Pelicans @ Grizzlies NOW. "Gap" Year?

For this reason, it has been pondered whether the Pelicans should examine the path the Memphis Grizzlies did last year when stars Ja Morant and Desmond Bane were lost for huge stretches and the move the Golden State Warriors took in 2019-20 when Steph Curry and Klay Thompson were out. In short, take a "gap" year to get everyone healthy and position for a high pick.

Right now, that isn't a consideration in New Orleans, sources told ESPN, as the Pelicans want to see what their hopefully eventually healthy roster can do. But with Zion Williamson still out indefinitely with a hamstring injury, it is something to keep an eye on two months from now when the trade deadline approaches.

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This is from Brian Windhorst in today's NBA intel page. Of course, that's not how NO sports operate, but what would that look like other than what it looks like now? I want to see the Pelicans win and with the lottery, tanking is somewhat uncertain as to the outcome. "Gap" years imply that everyone's back including Willie and Griff. I'm neutral to Willie, but I can't find serious fault with how Griff has performed other than playing the piano for lottery picks.

They also discuss the number of players dropping their agency a la Zion and BI. BI's probably at the point, where there's no real value to gain in a trade (ie, no windfall). He's in the Lavine, Randle, and Trae Young category where it would just be moving expirings for the sake of it.