- Joined
- Nov 13, 2017
- Messages
- 3,366
- Reaction score
- 6,826
Offline
Mid-Summer Power Rankings: Clippers sit atop new-look Western Conference | NBA.com
Utah, Denver round out top three after busy offseason of player moves
10
Last week:
12
New Orleans Pelicans
2018-19 record: 33-49
Pace: 103.9 (2) OffRtg: 110.7 (12) DefRtg: 112.0 (22) NetRtg: -1.3 (20)
Key addition(s): New executive president David Griffin, Zion Williamson, J.J. Redick, Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram
Key departure(s): Anthony Davis, Julius Randle
Key question: Can Ingram take another step forward?
The Pelicans know what they're getting from Redick, Jrue Holiday and Derrick Favors. And while Williamson is the future, he'll likely be more of a finisher than a creator as a rookie. Ingram has seen increases in usage rate, effective field goal percentage and true shooting percentage in each of the last two seasons, and he was more efficient last season (both in regard to scoring and assist-turnover ratio) when LeBron James was off the floor. He's still just 21 years old (he turns 22 in September) and is the biggest variable (especially when you take his health into consideration) for a team that could actually get better after trading one of the league's biggest talents. There's certainly room for improvement on defense, where the additions of Ball (whose injury had a huge effect on the Lakers' ability to get stops) and Favors (who ranked as the league's best rim protector last season) will help.