PMOTT3 and Chuck Texas Early Off-Season Review: New Orleans Pelicans

[Texas Chuck]

PMOTT3's Review:

Losses:

Monty Williams HC
Jimmer Fredette
Toney Douglas
Jeff Withey?
Norris Cole?

I have no clue whats going on with Withey and Cole. They seem to be in FA limbo but I assume they are returning?

Draft:

Purchased #56 (Brandon Dawson)

Trades:

I dont think they made any?

Free Agency:

Alvin Gentry HC
AD (extension)
Omer Asik (re-sign)
Alexis Ajinca (re-sign)
Kendrick Perkins
Luke Babbitt (re-sign)
Alonzo Gee
Dante Cunningham (re-sign)

Loved the coaching hire. I feel like Gentry can get the best out of AD and I'm looking forward to seeing his offense(s).

Locking up AD was a must for this franchise and they got him on the full 5 year max. They can finally put the QO talk to rest.

I absolutely hated the Asik contract and felt it was one of the worst contracts given in FA. 60 mil for a center who has sloppy hands and was almost completely useless in the playoffs is just crazy to me.

Ajinca for 4/20 mil was a good signing. He has excellent size and usually produced when given more minutes. Hopefully Gentry gives him some more burn this season.

The rest are just guys and what was left of their FA is pretty meh.

Current Depth Chart (pretty rough):

PG: Holiday/Cole?
SG: Gordon/Gee
SF: Evans/Pondexter/Babbitt
PF: Davis/Anderson/Cunningham
C: Asik/Ajinca/Perkins

Needs:

They seem to have a lot of needs for a team that's looking to make back to back appearances in the playoffs. A better center to pair with AD. More 3-D players/shooters. I dont like their wing depth or overall depth for that mater. Health is going to be key as well.

Additional Thoughts:

I don't like the main pieces the pelicans have that are suppose to help AD (Evans, Holiday, and Gordon). Almost all of them seem to be unreliable as far as health goes and none of them seem to be a true #2 option to compliment AD. Although this matter doesn't really have anything to do with the off-season so i guess its neither here nor there.

Win/Loss Prediction: 48-34

Not enough depth or talent to get a higher playoff seed but i think they will certainly be in the conversation for a 7-8 seed.

Off-Season Grade: B-

Locked up AD
upgraded their coach
Hated the Asik contract.

Everything else about their off-season felt either just under or right at mediocre.

Chuck Texas' Review:

Losses:

Monty Williams
Jimmer Fredette
Toney Douglas
Jeff Withey
Norris Cole

I'm okay with replacing Monty. I don't think he's a terrible coach, but I also don't see him as much of a difference maker. Nothing else of note here.

Draft:

Brandon Dawson

Trades:

N/A

Free Agency:


Anthony Davis -- max extension
Omer Asik
Alexis Ajinca
Kendrick Perkins
Luke Babbitt
Alonzo Gee
Dante Cunningham


Obviously the big thing here is they got Davis to lock in and they have him under control for at least 5 more years. This is huge. I also like bringing back Asik/Ajinca because with AD's health concerns I do not want him playing a ton of center against the size in the West. Keeping him healthy is so important. The other signings are all kinda meh.



Current Depth Chart (pretty rough):

PG: Evans/Holiday/Cole?
SG: Gordon/Gee
SF: Pondexter/Babbitt
PF: Davis/Anderson/Cunningham
C: Asik/Ajinca/Perkins

Im putting Evans at PG based on some comments to that end from Gentry combined with the usual uncertainity surrounding Jrue. Obviously if Jrue is healthy I expect them to share the floor a lot.

Needs:

Still need a true SF and they need another SG. Wings are a real issue especially if Evans is going to spend a lot of time at PG. Would love to see a true perimeter star with AD, but I don't see the assets here to get one.

Additional Thoughts:

This team depends on a lot of players with some sketchy injury history. I feel like if they got 70+ games from everyone this could be a pretty interesting team particularly if they could find a guy to step up and own the SF position and Anderson returns to form. But they now have time. Davis locked up means they can make longer-term plans which should help. And with cap space for a star next year and Davis as a lure their future looks bright.

Win/Loss Prediction: 46-36

I think this team could win 50+ games if thinks go well health-wise, but that's hard to see and the West is just so brutal. I expect them to be in a fight to grab a late playoff seed again, but won't be stunned if they miss.

Off-Season Grade: A+

Look they locked up the best asset in the league and already a top 5 player for 5 more years. I don't care what else they did, that's an A+ off-season and I don't really see any reasonable argument against it. Also liked the Gentry hire, liked retaining Asik/Ajinca. Yeah the money is steep on Asik, but that's the reality of free agency. Nothing else stands out as a positive or negative really. But bottom line is this off-season was a home run because of Davis.

[loserX]

Just a slight correction to PMOTT's part of the OP...in the draft, they didn't purchase Brandon Dawson, they sold him (to the Clippers).

Obviously this boils down to
1) re-signing Davis, the biggest no-brainer outside of Cleveland re-signing LeBron James. A+++ for results, "duh" for decision-making.
2) the coaching change. I think Gentry is a great hire and bringing in Ron Adams to handle the defence should be huge. A+ for this.
3) not doing anything else. Trading out of the draft, making no trades, and FA was just bringing everyone back and adding a couple of third stringers. Didn't much like this...the coaching change should be huge but it would have been nice to bring in SOMEBODY as Davis takes The Leap.

I'm not really sure how to grade this. The Davis signing is obviously a game-changer but he was a restricted FA-to-be who got every dollar he could (and deserved). Even if he'd turned down the extension he'd still have been on the team next year. There was almost literally no way for the Pelicans to screw that up, so how good a grade am I going to give them for not screwing it up?

Still, they ended up with Anthony Davis on the books long-term, and they got him his extension *before* the cap ballooned next year. Between that and the coaching change this has to be considered a pretty stellar offseason. I feel like they left some moves on the table, but they're no doubt ecstatic with the way things turned out overall, so who am I to say otherwise?

[Hawk Eye]

I know there aren't very many pelican RealGM'ers on here but c'mon..

[Worm122]

B+ Because re-sign Davis is a great deal and hire Gentry is good, but they need a lot players to make to the playoffs in my opinion they will miss the playoffs in this year

[bondom34]

B-?


Other than Gentry, everything seemed pretty cut and paste. Though they really should bring Cole back, but we'll see how that goes.

[Domejandro]

Other than Alvin Gentry they pretty much did absolutely nothing, so I do not know how to grade them.

[Hawk Eye]

Am i the only one that jumped off of Asik island? I hated that contract and felt it was one of the worst given in Free Agency. How do you guys feel about the contract?

[NOLA Glasses]

I agree with almost everything here. From the Asik contract being suspect to the coaching hire being a reasonable upgrade. I will say that neither of you had Evans as our 6th man and I feel that is the plan should health allow it. That and the fact that Cole will more than likely return answers some depth issues as well. Overall though great write up, and I appreciate the time you guys put in.

[bondom34]

I will be honest, I question if Gentry is the right guy. They needed better defense, which isn't what I think he will help, but the assistant coaching should be big there in getting Erman.

[Texas Chuck]

I agree with almost everything here. From the Asik contract being suspect to the coaching hire being a reasonable upgrade. I will say that neither of you had Evans as our 6th man and I feel that is the plan should health allow it. That and the fact that Cole will more than likely return answers some depth issues as well. Overall though great write up, and I appreciate the time you guys put in.

Thanks.

and really appreciate the info on the plan with Evans. 6th man probably does make the most sense if Jrue is ready to handle starter's minutes.

[Texas Chuck]

Am i the only one that jumped off of Asik island? I hated that contract and felt it was one of the worst given in Free Agency. How do you guys feel about the contract?

I'm still a believer that Asik is a good fit next to Davis. And yeah its a lot of money, but hey bigs get paid. Look at that full 4 year deal an aging Tyson Chandler got. And they didn't have cap to get someone else. I guess they could have gone scrap heap for a year saving more cap room for next year, but I think Asik will still be movable if they want to go that direction next year.

I think in hindsight what really hurts was dealing Lopez for essentially nothing which then forced them to turn around and give a 1st for Asik.

But I am firm in my belief that despite AD being the ideal small-ball center, he has to spend the bulk of his time at PF especially with the size in the West. I don't trust his body to hold up at center. Asik(and Ajinca) means he only has to play there when matchups are favorable or when Gentry really wants to speed up the game.

[Hawk Eye]

Am i the only one that jumped off of Asik island? I hated that contract and felt it was one of the worst given in Free Agency. How do you guys feel about the contract?

I'm still a believer that Asik is a good fit next to Davis. And yeah its a lot of money, but hey bigs get paid. Look at that full 4 year deal an aging Tyson Chandler got. And they didn't have cap to get someone else. I guess they could have gone scrap heap for a year saving more cap room for next year, but I think Asik will still be movable if they want to go that direction next year.

I think in hindsight what really hurts was dealing Lopez for essentially nothing which then forced them to turn around and give a 1st for Asik.

But I am firm in my belief that despite AD being the ideal small-ball center, he has to spend the bulk of his time at PF especially with the size in the West. I don't trust his body to hold up at center. Asik(and Ajinca) means he only has to play there when matchups are favorable or when Gentry really wants to speed up the game.

Totally agree on Lopez. I think the franchise would have been a lot better off never making the Holiday/Lopez trades. However, that doesnt really have anything to do with their off-season so i guess its neither here nor there.

Chandler was at least effective in the playoffs and that's when it counts. Asik was basically useless in that Golden State series. Sloppy hands, kept getting stripped, couldnt stay in front of his man on the switches, it was pretty bad all the way around.

I know that bigs have a high priced going rate right now but i just didnt expect for Asik to get that kind of money after such a miserable playoff performance.

I know they were limited with cap restraints but i would have preferred them to kinda go in a scrap-year and make the best of Perkins/Ajinca and make strong pitches next FA at an Al Horford or Joakim Noah (if he returns to form) to play along side a top 5 player in the league.

[165bows]

Am i the only one that jumped off of Asik island? I hated that contract and felt it was one of the worst given in Free Agency. How do you guys feel about the contract?

I'm still a believer that Asik is a good fit next to Davis. And yeah its a lot of money, but hey bigs get paid. Look at that full 4 year deal an aging Tyson Chandler got. And they didn't have cap to get someone else. I guess they could have gone scrap heap for a year saving more cap room for next year, but I think Asik will still be movable if they want to go that direction next year.

I think in hindsight what really hurts was dealing Lopez for essentially nothing which then forced them to turn around and give a 1st for Asik.

But I am firm in my belief that despite AD being the ideal small-ball center, he has to spend the bulk of his time at PF especially with the size in the West. I don't trust his body to hold up at center. Asik(and Ajinca) means he only has to play there when matchups are favorable or when Gentry really wants to speed up the game.

Totally agree on Lopez. I think the franchise would have been a lot better off never making the Holiday/Lopez trades. However, that doesnt really have anything to do with their off-season so i guess its neither here nor there.

Chandler was at least effective in the playoffs and that's when it counts. Asik was basically useless in that Golden State series. Sloppy hands, kept getting stripped, couldnt stay in front of his man on the switches, it was pretty bad all the way around.

I know that bigs have a high priced going rate right now but i just didnt expect for Asik to get that kind of money after such a miserable playoff performance.

I know they were limited with cap restraints but i would have preferred them to kinda go in a scrap-year and make the best of Perkins/Ajinca and make strong pitches next FA at an Al Horford or Joakim Noah (if he returns to form) to play along side a top 5 player in the league.

Should have gone hard after Amir Johnson in FA and let him split time with Ajinca at C.

[Texas Chuck]

Should have gone hard after Amir Johnson in FA and let him split time with Ajinca at C.

Not an option for them. They couldn't have cleared the salary slot to add him.

[sonictecture]

Dell Demps worked in San Antonio before coming to New Orleans but his team building philosophy reminds me much more Joe Dumars. Little long term planning, it seems like every offseason he is looking at the team with new eyes. I don't rate Gentry as a better coach than Monty Williams, but like Dumars would do firing a coach gives you an excuse as to why the team under-performs. In my view Williams was not a problem, but a poorly constructed roster and badly managed cap has been.

I see that the review points to Gentry being an upgrade and the season win projections point to Gentry being the same as Williams.

Getting Davis to sign his max extension is huge for the franchise, but other players have signed such extensions and forced themselves out of a bad situation. Star players can move virtually whenever they want due to demand from the rest of the league. Demps will have to do a better job of building around Davis if he wants to keep him for the length of the contract.

[pacers33granger]

Asik's stats last year were pretty much in line with what he put up when a starter for Housto, he just got less minutes. I know everyone will remember him being awful in the playoffs (which was a grand total of 4 games against a bad matchup for big centers), but he played as well as he ever had last season. He grabbed the same percentage of rebounds, had his highest PER, and turned the ball over the lowest amount of his career. His blocks were down a tad and his shooting was a bit worse, but over he was basically the same player. And this is all while being next to an elite shot blocker and rebounder, so it's not like he's just grabbing boards because no one else can.

So I really don't think 11 mil for 4 years with the final year being unguaranteed is a bad deal at all.

[californiadude]

Yeah I just can't look at New Orleans without feeling sad. They really are the poster child for the consequences when a team rushes things. Dell Demps has been the worse GM in the league over the past three years.

They could've very easily been the next thunder if the had just sat tight and been patient.

[lordjeff05]

A couple of things. One, although Gentry has been discussed, I think the thing that made that hire especially good was that Erman can coach good defense at a fast pace. They are a perfect pairing.

Regarding Asik, people realize that the last year isn't guaranteed, correct? Also having a center that protects AD until the playoffs is crucial and Ajinca isn't enough of a defender to do that for a full season. Also Lopez has developed in to a better play than Asik, but he couldn't play the type of defense that Monty wanted and then got moved to an ideal spot for himself.

Regarding standing pat, it is important to note that we still haven't had a chance to see this team healthy for a full year. The squad that finished last year went 18-11 and that is without Jrue, and mostly without Anderson. It makes sense to give this roster a go with a coach that better suits their strengths. Gordon and Anderson come off the books next year so they will have the cash to go after a bi time free agent, like everyone else.

For the first time in a long time, this team will be deep. Cole, Evans and Anderson coming off of the bench is better than any bench they've had since they've been in New Orleans, and that is before considering the minutes Ajinca will get.

One last thing, we needed to sign Asik, so that AD had assurances that someone was going to have his back. We couldn't get that long term deal if the argument was to wait a year and then roll the dice with free agency, especially after he just tasted free agency. It didn't work with any of the teams this year, so why would AD believe it would work next year.

[loserX]

A couple of things. One, although Gentry has been discussed, I think the thing that made that hire especially good was that Erman can coach good defense at a fast pace. They are a perfect pairing.

It is of course Erman that they brought in to coach defence. Why do I keep typing Ron Adams? Sheesh.

As to an earlier question, I don't have any problems with the Asik signing either. Yes, it's a lot of money for a lot of years for a player who's much better at one end of the court than the other...but as Chuck says, bigs get paid, and I like him a lot next to Davis. He can handle all the physical stuff and based on his offensive limitations he won't be stealing a lot of touches from AD either.

[NOLA Glasses]

Am i the only one that jumped off of Asik island? I hated that contract and felt it was one of the worst given in Free Agency. How do you guys feel about the contract?

I'm still a believer that Asik is a good fit next to Davis. And yeah its a lot of money, but hey bigs get paid. Look at that full 4 year deal an aging Tyson Chandler got. And they didn't have cap to get someone else. I guess they could have gone scrap heap for a year saving more cap room for next year, but I think Asik will still be movable if they want to go that direction next year.

I think in hindsight what really hurts was dealing Lopez for essentially nothing which then forced them to turn around and give a 1st for Asik.

But I am firm in my belief that despite AD being the ideal small-ball center, he has to spend the bulk of his time at PF especially with the size in the West. I don't trust his body to hold up at center. Asik(and Ajinca) means he only has to play there when matchups are favorable or when Gentry really wants to speed up the game.

Totally agree on Lopez. I think the franchise would have been a lot better off never making the Holiday/Lopez trades. However, that doesnt really have anything to do with their off-season so i guess its neither here nor there.

Chandler was at least effective in the playoffs and that's when it counts. Asik was basically useless in that Golden State series. Sloppy hands, kept getting stripped, couldnt stay in front of his man on the switches, it was pretty bad all the way around.

I know that bigs have a high priced going rate right now but i just didnt expect for Asik to get that kind of money after such a miserable playoff performance.

I know they were limited with cap restraints but i would have preferred them to kinda go in a scrap-year and make the best of Perkins/Ajinca and make strong pitches next FA at an Al Horford or Joakim Noah (if he returns to form) to play along side a top 5 player in the league.

Asik in the playoffs is fresh on everyone's mind but he's extremely effective in the right match ups. Similarly to how Bogut was benched against the Cavs, however you can ask anyone and they'd tell you they don't make the finals without him. Asik wasn't and won't ever be effective against a team where he will have to guard small ball players consistently, however the Pels can choose to go small with Anderson at the 4 like they did most of the playoffs against those opponents. However, should the Pels draw San Antonio or Memphis next year, Asik will be essential.

Now should the Pels have given that much money to a player who is only useful against half the league? That is more of a relevant question. I would've preferred to see a 3 year 30 or so, but without cap to replace him I suppose letting him walk wasn't an option. Bottom line, Pels don't make the playoffs without Omer.