The New Orleans Pelicans (13-42) are the second-worst team in the NBA, with an injury-ridden lineup and a weak depth chart. Here is how I would rebuild the Pelicans:
Firstly, for the coaching situation, Willie Green needs to be fired, as he is getting old and is not developing the team well. Instead, potentially sign a more defensive-based coach and someone who will develop the star and young players. Also, they need to bring in better staff to help with shooting and a good defensive staff member. As for potential trades, I would prioritize trading CJ McCollum to free up almost $30m in cap space and potentially targeting him for a 3 point shooter (OG Anunoby) or a defensive center (Walker Kessler). This could be packaged with Kelly Olynyk and other draft picks.
As for the roster, firstly, during free agency, targeting someone like Isaiah Hartenstein or Andre Drummond to be a center would be the best move to make, along with adding extra guards behind Dejounte like Tyus Jones or Malik Beasley. As for the draft strategy, if the Pelicans continue to tank in the remaining games of the season, they could potentially get the number one pick and draft Cooper Flagg, but with this rebuild, it won’t be leaning on Flagg to improve the roster. For developing players, if CJ McCollum is traded, developing Jordan Hawkins, a promising guard for the Pelicans, is a great idea, along with developing the defensive rookies.
If all goes well, this could be the starting lineup for the Pelicans in the 2025 Season:
PG – Dejounte Murrary
SG – Jordan Hawkins
SF – Trey Murphey III
PF – Zion Williamson
C – Isaiah Hartenstein
The 2025 Season would have to be a rebuilding year for the Pelicans, but if they make these offseason moves then they could have a top tier defense and dominate the Western Conference in the following years.
