The New Orleans Pelicans are clearly aiming for a top pick in the upcoming NBA Draft. They are making every effort to lose their remaining seven games. Currently holding the fourth-worst record in the league with 54 losses, they are just behind the Hornets in the race for a bottom-three spot. This coveted position offers the highest chance, 14%, of securing the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, widely expected to be Duke`s star player, Cooper Flagg.
To further their tanking strategy, the Pelicans have announced that Zion Williamson and CJ McCollum will not play for the rest of the season. The team officially cited a low-back contusion for Williamson and a foot contusion for McCollum. These injuries conveniently serve the purpose of prioritizing draft position over winning games.
Zion Williamson`s career has been unfortunately marked by injuries. This season, he played only 30 games, which is surprisingly only his fourth-lowest game count in his six NBA seasons. He played 24 games in his rookie year, missed the entire 2021-22 season, and played just 29 games two years prior.
While Williamson performed well in his 30 games, averaging nearly 25 points along with career highs in rebounds (7.2) and assists (5.3), the Pelicans` current focus is clearly not on individual stats. At this point, his ability is well-established. The most critical statistic for Williamson is his games played, or lack thereof.
The Pelicans face a difficult situation with Williamson. His talent is undeniable when he is on the court, but his trade value is likely diminished due to his injury history. The team must decide whether to trade him for less than his potential value or continue to hope he can stay healthy in the future. They will likely choose the latter, continuing the cycle of uncertainty.
The Pelicans were initially expected to contend this season after trading for Dejounte Murray and assembling a deep roster. However, injuries have significantly derailed their plans.
Looking at their remaining schedule, New Orleans faces a challenging path: at Clippers, at Lakers, vs. Bucks, at Nets, at Bucks, vs. Heat, and vs. Thunder. Only the Brooklyn Nets appear to be a likely opponent also focused on losing. That game is expected to be a true “tank-off.” Otherwise, the Pelicans should find it easy to lose their remaining games.
However, the Charlotte Hornets also appear likely to lose six of their remaining games against the Pacers, Kings, Bulls, Grizzlies, and Celtics (twice). Even if Charlotte wins against the Raptors, the Pelicans are unlikely to secure a top-three lottery position.
The Pelicans` main goal is to avoid dropping to the No. 5 draft position, which would reduce their odds of getting the No. 1 pick from 12.5% (at No. 4) to 10%. The 76ers are only two losses behind the Pelicans. If they were to tie in record, the Pelicans would fall to No. 5 in lottery odds due to losing the season series to Philadelphia.
Jasper Hawthorne