I was on board with the New Orleans Pelicans rebranding. Sure, it’s a funny looking bird that is about as fearsome as a carp and sure, in my childhood we used the word as an insult when someone made a silly off-handed comment.
But hey, if the locals love it that’s all that matters.
Even better that everyone else acted with such incredulity as it creates an us-versus-them attitude that emotionally enlists the casual fan who can’t believe those northern folk would dare mock their proud state bird.
Then the Pelicans decided to trade two first-rounders for Jrue Holiday and offered $40-48 million to Tyreke Evans.
And I realised that these guys are definitely pelicans.
The Jrue Holiday trade at first glance makes some sense – you got an All-Star, great trade.
But you gave up two high level draft picks.
Those picks are, if you do your job as a front office, typically players who you should contribute more than their three-to-five million dollar salary, giving you on court production and valuable cap flexibility.
In Jrue Holiday they got a guy who is perhaps a top 10 player at his position, maybe if you squint real hard.
Though which six guys does he beat out from: Derrick Rose, Chris Paul, Russell Westbrook, Tony Parker, Rajon Rondo, Deron Williams, John Wall, Mike Conley, Kyrie Irving, Stephen Curry, Ty Lawson, Damian Lillard, Brandon Jennings, Jeff Teague, Ricky Rubio and Kyle Lowry?
Sure, he was the driving force for the Sixers and got an All-Star berth.
But that was predominantly on the strength of his start to the season and his season efficiency stats ranked towards the bottom of the league’s starting point guards.
Also worrying is how low his true shooting percentage remains for a guy who is supposedly a sweet three point shooter.
His on-ball defence is above average, which isn’t ever picked up in those numbers, but even in that area he’s more above average rather than a creator of havoc.
And the Pelicans just gave two prime assets to pay him $40 million. You can come to terms with the price tag on the contract but the two first rounders?
Wow, that is steep when you consider how good lottery point guards have been from the last four or five drafts.
Speaking of lottery point guards, there was one guy from those drafts who looked like the real deal but turned out to be a wing masquerading in a point’s body – Tyreke Evans.
The Holiday deal looks like a red light special at K-Mart compared to $40 to $48 million for Tyreke Evans.
Evans was quietly back to his rookie level last year, a backhanded compliment if there ever was one, but remains a ball dominant wing who can’t shoot and has never been taught to play defence.
Some pundits wondered aloud if any team would offer him a two or three year deal at above the $7 million qualifying offer and here are the Pelicans with four years and over $40 million.
It is fine to fill your team with LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh, or Dwight Howard, Pau Gasol and Steve Nash, or Westbrook and Kevin Durant etc and worry about how to distribute the ball later.
But Evans, Eric Gordon and Holiday? Not really in the same class of creative ball dominant attacking forces.
So come next year, if the Evans contract offer is sensibly allowed to go through to the keeper by the Kings, the Pelicans will be paying their starting ‘smalls’ of Holiday/Gordon/Evans $33-38 million a year against a $58.5 million cap?
Now Holiday and Evans both have some growth left in them. So maybe they end up being decent buys at the hefty price paid.
But those one cent stocks from an internet pop up add might end up being great value too.
New Orleans, your team is a bunch of Pelicans.
mushi
Guest
The Nets trade was the work of an owner who just doesn't understand the salary cap. This isn't the EPL. I wouldn't say it is Thomas bad because KG/Pierce is better than Stevie Franchise/Starbury but it is getting there. The common factor is the crazy unrealistic owners. As far as a contenders I just can't see them getting to April with a healthy roster, so sure you will make the playoffs but you've just guaranteed that is about as much as you do.
RebelRanger
Guest
I think Noel will develop into a stud. I hope the 76ers become a contender in the next few years because I'm baracking for Syracuse alum Michael Carter Williams.
Mushi
Guest
Over paying one is fine, but two and potentially three? all of their "core" backcourt are over payed. So how will they pay Davis? They have no picks to fill out the roster so if Davis becomes an equal level player (I'd say he's actually already better than any of them) they will be paying more than the cap for their starting 5. I'm high on Noel i think he's a potnetual game changer on D (he's bigger than larry sanders was in college) you read some of the articles on gms basically saying that if he doesn't work he costs them their job. So for most it sounds like a self interest decision not a bball one
Quadruple
Guest
Quadruple
Guest
Both article and comment(s) are brilliant looks at these pelicans. Im from Australia so i dont have a say and or have a team to call my own. Over hear we bought t-shirts as kids with Bulls on them, maybe a Hornet on there, or perhaps a Magic shirt...-- truth was we had no idea what NBA was, we just new the logos and mascots were cool... Though last 5 years ive become an NBA nerd, loving every second of its glitz, glam, drama and swag. Except for insertions of things like an OKC "thunder"... or a "bobcat"... i mean wheres the the thought processing or originality...? Personslly i think the Pelicans is the best thing since LeBron for the NBA, a bit of humility in the face of adversity. At keast its their state bird! Memphis GRIZZLIES?! wtf?! Utah JAZZ?! WTF! people expect teams to fail if the have a weak name/mascot, but guess what, its about fans and locals feeling like their team is their own, their signature... i expect they will ride a honeymoon period of people bagging them out up until they are pumping numbers like 30-11 halfway thru the season, And aslong as Holiday, Davis, Evans mould well together, then we should be in for some exciting stuff from these youngsters... although Gordon really must go, for a new young Big- or perhsps s vet like Kaman who id a free-agent right? though im sure he's to expensive right? though with teams like LA struggling to keep/attract big-name players its a interesting time for us basketball fans... anyhow my first post on NBA topics, so go easy on me... Phil Sydney, Australia
knickradamus
Guest
Nice article and I completely agree the trade was a good trade if the picks weren't in it, when 50% of the league has called it quits to gear up for the 2014 draft, Pelicans will have to tank to keep that pick so its silly throwing money at Tyreke and EG who essentially play the same spot. Evans is a point guard in a wings body he's like athletic 6'7..... Another issue is, the trade value of EG, Holiday and Tyreke if it doesn't work you not going to get much back so how is it an asset?. Another dig a hole trade was pierce and KG to the nets, they gave up 3 1st round picks and sent them self into salar WHACK CAP you have about 60 odd mil tied up in D-Will JJ and Lopez, now with pierce 16mil and KG's 11mil. A: Best case scenario, your a contender for 1 year. B: Worst case scenario your team has lost building blocks for the next 3-4 years your over cap for another 3 years. It made me cringe it was so bad..... like Thomas GM bad
astro
Roar Rookie
Go mushi! Nice article....but...I actually think both moves were great for the Pelicans... I agree with you entirely that they likely overpaid for Holiday, and will also overpay for Evans, but the league is littered with overpaid players (the Knicks are paying Bargnani $23mil over the next 2yrs, and gave up picks to get him!), so overpaying for a couple of guys who are young and have potential to improve isn't the worst thing in the world. And remember the Pelicans situation...they have their franchise player already. He might not be Lebron or Wade or Dwight yet, but Anthony Davis WILL be a star soon enough, so why not surround him with two other young guys (both Holiday and Evans are only 23yrs old!) who could help him improve? And I think they'll work well together...Holiday is a nice PG, and although not a superstar, he is an All-Star, and I'd take him over Damian Lillard, Brandon Jennings, Jeff Teague, Ricky Rubio and Kyle Lowry on your list. Evans, is no doubt a question mark, but he can create his own shot and has been stuck in a miserable situation in Sacramento since coming into the league, so might be a much better player than we've seen. So, the group of Davis, Anderson, Evans and Holiday look ok to me...losing draft picks isn't ideal, but I'm not sold on Noel at all, so don't see him as a big loss. There has to be a reason he slid to 6! The biggest 'problem' for the Pelicans is Eric Gordon...owed over $14mil for each of the next 3yrs, Gordon has been a massive let down since leaving the Clips. They'll lose Lopez in the Evans deal, so I think they should be looking to ship Gordon out for some big man help.