There’s nothing quite like a team that seems to operate without rhyme or reason.
The New Orleans Pelicans are more infuriating than the Sacramento Kings because they’re not paralyzingly aimless. They have desirable players who could net them the assets necessary to map out a new direction.
Bringing back DeAndre Jordan and taking a flier on Bennedict Mathurin that will vault the Pelicans into the tax can’t be your big summer splashes coming off a season in which you won 26 games. Even if they are banking on more availability from Dejounte Murray and Herb Jones, this roster’s ceiling maxes out at “probably better than the Kings.”
Never mind contrasting timelines. The pieces don’t fit.
New Orleans simultaneously has too many bigs and no defensive anchor at center. Properly developing Derik Queen and Jeremiah Fears is impossible with Zion Williamson and the team’s lack of shooting.
Shopping Zion, Jones, Trey Murphy III, Saddiq Bey, et al. should have been this summer’s primary objective. Failing that, the Pelicans needed to use assets to upgrade the roster’s talent and congruence. Granted, this would have been the wrong move. But it would have at least hinted at an intended direction—something New Orleans can’t even pretend to have now.