9. New Orleans Pelicans
Perhaps I’m buying far too much into the Zion Williamson hype or maybe I just really love Derrick Favors, but I believe the New Orleans Pelicans could be really solid next year. Along with Favors, they added veteran sharpshooter J.J. Redick who could be a revolutionary addition, and they return point guard Jrue Holiday who is coming off arguably the best season of his NBA career.
All told, the Pelicans undoubtedly have an exciting team and may even have a team talented enough to push for a playoff spot. Their well-crafted mix of young guys, including those that were a part of the Anthony Davis trade in Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram and Josh Hart, combined with the solid vets could result in them being far better than expected right away.
The new-look team appears perfectly crafted for Alvin Gentry’s offensive system, so don’t be surprised if they end up more daunting than many are projecting. Even so, I have them just outside of the playoff mix, not so much due to fault of their own, but more so because the West is simply so deep and crowded.