When healthy, the New Orleans Pelicans have proven to be one of the tougher teams in the NBA to play against. They have a solid mix of All-Star caliber players and high-upside youngsters coming together to produce at a high level.
The Pelicans burst onto the scene in Wille Green’s first year as head coach. They made through way through the NBA Play-In Tournament before giving the Phoenix Suns everything they could handle in a first-round matchup. It was an encouraging display by New Orleans, who were playing without Zion Williamson.
Last season, the Pelicans improved their record by six games but did not qualify for the postseason, as they lost in the NBA Play-In Tournament. This season, they are looking to avoid that tournament altogether.
New Orleans is currently in sixth place in the Western Conference. They are in a dogfight with the Suns, Dallas Mavericks, Sacramento Kings and Los Angeles Lakers, as all five teams are separated by only 3.5 games.
Should the Pelicans qualify for the postseason, they will have certainly earned it. But, once this season is complete, there will be some major decisions to make in the 2024 NBA offseason. Every small market team eventually comes to the crossroads New Orleans will be at in a few months.
If the Pelicans show they can be true contenders, ownership should be more willing to climb into the luxury tax to pay for a winner. If not, one NBA executive from an Eastern Conference team believes a major move will occur this summer for New Orleans.
“New Orleans has to make a decision between Zion [Williamson] and [Brandon] Ingram,” said an Eastern Conference executive via Howard Beck of The Ringer. “I think that happens this summer.”
Ingram has one season remaining on his five-year, maximum Bird Right’s deal he signed in 2020. Williamson is in the first season of his designated rookie max contract, but the final four seasons are all partially or non-guaranteed.
Ingram is eligible for an extension this offseason, which is likely what the Eastern Conference executive is referencing. If the Pelicans opt to keep Ingram long-term, Williamson will be on the move. If they want to continue building around Williamson, the team will trade Ingram to a team that can afford to keep him long-term.
In addition to that conundrum, the Pelicans have Jonas Valanciunas hitting free agency this offseason. CJ McCollum is extension eligible, as is Trey Murphy III and Jorge Alvarado.
With Herb Jones’ extension kicking in this offseason, things are quickly getting very expensive in New Orleans. If ownership is unwilling to cross the luxury tax, there are going to have to be some tough decisions made in the 2024 NBA offseason.
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