Jake Madison here, the host of the daily Locked On Pelicans podcast, with your daily Locked On Pelicans newsletter. Each day we bring you the biggest stories about the Pelicans and the NBA, including the hottest links to other stories you need to read. Plus, Josh Lloyd delivers daily fantasy notes to crush your league.
Pelicans at a Crossroads: Playoff Dreams vs. Future Planning
Photo by Paul Rutherford-Imagn Images
The New Orleans Pelicans find themselves at a pivotal juncture as the season progresses. With playoff hopes fading fast, the team must now shift focus to building for the future while navigating some tricky roster decisions.
Let’s face the harsh reality: our chances of making even the play-in tournament are virtually non-existent. Basketball Reference and ESPN’s Basketball Power Index both give us a 0% chance of sneaking into the 10th seed. To reach a .500 record, we’d need to go on an unprecedented 31-9 run for the remainder of the season. That’s simply not in the cards for this squad, even at full strength.
So where do we go from here? It’s time to prioritize player development and future roster construction over chasing meaningless wins. This shift in mindset should inform our decisions, particularly when it comes to the starting lineup upon Brandon Ingram’s imminent return from injury.
The Ingram Dilemma
While conventional wisdom might suggest immediately reinserting Ingram into the starting five, that may not be the best move for the team’s long-term outlook. With Ingram likely not part of the Pelicans’ future plans due to salary cap constraints, it makes more sense to focus on developing chemistry among the core pieces expected to be here next season.
A starting lineup of Dejounte Murray, CJ McCollum, Trey Murphy, Zion Williamson, and Yves Missi would give us valuable insight into how that group functions together. This information is crucial as we plan for the 2024-25 campaign and beyond.
However, the reality is that Ingram will probably start upon his return. This creates a tough decision on who to bump from the lineup. Missi has shown promise but is hitting the rookie wall, while McCollum isn’t part of the long-term vision either. Ultimately, the most likely scenario is McCollum moving to the bench, though that’s not necessarily the ideal choice for the team’s future.
For more insights and a deeper dive into the Pelicans’ roster decisions, tune into the Locked On Pelicans podcast for this and much more.
Other Topics in Today’s Locked On Pelicans Podcast:
• The impact of Zion Williamson’s return on team performance
• Analyzing small-ball lineups with Zion at center
• The potential effect of the King Cake Baby mascot on recent wins
Jan 14, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) drives for a shot past Philadelphia 76ers forward Guerschon Yabusele (28) during the third quarter at Wells Fargo Center. | Bill Streicher/Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the rest of the NBA season could just be various instances spent listening to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander go WOOOO to varying decibels and degrees of excitement? It would be, to borrow from a master gone too soon, Lynchian.
If not that, then to watch the Thunder and Cavaliers play each other, over and over, until April 13th. I suspect we still wouldn’t have our fill of these two teams but don’t fret, we’d have a riveting seven game series. Each game a competitive and tight feast for the eyes.
To really get an understanding of how, though relentless pressuring and seamless switching, the Thunder have run away with the first overall defensive rating. That even against a team like Cleveland who pride themselves on the way they’re able to take care of the ball, and their communication skills, OKC can pluck the ball out of the hands of an opponent on a fastbreak, a drive, as if they were walking right up to a kid and taking candy from their hands.
Of course, this all makes it sound like watching these two teams in perpetuity is going to look heavily lopsided for the Thunder. The matchup last night was a wallop for the West, for sure, but Cleveland showed why they’ve been coolly leading the East and the entire league. Rainbow threes from Mitchell, light lobs over the heads of every Thunder player — just then upturned to watch — between Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen, and fadeaway shots from the corner care of Max Strus.
Katie Heindl is a credentialed NBA and WNBA writer, her bylines have appeared with The New York Times Magazine, SLAM, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, Dime, Rolling Stone, among others. She writes the bestselling Substack, Basketball Feelings and is working on a book of the same name.
Signing Dejounte Murray’s performance against New Orleans showcased why the Pelicans signed him. His dynamic play is a testament to his value on the team. Murray’s night was a reminder of his significance. (NOLA.com)
Trade Brandon Ingram’s trade stock has potentially increased, making him a valuable asset for the Pelicans. His performance could attract significant interest from other teams. Ingram’s trade value is on the rise. (Pelican Debrief)
Analysis Evaluating Bleacher Report’s recent Pelicans trade proposals reveals varying degrees of feasibility and strategic value. Each proposal is scrutinized for its potential impact on the team’s future. Trade proposal grades provide insights. (Pelican Debrief)
Ranking Bleacher Report’s NBA power rankings place the Pelicans in a competitive position, highlighting their strengths and areas for improvement as the season progresses. Power rankings offer a snapshot of the team’s standing. (Bleacher Report)
Legacy Jason Kidd’s comments on the referees’ missed goaltending call during the game against the Mavericks highlight ongoing issues with officiating in crucial moments. This incident remains a talking point. Examine the legacy. (CBS Sports)
Preview The Jazz meet the Pelicans in New Orleans at 8:00 PM ET. Read the preview.(NBA)
Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Fantasy Basketball News Roundup: The Tanking In Utah
Jan 11, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (23) looks on against the Phoenix Suns during the first half at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images | Joe Camporeale/Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
The Utah Jazz and Portland Trail Blazers are taking tanking to a whole new level. The Jazz have been sitting players like John Collins, Lauri Markkanen, and Walker Kessler for various reasons. While I understand the incentives for tanking, the odds of getting the number one pick are not high. The NBA has been cracking down on teams resting healthy players, but these two franchises seem to be pushing the boundaries.
As a fantasy analyst, I’ve been advising people to avoid high picks from these teams due to the risk of shutdowns and reduced playing time. It’s frustrating to see this level of blatant tanking, especially when it impacts fantasy basketball managers.
The Memphis Grizzlies are another team to watch, with Ja Morant constantly appearing on the injury report. While they’re not tanking like Utah and Portland, Morant’s frequent injuries are concerning for fantasy managers.
In other news, Donte DiVincenzo is out with a toe sprain for the Knicks, which could lead to increased minutes for Mike Conley. However, I wouldn’t rush to add Conley in most leagues.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Pelicans podcasts.
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Fact or Fiction: New Orleans Pelicans are TANKING the season for Cooper Flagg Are the New Orleans Pelicans tanking, or is there more to their recent struggles? With star players like Zion Williamson and CJ McCollum on the court, their loss to the Charlotte Hornets raises eyebrows.
Why New Orleans Pelicans Need Unified Vision Now The New Orleans Pelicans face a critical juncture as they navigate organizational misalignment, balancing immediate victories with long-term planning. With Zion Williamson’s absence looming over the upcoming game against the Memphis Grizzlies, the stakes are high.
