Over 67.5 (53.57%)
  2. Houston Rockets: Over 55.5 (65.57%)
  3. San Antonio Spurs: Over 54.5 (67.74%)
  4. Oklahoma City Thunder: Over 50.5 (71.77%)
  5. Minnesota Timberwolves: Over 48.5 (55.69%)
  6. Denver Nuggets: Under 45.5 (50.44%)
  7. Los Angeles Clippers: Over 43.5 (60.7%)
  8. Portland Trail Blazers: Over 42.5 (56.3%)
  9. Utah Jazz: Over 41.5 (55.94%)
  10. New Orleans Pelicans: Over 39.5 (65.26%)
  11. Memphis Grizzlies: Over 37.5 (53.43%)
  12. Dallas Mavericks: Under 35.5 (54.95%)
  13. Los Angeles Lakers: Over 33.5 (50.4%)
  14. Phoenix Suns: Over 28.5 (50.41%)

Eastern Conference:

  1. Boston Celtics: Over 55.5 (63.5%)
  2. Cleveland Cavaliers: Over 53.5 (68.82%)
  3. Toronto Raptors: Over 48.5 (64.21%)
  4. Washington Wizards: Over 47.5 (71.29%)
  5. Milwaukee Bucks: Over 47.5 (63.88%)
  6. Miami Heat: Over 43.5 (55.39%)
  7. Charlotte Hornets: Over 42.5 (51.07%)
  8. Philadelphia 76ers: Under 41.5 (53.37%)
  9. Detroit Pistons: Over 38.5 (51.95%)
  10. Orlando Magic: Under 33.5 (75.24%)
  11. Indiana Pacers: Under 31.5 (54.85%)
  12. New York Knicks: Under 30.5 (57.87%)

Poll: Phoenix Suns’ 2017/18 Win Total

After winning 23 games two years ago and 24 last season, the Suns contemplated the idea of accelerating their rebuild this summer, but ultimately held off on going all-in for a free agent like Paul Millsap or a trade target like Kyrie Irving.

As a result, Phoenix is prepared to continue taking small steps forward and developing in-house talent this season. Players like Devin Booker, T.J. Warren, Marquese Chriss, Tyler Ulis, Dragan Bender are another year older and should continue to improve. Rookies Josh Jackson and Davon Reed also figure to get a chance to show what they can do.

The Suns have been hit hard by early injuries, with Reed, Brandon Knight, and Alan Williams all set to miss significant time – the whole season in Knight’s case – but with veterans like Eric Bledsoe, Tyson Chandler, Jared Dudley, Alex Len, and Troy Daniels around to fill out the rotation, this should be an interesting team to watch.

Still, another year in the lottery is all but assured for Phoenix. Oddsmakers, including offshore betting site Bovada have placed the Suns’ over/under for this season at 29 wins, but we’ll bump that figure down to 28.5, since early betting action has been heavy on the under.

What do you think? Can this young Suns squad improve by five or more wins in a tough Western Conference in 2017/18, or is the club headed for its third straight season of 28 or fewer wins? Vote below in our poll and jump into the comment section to share your thoughts!

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Previous over/under voting results:

Western Conference:

  1. Golden State Warriors: Over 67.5 (53.57%)
  2. Houston Rockets: Over 55.5 (65.57%)
  3. San Antonio Spurs: Over 54.5 (67.74%)
  4. Oklahoma City Thunder: Over 50.5 (71.77%)
  5. Minnesota Timberwolves: Over 48.5 (55.69%)
  6. Denver Nuggets: Under 45.5 (50.44%)
  7. Los Angeles Clippers: Over 43.5 (60.7%)
  8. Portland Trail Blazers: Over 42.5 (56.3%)
  9. Utah Jazz: Over 41.5 (55.94%)
  10. New Orleans Pelicans: Over 39.5 (65.26%)
  11. Memphis Grizzlies: Over 37.5 (53.43%)
  12. Dallas Mavericks: Under 35.5 (54.95%)
  13. Los Angeles Lakers: Over 33.5 (50.4%)

Eastern Conference:

  1. Boston Celtics: Over 55.5 (63.5%)
  2. Cleveland Cavaliers: Over 53.5 (68.82%)
  3. Toronto Raptors: Over 48.5 (64.21%)
  4. Washington Wizards: Over 47.5 (71.29%)
  5. Milwaukee Bucks: Over 47.5 (63.88%)
  6. Miami Heat: Over 43.5 (55.39%)
  7. Charlotte Hornets: Over 42.5 (51.07%)
  8. Philadelphia 76ers: Under 41.5 (53.37%)
  9. Detroit Pistons: Over 38.5 (51.95%)
  10. Orlando Magic: Under 33.5 (75.24%)
  11. Indiana Pacers: Under 31.5 (54.85%)
  12. New York Knicks: Under 30.5 (57.87%)

Poll: New York Knicks’ 2017/18 Win Total

Knicks’ offseasons are always eventful, but it seemed as if the franchise dominated headlines more than ever in the summer of 2017. Kristaps Porzingis, Carmelo Anthony, and Phil Jackson were at the center of Knicks-related drama for months, and when the dust settled, Porzingis was the only one of that group left in New York.

With a new management group in place and the team’s longtime star – Anthony – now in Oklahoma City, the 2017/18 season represents a new beginning of sorts for the Knicks, and with it comes a new set of expectations. The team is no longer viewed as a playoff contender, with the focus now on developing young pieces and building for the future.

There are still veteran players on the roster, including Joakim Noah, Courtney Lee, and Michael Beasley. But it’s Porzingis, Frank Ntilikina, Tim Hardaway Jr., Willy Hernangomez, and Doug McDermott that figure to take center stage going forward.

With that in mind, oddsmakers are forecasting another lottery finish for the Knicks. After winning 32 and 31 games over the last two seasons, the Knicks have an over/under of 30.5 wins for the coming year, according to offshore betting site Bovada.

What do you think? Will the Knicks slip even further down the Eastern Conference standings in 2017/18, or can this year’s club match – or exceed – last year’s win total? Vote below and jump into the comment section to share your thoughts!

Trade Rumors app users, click here to vote.

Previous over/under voting results:

Western Conference:

  1. Golden State Warriors: Over 67.5 (53.57%)
  2. Houston Rockets: Over 55.5 (65.57%)
  3. San Antonio Spurs: Over 54.5 (67.74%)
  4. Oklahoma City Thunder: Over 50.5 (71.77%)
  5. Minnesota Timberwolves: Over 48.5 (55.69%)
  6. Denver Nuggets: Under 45.5 (50.44%)
  7. Los Angeles Clippers: Over 43.5 (60.7%)
  8. Portland Trail Blazers: Over 42.5 (56.3%)
  9. Utah Jazz: Over 41.5 (55.94%)
  10. New Orleans Pelicans: Over 39.5 (65.26%)
  11. Memphis Grizzlies: Over 37.5 (53.43%)
  12. Dallas Mavericks: Under 35.5 (54.95%)
  13. Los Angeles Lakers: Over 33.5 (50.4%)

Eastern Conference:

  1. Boston Celtics: Over 55.5 (63.5%)
  2. Cleveland Cavaliers: Over 53.5 (68.82%)
  3. Toronto Raptors: Over 48.5 (64.21%)
  4. Washington Wizards: Over 47.5 (71.29%)
  5. Milwaukee Bucks: Over 47.5 (63.88%)
  6. Miami Heat: Over 43.5 (55.39%)
  7. Charlotte Hornets: Over 42.5 (51.07%)
  8. Philadelphia 76ers: Under 41.5 (53.37%)
  9. Detroit Pistons: Over 38.5 (51.95%)
  10. Orlando Magic: Under 33.5 (75.24%)
  11. Indiana Pacers: Under 31.5 (54.85%)

Poll: Indiana Pacers’ 2017/18 Win Total

After they traded Paul George and let Jeff Teague walk in free agency, the Pacers were overlooked for most of the rest of the NBA offseason, written off as one of the many rebuilding or tanking teams in the Eastern Conference. However, the return in the George trade – along with the rest of the Pacers’ summer moves – signal that Indiana isn’t necessarily looking to bottom out for a high lottery pick this season.

Rather than focusing on rookies or future draft picks, Indiana acquired two probable rotation players – Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis – in the trade with Oklahoma City. Then, the team went out and signed or traded for Bojan Bogdanovic, Darren Collison, and Cory Joseph in July.

Those aren’t the sort of impact moves that are going to swing the Eastern Conference this season, but adding that group of players to a core that includes Myles Turner, Thaddeus Young, Lance Stephenson, and Al Jefferson should help make the Pacers competitive in the short term.

Still, oddsmakers view the Pacers as a lottery team. Offshore betting site Bovada puts their over/under at just 31.5 wins, which would make them the 11th-best team in the East, based on Bovada’s projections. That seems about right to me — if everything breaks right for the Pacers, they could enter the playoff picture, but a spot in the middle of the lottery seems like a better bet.

What do you think? Are there still enough solid pieces in Indiana for the team to win 32 or more games, or will the losses of George and Teague send the Pacers – winners of 42 games last season – further down the Eastern standings? Vote below and jump into the comment section to share your thoughts!

Trade Rumors app users, click here to vote.

Previous over/under voting results:

Western Conference:

  1. Golden State Warriors: Over 67.5 (53.57%)
  2. Houston Rockets: Over 55.5 (65.57%)
  3. San Antonio Spurs: Over 54.5 (67.74%)
  4. Oklahoma City Thunder: Over 50.5 (71.77%)
  5. Minnesota Timberwolves: Over 48.5 (55.69%)
  6. Denver Nuggets: Under 45.5 (50.44%)
  7. Los Angeles Clippers: Over 43.5 (60.7%)
  8. Portland Trail Blazers: Over 42.5 (56.3%)
  9. Utah Jazz: Over 41.5 (55.94%)
  10. New Orleans Pelicans: Over 39.5 (65.26%)
  11. Memphis Grizzlies: Over 37.5 (53.43%)
  12. Dallas Mavericks: Under 35.5 (54.95%)
  13. Los Angeles Lakers: Over 33.5 (50.4%)

Eastern Conference:

  1. Boston Celtics: Over 55.5 (63.5%)
  2. Cleveland Cavaliers: Over 53.5 (68.82%)
  3. Toronto Raptors: Over 48.5 (64.21%)
  4. Washington Wizards: Over 47.5 (71.29%)
  5. Milwaukee Bucks: Over 47.5 (63.88%)
  6. Miami Heat: Over 43.5 (55.39%)
  7. Charlotte Hornets: Over 42.5 (51.07%)
  8. Philadelphia 76ers: Under 41.5 (53.37%)
  9. Detroit Pistons: Over 38.5 (51.95%)
  10. Orlando Magic: Under 33.5 (75.24%)

Poll: Orlando Magic’s 2017/18 Win Total

After making a flurry of major moves during the 2016 offseason, including trading for Serge Ibaka and signing Evan Fournier and Bismack Biyombo to lucrative long-term deals, the Magic were one of the NBA’s most disappointing teams. Orlando flipped Ibaka before the deadline for a lesser return, and ultimately finished with a 29-53 record, leading to GM Rob Hennigan‘s ouster.

A new management group, led by former Raptors executive Jeff Weltman, is in place, and Weltman and company took a more patient, cautious approach to the 2017 offseason. Orlando was active on the offseason market, but the team’s investments were modest — Jonathon Simmons and Shelvin Mack got $6MM per year, while Arron Afflalo and Marreese Speights signed for the minimum.

The Magic didn’t lose many major pieces, with Jeff Green, C.J. Watson, and Jodie Meeks moving on over the summer, but none of their upgrades are expect to have a major impact on the 2017/18 standings. Simmons, Mack, and rookie Jonathan Isaac are nice pieces, but they likely won’t make the Magic a playoff team this season.

As such, it’s no surprise that oddsmakers are lukewarm on the Magic’s outlook for 2017/18. Offshore betting site Bovada projects Orlando to improve, but only by a few games — the over/under for the Magic is set at 33.5 wins.

What do you think? Will the Magic, without the pressure of making the postseason, bounce back from a disastrous 2016/17 campaign and surprise some people this season? Or is the team poised to win 33 games or less, heading for another top-10 pick in the 2018 draft? Vote below in our poll and jump into the comment section to share your thoughts!

Trade Rumors app users, click here to vote.

Previous over/under voting results:

Western Conference:

  1. Golden State Warriors: Over 67.5 (53.57%)
  2. Houston Rockets: Over 55.5 (65.57%)
  3. San Antonio Spurs: Over 54.5 (67.74%)
  4. Oklahoma City Thunder: Over 50.5 (71.77%)
  5. Minnesota Timberwolves: Over 48.5 (55.69%)
  6. Denver Nuggets: Under 45.5 (50.44%)
  7. Los Angeles Clippers: Over 43.5 (60.7%)
  8. Portland Trail Blazers: Over 42.5 (56.3%)
  9. Utah Jazz: Over 41.5 (55.94%)
  10. New Orleans Pelicans: Over 39.5 (65.26%)
  11. Memphis Grizzlies: Over 37.5 (53.43%)
  12. Dallas Mavericks: Under 35.5 (54.95%)
  13. Los Angeles Lakers: Over 33.5 (50.4%)

Eastern Conference:

  1. Boston Celtics: Over 55.5 (63.5%)
  2. Cleveland Cavaliers: Over 53.5 (68.82%)
  3. Toronto Raptors: Over 48.5 (64.21%)
  4. Washington Wizards: Over 47.5 (71.29%)
  5. Milwaukee Bucks: Over 47.5 (63.88%)
  6. Miami Heat: Over 43.5 (55.39%)
  7. Charlotte Hornets: Over 42.5 (51.07%)
  8. Philadelphia 76ers: Under 41.5 (53.37%)
  9. Detroit Pistons: Over 38.5 (51.95%)

Poll: Los Angeles Lakers’ 2017/18 Win Total

Having finished the 2016/17 season with a 26-56 record, the Lakers have now lost at least 55 games for four straight seasons. Still, there’s an unusual level of optimism surrounding the club as the 2017/18 season nears.

After hiring Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka to run their front office early in 2017, the Lakers lucked out in the lottery, keeping their first-round pick and landing a potential star in point guard Lonzo Ball. The club also managed to find a taker for Timofey Mozgov‘s unwieldy contract, attaching D’Angelo Russell to Mozgov and sending the duo to the Nets for Brook Lopez and a first-round pick, which L.A. used on Summer League standout Kyle Kuzma.

Free agency wasn’t quite as eventful for a Lakers team biding its time and hoping to make a splash in 2018, but the club did convince Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to accept a one-year deal, adding an intriguing two-way wing to the roster.

Veteran additions like Caldwell-Pope and Lopez should help the Lakers improve upon last year’s record, but many of the team’s most promising pieces are still awfully young. Brandon Ingram just turned 20 and Ball will do so later this month. Julius Randle and Kuzma are just 22. Even KCP is only 24 and has yet to fully deliver on his potential.

While there’s a lot of talent on the roster, the Lakers may be a year or two from really making noise in the Western Conference. Oddsmakers certainly seem hesitant to go all-in on the squad this year, with offshore betting site Bovada placing L.A.’s over/under at 33.5 wins.

What do you think? Are the Lakers ready to win 34+ games, potentially making a run at a .500 record for the first time since 2012/13? Or does this club still need another year of development before delivering that kind of performance? Vote below in our poll and jump into the comment section to share your thoughts!

Trade Rumors app users, click here to vote.

Previous over/under voting results:

Western Conference:

  1. Golden State Warriors: Over 67.5 (53.57%)
  2. Houston Rockets: Over 55.5 (65.57%)
  3. San Antonio Spurs: Over 54.5 (67.74%)
  4. Oklahoma City Thunder: Over 50.5 (71.77%)
  5. Minnesota Timberwolves: Over 48.5 (55.69%)
  6. Denver Nuggets: Under 45.5 (50.44%)
  7. Los Angeles Clippers: Over 43.5 (60.7%)
  8. Portland Trail Blazers: Over 42.5 (56.3%)
  9. Utah Jazz: Over 41.5 (55.94%)
  10. New Orleans Pelicans: Over 39.5 (65.26%)
  11. Memphis Grizzlies: Over 37.5 (53.43%)
  12. Dallas Mavericks: Under 35.5 (54.95%)

Eastern Conference:

  1. Boston Celtics: Over 55.5 (63.5%)
  2. Cleveland Cavaliers: Over 53.5 (68.82%)
  3. Toronto Raptors: Over 48.5 (64.21%)
  4. Washington Wizards: Over 47.5 (71.29%)
  5. Milwaukee Bucks: Over 47.5 (63.88%)
  6. Miami Heat: Over 43.5 (55.39%)
  7. Charlotte Hornets: Over 42.5 (51.07%)
  8. Philadelphia 76ers: Under 41.5 (53.37%)
  9. Detroit Pistons: Over 38.5 (51.95%)

Poll: Dallas Mavericks’ 2017/18 Win Total

After finishing below .500 last season for the first time since the 1999/2000 campaign, the Mavericks recognized that they’re no longer among the league’s bona fide contenders and committed to a rebuild.

That means the club essentially sat out of free agency — Dallas’ own free agents, Dirk Nowitzki and Nerlens Noel, were the only players to get more than the minimum salary from the team this offseason, and neither of them got more than $5MM in guaranteed money.

Of course, the Mavericks’ primary summer addition was Dennis Smith Jr., who has generated some buzz as a Rookie of the Year candidate. Still, it may be unfair to expect too much from Smith. Outside of a few transcendent talents, first-year players often struggle to make an impact right away, and the rookie point guard will be just 19 years old on opening night. He may develop into an All-Star caliber player down the road, but he’s unlikely to be fully formed out of the gate.

Given their limited upgrades, the Mavericks aren’t expected to significantly improve upon last year’s 33-49 record. Offshore betting site Bovada has the club’s over/under at 35.5 wins for 2017/18.

What do you think? Are you more bullish on the Mavs’ chances to pick up a few extra victories this season, or will the team continue to pile up losses in a tough Western Conference? Vote below in our poll and jump into the comment section to share your thoughts!

Trade Rumors app users, click here to vote.

Previous over/under voting results:

Western Conference:

  1. Golden State Warriors: Over 67.5 (53.57%)
  2. Houston Rockets: Over 55.5 (65.57%)
  3. San Antonio Spurs: Over 54.5 (67.74%)
  4. Oklahoma City Thunder: Over 50.5 (71.77%)
  5. Minnesota Timberwolves: Over 48.5 (55.69%)
  6. Denver Nuggets: Under 45.5 (50.44%)
  7. Los Angeles Clippers: Over 43.5 (60.7%)
  8. Portland Trail Blazers: Over 42.5 (56.3%)
  9. Utah Jazz: Over 41.5 (55.94%)
  10. New Orleans Pelicans: Over 39.5 (65.26%)
  11. Memphis Grizzlies: Over 37.5 (53.43%)

Eastern Conference:

  1. Boston Celtics: Over 55.5 (63.5%)
  2. Cleveland Cavaliers: Over 53.5 (68.82%)
  3. Toronto Raptors: Over 48.5 (64.21%)
  4. Washington Wizards: Over 47.5 (71.29%)
  5. Milwaukee Bucks: Over 47.5 (63.88%)
  6. Miami Heat: Over 43.5 (55.39%)
  7. Charlotte Hornets: Over 42.5 (51.07%)
  8. Philadelphia 76ers: Under 41.5 (53.37%)
  9. Detroit Pistons: Over 38.5 (51.95%)

Poll: Memphis Grizzlies’ 2017/18 Win Total

The Grizzlies have been a mainstay in the Western Conference playoffs for the last seven seasons, but their hold on one of those top eight seeds has gotten a little more precarious within the past couple years. After posting a .629 winning percentage over the course of those first five seasons, the Grizzlies have won just 42 and 43 games, claiming the No. 7 spot in the West for two consecutive years.

The Grizzlies’ roster also looks quite different now than it did during most of that stretch. Mike Conley and Marc Gasol, the key pieces of Memphis’ core, are still in the picture, but grit-and-grind mainstays like Zach Randolph and Tony Allen signed elsewhere this offseason.

Memphis has worked to replace its veterans with younger, more dynamic players, but injuries have been a major issue. After he signed a maximum salary deal with the Grizzlies last summer, Chandler Parsons saw his first season with the franchise derailed by health problems. And this offseason’s most notable free agent addition – Ben McLemore – already sustained a foot injury expected to sideline him into the regular season.

As long as Conley and Gasol stay healthy, there’s little chance of the Grizzlies bottoming out entirely, but the battle for playoff spots will be fiercer than ever in the Western Conference this summer — teams like the Trail Blazers, Nuggets, Pelicans, and Timberwolves will all be looking to leapfrog Memphis in the standings, while higher seeds like the Rockets and Thunder got even better. If the Grizzlies don’t get much out of guys like Parsons, McLemore, and Tyreke Evans, missing the postseason is a real possibility.

Oddsmakers expect the Grizzlies to continue to slip in the standings this season, with offshore betting site Bovada projecting their over/under to be just 37.5 wins.

What do you think? Are the Grizzlies poised to endure their first sub-.500 finish since 2009/10, or is there still enough talent on the roster for Memphis to be a playoff contender once again in 2017/18? Vote below and jump into the comment section to share your thoughts!

Trade Rumors app users, click here to vote.

Previous over/under voting results:

Poll: Detroit Pistons’ 2017/18 Win Total

Coming off a 44-win season, the Pistons looked poised to take another step forward in the Eastern Conference in 2016/17, but many of Detroit’s key young contributors didn’t make the improvements the club had anticipated.

Andre Drummond, Reggie Jackson, Tobias Harris, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope – all in their early- to mid-20s – essentially put up the same numbers last season that they did the year before, or took a step backward in terms of overall production. In Jackson’s case, his struggles could be chalked up largely to injury issues, but that doesn’t change the end result — the Pistons slipped in the standings due in large part to the lack of internal growth, finishing the season with a 38-44 mark.

While the team was essentially capped out and couldn’t make major changes over the summer, Detroit did swap out Caldwell-Pope, Marcus Morris, and Aron Baynes for a new group of contributors that includes Avery Bradley, Langston Galloway, and Anthony Tolliver. Rookie marksman Luke Kennard also enters the picture to help make up for losing KCP’s outside shooting.

The Pistons seem hopeful that those roster tweaks – along with improvements from the likes of Jackson, Drummond, and Harris – will allow the team to get back above .500, but oddsmakers aren’t as optimistic. Offshore betting site Bovada has the Pistons’ over/under mark right about where it was last year — 38.5 wins.

What do you think? Is this Pistons team ready to bounce back and get back in the playoff picture out East, or is Detroit in for more of the same this season? Vote below and jump into the comments section to share your thoughts!

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Previous over/under voting results:

Poll: New Orleans Pelicans’ 2017/18 Win Total

While DeMarcus Cousins and Anthony Davis played together for about a month and a half down the stretch last season, the true test of the duo’s compatibility and effectiveness will come in 2017/18. With an offseason and a training camp to prepare, the Pelicans should enter this season with a clearer idea of how to best use Cousins and Davis.

Whether the pairing will be a success remains to be seen. New Orleans’ roster is somewhat oddly constructed — in addition to their two stars up front, the Pelicans also invested heavily in point guard Jrue Holiday, but then signed Rajon Rondo with the intent of playing him alongside Holiday.

With the club’s other highest-paid players – Omer Asik and Solomon Hill – not expected to play substantial roles due to health problems, the Pelicans will have to rely on several inexpensive contributors – including Tony Allen, Ian Clark, Darius Miller, and Dante Cunningham – to fill rotation roles and complement the team’s stars.

There’s certainly no shortage of talent on the Pelicans’ roster, but the odd mix of players makes it easy to imagine things going south. Speaking to reporters this week, GM Dell Demps downplayed the idea that New Orleans needs to get off to a good start to avoid disaster, but with Demps and head coach Alvin Gentry potentially on the hot seat and Cousins in a contract year, a hot start would certainly help.

Despite New Orleans’ playoff aspirations, oddsmakers are still lukewarm about the team’s chances to make an impact in a tough conference, with offshore betting site Bovada placing the Pelicans’ over/under at 39.5 wins. The club was 34-48 a year ago.

What do you think? Can the star power on the roster ensure that the Pelicans win at least 40 games, or is the lack of depth and versatility on the roster too big a problem to overcome? Vote below and weigh in with your thoughts on the comment section!

Trade Rumors app users, click here to vote.

Previous over/under voting results: