New Orleans Pelicans - Power Ranking

Week Rank Rating Team Record Comment

20 28 -12 NO 2-9 The lower rank here is injury to insult now that the Pels season is officially over. Controversial trades didn't help things in the Big Easy. Couple that with a low clutch of GM points and it doesn't look like the Pels will be good anytime soon. And do you guys really think Klay will "come back strong?" We've heard that tune before.

19 24 6 NO 3-7 Pelicans are battling for that final play in spot, but it’s going to be difficult without Siakam.

18 17 27 NO 5-6 The Pelicans are a team trying to hang on to a play in spot, and behind Spicy P’s offensive bursts, are looking to find consistency on the court. They also have had a tough schedule lately but are looking to close the season strong.

15 25 0 NO 3-8 The Pelicans did some major re-arranging of the top end of their roster at the trade deadline. Time will tell if that will keep them in the play-in. They had lost 7 of 9 prior to Week 16 but have now won 2 of 3 games in the current week.

14 23 20 NO 4-7 New Orleans made a move to trade John Wall, Mitchell Robinson, and Hamidou Diallo for Pascal Siakam and Brook Lopez. I like it for them with getting Siakam he’s an easier contract to trade, younger, and doesn’t have quite the health concerns. The team will get Klay Thompson too next year, so they could definitely compete with Brook Lopez being a very good player too!

13 24 11 NO 3-8 The Pelicans look to be looking to the next season with the moves they've made, getting Klay Thompson and having a lot of great young players. John Wall is hurt, but will be back next week. The team is still right outside of the playoffs and one spot out of the play-in game.

12 25 12 NO 3-8 New Orleans could be a great team next year, Wall and Thompson are currently injured, as well as Robinson and Chriss. The team was looking like they could compete early on, but they took the chance on trading Vucevic for Klay Thompson while getting a pick in the deal. This year doesn't look too good, but next year could be their year to make a splash.

11 25 7 NO 3-8 I believe in myself deal: I think New Orleans believe they will be better next season giving away their first round pick for Vucevic. They are not so bad in the paper… maybe with Klay back. And let’s postpone our chances one season deal: Yes Klay Thompson in shape next season… Yes we all believe in that… Do we?

10 26 1 NO 3-9 The Pelicans have been decimated by injuries this season. The recent acquisition of Klay Thompson would indicate that the front office has officially set its sights to next season. However, in spite of being 10 games below .500, the Pelicans are one game out of the 8th seed.

9 22 13 NO 4-7 New Orleans has lost nine of their last 12 games, but their most recent trade brought in two great young players in Coby White and Mitchell Robinson. They'll function as win-now AND win-later pieces.

8 24 5 NO 3-8 The Pelicans made a splash by acquiring Nikola Vucevic to pair with John Wall over the summer. It hasn’t been flawless, but Vooch has been just enough to keep the Pels in the playoff picture. Nautilus still has his 1st for this year, but he relinquished control of his next year, so look to see New Orleans as a buyer over the next year or so.

7 17 31 NO 5-6 The Pelicans are much improved after last season, getting Wall back and an All star Vucevic, but still not ready to compete. They're 7th in the West at the moment, and they may very well make the playoffs, but they need guys like Rui and Culver to step up before they can make some noise.

6 15 36 NO 5-6 New Orleans went from worst record in the league to the playoffs. Vucevic and Wall have been good and Hachimura has been a big piece in the success. Culver just now returned from his injury too with Eric Gordon still being injured. It will be interesting to see how the young guys develop and what they do add to the already established veterans' games.

5 13 39 NO 5-5 New Orleans is a team that focused on the present some might say in retrospect to this offseason, and you'd have to say to this point it has payed off! NO currently sits in the 6th spot out West and have gained a major boost from their top incoming trade asset in Nikola Vucevic, as well as the return of John Wall from injury. Eric Gordon has proved to be quite the asset received via trade as well. If this team is going to take the next step it will come from young guys in Culver, Hachimura, and Hayes, who you could point to as slight underachievers to this point in their NLL and NBA careers.

4 15 40 NO 5-4 New Orleans has picked up speed after an 0-3 start. Vucevic has been amazing, and John Wall is averaging over 20 ppg. Jaxson Hayes has been a great rebounder and Rui Hachimura's stats have taken a hit. This is likely due to a decrease in usage. NO not having Jarrett Culver hurts, with them trading the fifth overall pick in that deal. Jarred Vanderbilt and DJ Augustin have been good contributors in his absence. The playoff position the team is in right now is around where I think they will be all season.

3 20 24 NO 4-6 The Pels made a few nearly "all-in" type deals this offseason which raised some eyebrows as it moved away from the rebuild rhetoric. Is it too early? Did they have the assets to make that work? Do they have the further assets and conviction to keep turning them over into winning pieces to really compliment? Do they even need to when Vuc, Wall and Gordon are all on 3 more years at least and should provide steady veteran leadership while the other pieces catch up? A playoff birth would be a great result, but it's not the end of the world either way if it turns into a continued rebuild with those guys in tow, or it happens and the guys are all still growing regardless. Interesting times in New Orleans.

2 18 18 NO 3-4 Last year's bottom dweller has put together a respectable start to their season, thanks in large part to Nikola Vucevic and his 23 points and 13 rebounds per game. John Wall has also been in solid form, contributing 21 points and 8 assists. While they're probably not yet a playoff contender, this team is certainly stronger than the one that only managed 16 wins last season.

1 25 1 NO 1-3 Vuc and Wall are proving to be an awesome combo, but the rest of the team is not performing at all. The Pelicans put a lot of chips in the middle going for a playoff run, but the early results are terribly disappointing.

Week	Rank	Rating	Team	Record	Comment
20	28	-12	NO	2-9	The lower rank here is injury to insult now that the Pels season is officially over. Controversial trades didn't help things in the Big Easy. Couple that with a low clutch of GM points and it doesn't look like the Pels will be good anytime soon. And do you guys really think Klay will "come back strong?" We've heard that tune before.
19	24	6	NO	3-7	Pelicans are battling for that final play in spot, but it’s going to be difficult without Siakam.
18	17	27	NO	5-6	The Pelicans are a team trying to hang on to a play in spot, and behind Spicy P’s offensive bursts, are looking to find consistency on the court. They also have had a tough schedule lately but are looking to close the season strong.
15	25	0	NO	3-8	The Pelicans did some major re-arranging of the top end of their roster at the trade deadline. Time will tell if that will keep them in the play-in. They had lost 7 of 9 prior to Week 16 but have now won 2 of 3 games in the current week.
14	23	20	NO	4-7	New Orleans made a move to trade John Wall, Mitchell Robinson, and Hamidou Diallo for Pascal Siakam and Brook Lopez. I like it for them with getting Siakam he’s an easier contract to trade, younger, and doesn’t have quite the health concerns. The team will get Klay Thompson too next year, so they could definitely compete with Brook Lopez being a very good player too!
13	24	11	NO	3-8	The Pelicans look to be looking to the next season with the moves they've made, getting Klay Thompson and having a lot of great young players. John Wall is hurt, but will be back next week. The team is still right outside of the playoffs and one spot out of the play-in game.
12	25	12	NO	3-8	New Orleans could be a great team next year, Wall and Thompson are currently injured, as well as Robinson and Chriss. The team was looking like they could compete early on, but they took the chance on trading Vucevic for Klay Thompson while getting a pick in the deal. This year doesn't look too good, but next year could be their year to make a splash.
11	25	7	NO	3-8	I believe in myself deal: I think New Orleans believe they will be better next season giving away their first round pick for Vucevic. They are not so bad in the paper… maybe with Klay back. And let’s postpone our chances one season deal: Yes Klay Thompson in shape next season… Yes we all believe in that… Do we?
10	26	1	NO	3-9	The Pelicans have been decimated by injuries this season. The recent acquisition of Klay Thompson would indicate that the front office has officially set its sights to next season. However, in spite of being 10 games below .500, the Pelicans are one game out of the 8th seed.
9	22	13	NO	4-7	New Orleans has lost nine of their last 12 games, but their most recent trade brought in two great young players in Coby White and Mitchell Robinson. They'll function as win-now AND win-later pieces.
8	24	5	NO	3-8	The Pelicans made a splash by acquiring Nikola Vucevic to pair with John Wall over the summer. It hasn’t been flawless, but Vooch has been just enough to keep the Pels in the playoff picture. Nautilus still has his 1st for this year, but he relinquished control of his next year, so look to see New Orleans as a buyer over the next year or so.
7	17	31	NO	5-6	The Pelicans are much improved after last season, getting Wall back and an All star Vucevic, but still not ready to compete. They're 7th in the West at the moment, and they may very well make the playoffs, but they need guys like Rui and Culver to step up before they can make some noise.
6	15	36	NO	5-6	New Orleans went from worst record in the league to the playoffs. Vucevic and Wall have been good and Hachimura has been a big piece in the success. Culver just now returned from his injury too with Eric Gordon still being injured. It will be interesting to see how the young guys develop and what they do add to the already established veterans' games.
5	13	39	NO	5-5	New Orleans is a team that focused on the present some might say in retrospect to this offseason, and you'd have to say to this point it has payed off! NO currently sits in the 6th spot out West and have gained a major boost from their top incoming trade asset in Nikola Vucevic, as well as the return of John Wall from injury. Eric Gordon has proved to be quite the asset received via trade as well. If this team is going to take the next step it will come from young guys in Culver, Hachimura, and Hayes, who you could point to as slight underachievers to this point in their NLL and NBA careers.
4	15	40	NO	5-4	New Orleans has picked up speed after an 0-3 start. Vucevic has been amazing, and John Wall is averaging over 20 ppg. Jaxson Hayes has been a great rebounder and Rui Hachimura's stats have taken a hit. This is likely due to a decrease in usage. NO not having Jarrett Culver hurts, with them trading the fifth overall pick in that deal. Jarred Vanderbilt and DJ Augustin have been good contributors in his absence. The playoff position the team is in right now is around where I think they will be all season.
3	20	24	NO	4-6	The Pels made a few nearly "all-in" type deals this offseason which raised some eyebrows as it moved away from the rebuild rhetoric. Is it too early? Did they have the assets to make that work? Do they have the further assets and conviction to keep turning them over into winning pieces to really compliment? Do they even need to when Vuc, Wall and Gordon are all on 3 more years at least and should provide steady veteran leadership while the other pieces catch up? A playoff birth would be a great result, but it's not the end of the world either way if it turns into a continued rebuild with those guys in tow, or it happens and the guys are all still growing regardless. Interesting times in New Orleans.
2	18	18	NO	3-4	Last year's bottom dweller has put together a respectable start to their season, thanks in large part to Nikola Vucevic and his 23 points and 13 rebounds per game. John Wall has also been in solid form, contributing 21 points and 8 assists. While they're probably not yet a playoff contender, this team is certainly stronger than the one that only managed 16 wins last season.
1	25	1	NO	1-3	Vuc and Wall are proving to be an awesome combo, but the rest of the team is not performing at all. The Pelicans put a lot of chips in the middle going for a playoff run, but the early results are terribly disappointing.