This article is part of our NBA Team Previews series.
STATE OF THE FRANCHISE
The Pelicans went into win-now mode when they traded away their first-round pick in both the 2013 and 2014 NBA Draft for Jrue Holiday during the 2013 NBA Draft. They then doubled down on the present when they gave up their 2015 first-round pick for Omer Asik this offseason. Their plan seems good, but the fact that they play in the stacked Western Conference makes their rush for success seem like a fool's errand. Talent isn't an issue for the Pelicans. That's certainly there, and they should make some noise this season, but the team couldn't gel together last season, which is worrisome. Injury problems for Holiday, Ryan Anderson, Eric Gordon, Anthony Davis, and others prevented what could have been a promising year of growth last season. They finished the year 34-48, far out of the playoff picture. The Pelicans could see their fortunes change simply by staying healthy this season, but if they're healthy and continue struggle, it's possible we could see some changes coming during the season, especially with a great veteran coach like George Karl currently without a job.
PLAYING TIME DISTRIBUTION
Holiday should take the majority of minutes at point guard spot this season, as reliable backup Brian Roberts has moved on to the Charlotte Bobcats. Holiday's backup is still undetermined, but former lottery pick Austin Rivers should get a crack at the job, as could former Louisville standout Russ Smith—even though both players are more suited to be combo guards than point guards. If healthy, Eric Gordon will eat most of the minutes at shooting guard, but in order to keep his legs fresh, it's reasonable to expect we'll see Tyreke Evans slide down to the guard spot when he's not playing small forward. Jimmer Fredette could also see scrap minutes at either guard spot if fellow combo guards Rivers and Smith struggle. John Salmons, Darius Miller, and Luke Babbitt will fight for the backup minutes at small forward, but there isn't enough room for all three in the rotation—even if Salmons or Miller get minutes at shooting guard. Given that Salmons was signed this offseason and Miller knows the system best, Babbitt may have trouble finding minutes while the roster is healthy. Down low, the Pelicans have three players that need heavy minutes. Anthony Davis is going to get as much burn as his body can handle at power forward and center. Omer Asik will get a healthy portion of minutes as the starting center. Ryan Anderson, expected to be fully recovered from the neck injury that marred his 2013-14 campaign, should take most of the remaining frontcourt minutes, but Alexis Ajinca, Jeff Withey, and Patric Young will all try to sneak into the rotation as well.
PLAYER OUTLOOKS
Centers
Omer Asik: After a trying season in Houston, Omer Asik was traded to the Pelicans this summer for a first-round pick. Asik, who is entering his fifth season, will function as New Orleans' starting center, forming a fearsome defensive duo with Anthony Davis. Last season, in 48 games, Asik averaged 5.8 points, 7.9 rebounds, 0.5 assists, 0.3 steals, and 0.8 blocks in 20 minutes per game. The big man shot a strong 53 percent from the floor, and though his 62 percent free-throw shooting isn't pretty, it was a marked improvement from the 56 percent he shot in 2012-13. Asik's struggles playing next to Dwight Howard last season were no secret, but he still thrived when he got the opportunity to start. In his 19 starts, Asik averaged 8.9 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks in 28 minutes per night. Locked in as a starter in New Orleans, Asik should be able to enjoy similar numbers, making him an elite rebounder, as he was when starting in Houston before Howard's arrival, with a strong field goal percentage and some blocked shots. He won't be featured in the offense, but Asik could find easy baskets inside thanks to his offensive rebounding prowess. He was among the league leaders in offensive rebounding the last time he was a full-time starter.
Alexis Ajinca: Ajinca's second season in New Orleans will be his fifth in the NBA, having played two seasons abroad in 2011-12 and 2012-13. The Frenchman played in 56 games for the injury-riddled Pelicans last year, averaging 5.9 points, 4.9 rebounds, 0.7 assists, 0.4 steals, and 0.8 blocks in 17 minutes per game. Ajinca also provided solid percentages, shooting 55 percent from the field and 84 percent from the free-throw line. Although Ajinca made 30 starts for the Pelicans last year, he played the exact same minutes per game as a starter as he did off the bench, and he actually fared worse as a starter than he did off the bench. The center decided against playing for France in the World Cup this summer to better prepare for the upcoming NBA season, but he still faces a few obstacles to gaining playing time. Newly acquired center Omer Asik will be the team's starting center, and a healthy Ryan Anderson will take most of the backup frontcourt minutes off the bench. Ajinca will also have to fend off second-year center Jeff Withey and rookie Patric Young, both of whom will be fighting for minutes this season. If pressed into service, Ajinca can be a source of modest points, rebounds, and blocked shots.
Jeff Withey: Withey enters his second season with hopes of carving out a bigger role for himself than he had as a rookie. The Kansas product appeared in just 58 games for New Orleans, despite the team's considerable injury problems. In 12 minutes per contest, Withey averaged 3.3 points, 2.6 rebounds, 0.4 assists, 0.3 steals, and 0.9 blocks per game while shooting 54 percent from the field and 71 percent from the line. Where Withey really thrives is on the defensive end. One of college basketball's premiere shot blockers before being drafted in the second round of the 2013 NBA Draft, Withey rejected 2.6 shots per 36 minutes last season. The potential is there for Withey, who turned heads in the four games he started late last season. The seven-footer scored 7.8 points and collected a modest 5.3 rebounds per game in his starts but blocked 2.8 shots, the same league-leading number Anthony Davis posted last season. Davis, Omer Asik, and Ryan Anderson should monopolize most of the frontcourt minutes, and Withey will also face competition from Alexis Ajinca and rookie Patric Young, but if given a shot at consistent minutes, Withey could become one of the better shot blockers in the league.
Patric Young: Young went undrafted out of Florida last June but impressed enough in summer league play to earn a contract from the Pelicans. In five games with the New Orleans summer league contingent, Young averaged 7.4 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks in 25 minutes per game. He shot 48 percent from the field this summer, better than the 47 percent he shot from the free-throw line. The big man finished his collegiate career a 57-percent shooter from the stripe but didn't get many opportunities there despite his strength, attempting fewer than three free throws per game in his time at Florida. Undersized for the center position, Young will have to rely on his energy and strength to carve out a role in the NBA. The path to playing time is not an easy one for Young, as he'll have to compete with Alexis Ajinca and Jeff Withey for scrap minutes behind the trio of Omer Asik, Anthony Davis, and Ryan Anderson. Young showed enough potential to earn a contract this summer, but his upside this season is severely limited.
Forwards
Anthony Davis: Davis comes into his third NBA season with sky-high expectations. He made his first All-Star game last season, averaging 20.8 points, 10.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.3 steals, and a league-leading 2.8 blocks in 35 minutes per game. Davis managed to do all that damage while shooting an efficient 52 percent from the floor and 79 percent from the free-throw line. The 21-year-old hasn't reached his peak yet, and seemingly the only thing that can stop him in 2014-15 is his health. Davis missed 15 games last season with back, ankle, finger, and hand issues and only played in 64 games his rookie season with various ailments. He put on muscle this summer to try to avoid injuries, but it remains to be seen how his body will respond after spending the summer with USA Basketball in Spain for the World Cup. Assuming he's healthy, Davis should only continue to improve this year. On a per-36 minute basis, he improved in every counting stat last season, with the exception of steals, where he dropped from 1.5 steals per 36 his rookie year to 1.4 steals as a sophomore. The health of Jrue Holiday, Eric Gordon, and others may detract from Davis' lofty scoring totals, but he should remain the focal point of the Pelicans offense while continuing to anchor the defense by blocking shots and snapping up rebounds.
Ryan Anderson: Anderson enters the 2014-15 season with more questions than answers. The big man's sixth NBA season ended with a serious neck injury that ultimately required surgery. This June, coach Monty Williams said he expects Anderson to be ready for training camp this fall, but the level of his play is still a question mark given the severity of the injury. Anderson was in the midst of a strong season before succumbing to injury. In 22 games, Anderson averaged 19.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 0.5 steals, and 0.3 blocks to go with 41 percent shooting from beyond the arc in 36 minutes of action. Anderson isn't the best rebounding power forward in the league, and his 0.3 blocks per game leave something to be desired, but his excellent shooting from both three-point range and the free-throw line, where he shot 95 percent last season, make him a productive fantasy player. Anderson will almost certainly come off the bench behind Anthony Davis and Omer Asik this season, but that won't be a detriment to his minutes, as he still logged more than 30 per game in 2012-13 despite coming off the bench in 59 of his 81 games. Assuming he's healthy, he should have no problem carving out a big role in the New Orleans offense.
Tyreke Evans: Evans was the lone Pelicans star to remain relatively healthy last season, playing in 72 games (22 starts) in his first year in New Orleans. In a career-low 28 minutes per game, Evans averaged 14.5 points, 4.7 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 1.2 steals. Evans won't provide much help in the percentages categories. He shot just 44 percent from the floor and 22 percent from beyond the arc last season, but he is an asset in points, assists, and rebounds. What position Evans plays this season will be important to monitor. A year ago, coach Monty Williams utilized Evans as his sixth man, citing a desire to play Evans next to Ryan Anderson and Jason Smith. Now, Smith is a member of the Knicks, and Anderson's level of play is a question mark coming off of a severe back injury. With Al-Farouq Aminu and Anthony Morrow both moving on to new teams this summer, Williams' other options at small forward include John Salmons, Darius Miller, and Luke Babbitt. Evans should get consistent burn regardless of whether or not he starts, but it's worth noting that he's been considerably better with the first unit. In his 22 starts last season, he averaged 19.9 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 6.3 assists while shooting nearly 50 percent from the field.
John Salmons: Salmons' 13th season in the NBA will be his first with the New Orleans Pelicans, after the small forward inked a new deal with New Orleans this offseason. In 78 games between the Kings and Raptors last season, Salmons averaged 5.2 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in 22 minutes per game. Salmons also averaged 0.6 steals per game and shot a strong 39 percent on his three-point attempts. Unfortunately, he struggled on all shots that weren't three-pointers, shooting a career-worst 36 percent from the field. Salmons has a shot at earning a starting job this season depending on whether coach Monty Williams wants to see Tyreke Evans in a sixth man role, but even as a starter, Salmons' ceiling is limited. The Pelicans need a replacement for Anthony Morrow's shooting, but Salmons' shooting is the extent of his usefulness. Even in his prime half a decade ago, Salmons never averaged more than 4.3 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game. He's not the same scorer he was in years past, but if the right opportunity arises due to injury, Salmons could end up providing a bit of scoring for owners.
Luke Babbitt: Babbitt is back with the Pelicans for his fifth season in the league after signing with the team in February of last year. The former Trail Blazer got semi-consistent playing time in New Orleans last season due to the team's numerous injuries, averaging 6.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 0.3 steals, and 0.4 blocks in 17 minutes per game. Babbitt doesn't offer a lot beyond his outside shooting. He shot 38 percent from beyond the arc and is a career 37 percent shooter from long range. A healthy Ryan Anderson should limit Babbitt's upside, as Anderson is one of the league's premiere stretch-fours, but if Anderson should have a slow recovery from back surgery, Babbitt could have a chance to step into the stretch-four role. Albeit in a very small sample size, Babbitt excelled in extended minutes last year. In two starts, the forward averaged 31 minutes per game, scoring 17.5 points with 4.5 rebounds and 3.5 three-pointers made. He has an uphill battle to secure minutes, but given the fragility of the Pelicans' roster last season, an opening arising for Babbitt is not out of the question.
Darius Miller: Miller enters his third year in the NBA with the Pelicans after inking a new deal with New Orleans this summer. The Kentucky product has mostly failed to impress in his two years with the Pelicans. Last season, he appeared in 45 games, averaging 4.4 points, 1.2 rebounds, and 1.0 assist in 16 minutes per game. His shooting numbers, 44 percent from the floor and 33 percent from deep, aren't spectacular, but his 0.5 steals in limited action could be useful in that category if he gets extended time. Coach Monty Williams has previously shown a desire to leave Tyreke Evans in a sixth-man role, meaning the starting small forward spot could be open to Miller after the Pelicans opted not to retain incumbent Al-Farouq Aminu. Miller would have to beat out the veteran John Salmons for the job, were it available, but Salmons' best days are behind him, and Miller has the advantage of familiarity with Williams' system. For whatever it's worth, Miller showed flashes of productivity in seven starts last year, averaging 9.7 points and 1.9 steals per game.
Guards
Jrue Holiday: Holiday comes into the 2014-15 season primed to bounce back after a stress fracture in his right leg limited him to just 34 games in his first year with the Pelicans. In his injury-shortened fifth season, Holiday averaged 14.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, 7.9 assists, and 1.6 steals in 34 minutes per game. Holiday's outside shooting was of particular note, as he matched a career-high with 39 percent shooting from beyond the arc. It's hard to accurately judge Holiday's season considering his injury woes and the many other injuries suffered by the Pelicans throughout the 2013-14 season, but it's worth noting that he was seemingly coming into his own before the fractured leg spoiled his season. In his last full month of basketball, Holiday averaged 16.3 points and 9.0 assists per game. This year looks promising for the UCLA product. Playing next to Anthony Davis should do wonders for Holiday's assist numbers, and a healthy Eric Gordon and Tyreke Evans should force defenses to stay honest and not converge on Holiday. It's easy to forget that just one season ago Holiday was a 22-year-old All-Star with the Philadelphia 76ers, primed to take the next step with his new club. Health willing, this could be a big season for Holiday.
Eric Gordon:Eric Gordon enters his seventh NBA season attempting to stay healthy after playing 64 games a year ago, the most he's played in a season since his rookie campaign. In 32 minutes of action, Gordon averaged 15.4 points, 2.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.2 steals per game while draining 101 three-pointers for the season. For Gordon, the 15.4 points was the lowest scoring figure he's posted in his career, and it's unlikely that number will improve with Anthony Davis continuing to progress and Jrue Holiday and Ryan Anderson expected to return to action. Where Gordon excelled last season was from beyond the arc. The shooting guard connected on just 44 percent of his field goals, but 39 percent of his three-point attempts. Gordon's career hasn't exactly taken off since being the centerpiece of the controversial Chris Paul trade a few years back, but the potential is still there for the 25-year-old, and having a capable distributor like Holiday should only improve the looks he gets on the offensive end. Gordon may not be the focal point of the Pelicans' offense, but he can still score in bunches and provides a lift in the steals category, averaging more than a steal per game in every season of his career.
Austin Rivers: Rivers enters his third season in the NBA with a "bust" tag thanks to the former lottery picks' lackluster first two professional seasons, but the negativity surrounding Rivers may be a bit overstated. Last season, Doc Rivers' son averaged 7.7 points, 1.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 0.7 steals in 19 minutes per game for the Pelicans. Rivers was also able to greatly improve his three-point shooting, hitting 36 three-pointers, and raising his accuracy nearly four full percentage points to 36 percent between his rookie and sophomore years. Free-throw shooting remains an issue for the combo guard, however, as he connected on just 64 percent of his attempts from the charity stripe. This may be the season that Rivers can finally make his mark on the league. Thanks to the departure of Brian Roberts to the Charlotte Hornets, there's an opening behind Jrue Holiday in the Pelicans rotation. Rookie Russ Smith and former Naismith College Player of the Year Jimmer Fredette will both make claims to that rotation spot, but Rivers holds the upper hand due to his familiarity with coach Monty Williams' playbook, not to mention his personal relationship with his head coach. Rivers isn't the best defender, but he has the ability to be the scorer off the bench that Williams lost when Roberts moved on.
Russ Smith: Rookie Russ Smith joins the New Orleans Pelicans this season after being acquired in a draft-night trade with the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for the rights to Pierre Jackson. The former Louisville star has been one of the most electric players in the nation over the last two college basketball seasons, averaging better than 18 points and two steals in each of his past two seasons. Smith also excelled at the Las Vegas Summer League this July, averaging 16.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, and a league-leading 6.4 assists through five games. This season, there could be an opportunity for playing time immediately with the Pelicans thanks to the departure of guard Brian Roberts. Third-year guard Austin Rivers hasn't found much success yet in the NBA, and fourth-year man Jimmer Fredette has proven to be little more than a three-point specialist in his time in the Association. Even if Smith doesn't overtake Rivers and Fredette, opportunity could arise this season due to injury. Starting point guard Jrue Holiday missed 48 games last season, and shooting guard Eric Gordon's 64 games played in 2013-14 were the most he's played since his rookie season. A volume scorer with three-point range and a reputation as a pesky defender, Smith could hold value this year if things break the right way in New Orleans.
Jimmer Fredette: Fredette will be playing for his third team in four NBA seasons when he takes the court for the Pelicans this season. The former Naismith College Player of the Year winner struggled to see the court last year, playing 49 games between the Sacramento Kings and Chicago Bulls. In 11 minutes per game between Sacramento and Chicago, Fredette averaged 5.6 points, 1.1 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 0.3 steals while shooting a blistering 48 percent on three-point attempts. That mark was actually better than his 47 percent clip on all field goals. The lethal shooter should get an opportunity to earn playing time this year without a clear backup to Jrue Holiday in place. Austin Rivers and rookie Russ Smith can both make claims to replace the departed Brian Roberts, but Fredette's shooting from deep could make him an interesting piece for coach Monty Williams considering Anthony Morrow is now a member of the Thunder and Ryan Anderson is a question mark as he returns from neck surgery. Fredette may also see time this season off the ball. Though Fredette lacks prototypical size for a shooting guard, having the 6-4 Holiday at point guard should be able to make up for Fredette's relatively diminutive stature if Williams decides to go use the two of them together.
SLEEPER
Jrue Holiday: It seems strange to call a guy who was an All-Star just a season ago a sleeper, but it appears as if the basketball world completely forgot about Holiday after he suffered his stress fracture last season. Holiday is in the perfect spot for a young, accomplished point guard; getting to play next to a budding superstar in Anthony Davis, a few lights-out shooters in Eric Gordon and Ryan Anderson, and a capable second ballhandler in Tyreke Evans. Don't be surprised if Holiday more closely resembles his 2012-13 self than the 2013-14 version.
BUST
Eric Gordon: Gordon just isn't the player the Pelicans thought they were getting when they acquired him for Chris Paul. He may be good for a few eye-popping scoring outputs this season, but it's difficult to see him establish himself ahead of any of New Orleans' other stars. One could argue that a repeat of the Pelicans' injury-ravaged season could open the door for Gordon to star again this year, but he failed to rise to the occasion last year under those exact circumstances.
