Ever heard of a team named New Orleans Pelicans? Yes, they are the team that was formerly named Hornets, the team that was formerly NBA-owned. Almost one year after Tom Benson bought the team and made promises for better years to come; the team has already found its way to build a strong ensemble.
The Pelicans will enter the 2013-2014 season significantly upgraded from the season before. Apart from the acquisition of All-Star point guard Jrue Holiday, they also acquired the dominant forward Tyreke Evans and also Anthony Morrow. At the same time, the Pelicans still possess two more quality players in their respective positions, in Anthony Davis and Eric Gordon. This ensemble of young and promising guys is able to put the Pelicans in a position to win games next season and in the ones after that.
If one looks at the age of the core of the team, one will be surprised. The most important members of the team are 25-years old or younger. In fact, there is no one in the starting lineup of the team other than Ryan Anderson who is currently 25 or more. That looks at least promising for New Orleans. But the encouraging facts don’t stop here.
After a 2012-2013 regular season where the Pelicans finished second-to-last in the race of the regular season, the team looks to be much more competitive next season. And they do have all the potential to do well. The team now possesses a quality player in almost any position of the starting lineup. Jrue Holiday has emerged as an All-Star and a very capable and versatile playmaker. He can score either from the perimeter or through inside penetrations. In addition, his big size for the position he players allows him to play effective defense against any opposing guard, plus it gives him the advantage when he shoots jumpers. Eric Gordon seems to finally be in a good shape, after spending almost two seasons battling through injuries. The newly-acquired Tyreke Evans is also very versatile and very powerful at the small forward position. The Pelicans will use the former first overall draft pick, Anthony Davis, again at the power forward spot. The lineup is completed by Ryan Anderson, who is not a dominant center, but he is a deadly big-man shooter.
Right now, a bit more than a month prior to the start of the 2013-2014 season, the Pelicans seem to be in the best shape they have been since the Chris Paul era. The team will have to fight really hard to earn a spot in the playoffs. It’s obvious, that in the tough Western Conference, it would be a surprise to see the Pelicans making it to the postseason in 2013-2014. However, the team has set the foundations for much better days to come. There is no doubt that as time passes, the Pelicans will become better and better, both individually and as a group. They are certainly an emerging team in the West.
Ron Leyba is the content manager of FantasyBasketballMoneyLeagues.Com – premier source of fantasy basketball updates, rankings and rumors. For more fantasy basketball news, follow Fantasy Basketball Money Leagues at Google+.