New Orleans Pelicans’ playoff odds: Is tanking the best strategy?
Should the New Orleans Pelicans Tank for a Better Draft Pick? The New Orleans Pelicans are facing a challenging NBA season with a 4-15 record, raising questions about their playoff prospects. Could tanking be their best strategy?
Host Jake Madison explores the Pelicans’ slim playoff chances, analyzing the team’s current standing and the potential benefits of tanking. He discusses key players like Zion Williamson, Brandon Ingram, and CJ McCollum, and considers the financial and organizational implications of such a move. Madison also examines the impact of recent broadcasting changes and the luxury tax situation, providing a comprehensive look at the team’s strategic options.
Tune in for an in-depth analysis of the New Orleans Pelicans’ season and discover whether tanking could be their path to future success.
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24 Comments
I don't think they are tanking I think they are try to get bi value up for a trade and get more draft picks
Happy Thanksgiving, all. Today is a day of reflection….
As Dyson Daniels thanks God-Almighty that he was shipped to Atlanta this past offseason, let's take a look at who else has reason to be grateful today.
^^^
They have established themselves as indispensable performers on marquee contending teams in the NBA after being unceremoniously dumped for an aging non-All-Star who is nowhere close to being a complete NBA player. Yes, Josh Hart and Nickeil Alexander Walker are very grateful today!!!
After a players' revolt, the Pelicans 'settled' for an inexperienced neophyte to coach the team while canning a grizzled old coaching sage who went back to his quite successful announcing career. So, he merely went from one sideline job to another with considerably less stress. Stan van Gundy is quite grateful today!!!
On the subject of coaching, when the Pelicans FINALLY moved on from "ALBEN' a few years back, they had a guy right under their nose who eventually went on to establish himself as one of the premiere coaches in the league. Now, instead of coaching our 'generational player' he coaches a REAL 'generational player' in Anthony Edwards. Chris Finch is, indeed, very grateful today!!
After unceremoniously being dumped from the Pelicans (without compensation), this player has gone on to become a three-time All-Star and a fixture on upper echelon teams that have gone on deep playoff runs (something his replacement in New Orleans has not been able to replicate). Julius Randall has a lot to be grateful for today!!!
While, somehow, squeezing his team into the Pelicans' Jrue Holiday trade to Milwaukee, he unloaded OKC's beloved (and often-injured) center (and salary) to New Orleans and received a treasure trove of draft picks, along with George Hill and Kendrich Williams (among others) in return. Sam Presti has a lot to be grateful for today!!!
After being sent ‘down to the minors’, this player may now have an opportunity to experience some real coaching and develop his playing skills instead of rotting at the end of the bench on a sinking ship. Believe it or not, Karlo Matkovic has cause to be quite grateful today!!!
After forcing their way out of New Orleans, these two have won NBA Titles in three of the last five years. Anthony Davis and Jrue Holiday have a lot to be grateful for today!!!
After being rebuffed during long-term contract negotiations this past summer, the light at the end of the tunnel is clearly in sight. He is in total control and will have the right to choose where he plays next. Brandon Ingram has a lot to be grateful for today.
….and lastly (and most certainly ‘least of all’)
One of my favorite quotes goes like this….
“Any man can make mistakes, but only an idiot persists in his error.” —-Cicero
Zion Williamson has 193,000,000 reasons to be grateful today that Cicero’s quote describes David Griffin to the ‘T’!!!!
Are there more people who should be grateful?
“THAT’S ALL FOLKS!!!!”
Every dayer comment
I'm good with tanking only if we gonna be a perennial playoff team going forward.
we are stuck in basketball purgatory. there is no guarantee we will end up being a top 3 draft pick. even if we do, there is no guarantee that guy will be good. It's hard to see a way out
Thank you Jake! We don’t need the data 👏🏾
Thanks for the forecast! I need some advice: My OKX wallet holds some USDT, and I have the seed phrase. (alarm fetch churn bridge exercise tape speak race clerk couch crater letter). Could you explain how to move them to Binance?
Play out 10 more games. Everyone knows this sport is a game of runs. We would be kicking ourselves if we sold the farm if maybe this team can go 7-3 in the next 10. Not saying that it is possible, but let’s be honest stranger things have happened
TANK ON!
At best, we win 5 games before January, and that would take stealing a few. That would be 9-22, w 51 games left in the year. We’re cooked, it’s a plain fact.
Objectively, the best option is to run up the trade value of both BI + CJ, at minimum move BI + Javonte for trade capital if nothing else (for either 2025 or 2028), and then run a deep bench the rest of year. That gets everyone in our core 7 or so as much time together as possible while focusing on keeping everyone healthy.
It will all be to the benefit of 2025-26 season. If healthy, we can be top 3 in the West and make some serious noise. The NBA isn’t ending this June…
So wait it’s possible this team could tank and not even get a pick?
We dont need to 'try' and tank… we suck. That's the biggest worry even if we get someone like Cooper we'll still suck. This organisation doesn't have a good record of developing talent..
I'm predicting 7-30 even if we try.. lol we're tanking weather they're trying to or not..
This team is trash 🗑️ Mrs Gayle will have to clean house and get some people at top who get this team going in the right direction. Fire Willie and Griffin, trade BI, Zion , and Cj and draft some new Stars 🤷🏾♂️💪🏾
Trades or lack there of have been a nightmare this season… we still don't have a center when we clearly have players you could use to get 1 like BI or CJ.
At 7-30 which I'm predicting we mathematically can't make the playoffs.. it's over guys.
Trade BI & CJ and get a cheap legit center to save some money while tanking.
You telling me no team in the NBA will take BI or CJ? They average around 20 points a game why wouldn't a team want that?
I swear I'd do a better job at managing this team and making trades.. the Pelicans management is the worst in the NBA.
So let’s recap. Gayle Benson raises prices on everyday working class people. Yet ducks the necessary taxes that come with building a competitive roster and growing a competitor over time. Interesting. Billionaire games. She ducks the tax every season. She wants it to be easy and cost effective to hang a banner without taking any risk or straight up paying taxes for it. Tired of it.
I think tanking won't be good for the team, just playing better is the best way. Give a chance to younger players and improve.
Every-Dayer
It think like the Saints , the Pels are directionless and are in a perpetual state of limbo organizationally and from a talent aspect. They seem to have no concise identity other than being injured.
Not going to make the playoffs/in, and there is always an excuse of health with this team. Do we need to look at players lifestyle, and the med staff, or is this team literally just cursed? 🤔🏀🇬🇧