After spending the first half of the season seemingly floating and with no real game plan, the New Orleans Pelicans somehow ended the year pushing the one-seeded Phoenix Suns to six games in the first round of the NBA Playoffs. In doing so, they became the feel-good story of spring, quickly dispelling the questions of what exactly they were doing and how they were going to get better.
Zion Williamson is still out of the picture, but Brandon Ingram is a legitimate star. The CJ McCollum trade, for now at least, looks like a smart one. A victory lap for an often mocked franchise that few, if any, saw coming. Until this season ends, the Pelicans can bask in this moment.
Make no mistake though, the hard work for the New Orleans Pelicans is only beginning, and it will mean a lot of effort put in over the summer.
General Manager David Griffin has taken plenty of flack in his handling of some situations in New Orleans, and he will have many tough decisions to make down the road. After all, think how much Jrue Holiday could have helped this franchise. Or even Lonzo Ball. Two players who were with the team and allowed to leave.
Granted, that meant McCollum could join, but even in their postseason run, we saw the limitations of playing with an undersized guard who relies a lot on his shooting. When it is good, it looks great, but in the playoffs, opponents are able to zone in on McCollum and make life difficult for him. Just ask Trae Young. Here then are three big questions for the Pelicans to ponder this offseason.