Pelicans finish 8th in NBA.com's offseason rankings
The Pelicans didn't do much this offseason in terms of making sweeping changes to the personnel on the roster.
But the moves they did make might be enough to see them take a significant leap next season.
A change at the head coaching position, bringing in the offensive-minded Alvin Gentry in exchange for the more defensive-oriented Monty Williams, along with the signing of franchise centerpiece Anthony Davis to a contract extension worth $145 million over five years are reasons to be excited.
NBA.com's David Aldridge ranked the offseason in New Orleans eighth out of the league's 30 teams. Here's part of his reasoning as to why:
"With their franchise player under contract, everyone in N'Awlins can relax and see how much fun it should be with the Pelicans going all Seven Seconds or Less on everybody under Gentry. They don't have anything near the personnel the Suns did in their best days (y'all forget how devastating Amar'e Stoudemire was before his knees gave out on him), but guys like Eric Gordon, if he stays healthy, should thrive in the system. Everything you saw Golden State do last season -- pace, ball movement, tons of 3-pointers -- will be replicated at the Smoothie King Center."
(h/t: NBA.com)
