New Orleans Pelicans 2015 NBA Season Preview

Apr 15, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) celebrates with guard Tyreke Evans (1) during a game against the San Antonio Spurs at the Smoothie King Center. The Pelicans defeated the Spurs 108-103 and earned the 8th seed in the Western Conference Playoffs. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

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Mar 17, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans center Omer Asik (3) reacts in the final seconds of the fourth quarter of game against the Milwaukee Bucks at the Smoothie King Center.The Pelicans defeated the Bucks 85-84. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

Biggest Offseason Move

The Pelicans didn’t incur a great deal of change this offseason, but it’s that fact exactly that led to their most important and best move of the summer. Almost as soon as he was eligible to sign his rookie extension, the Pelicans were able to lock up Anthony Davis to a five-year, $145 million extension that ensures he’ll be with the team for at least another six years.

Davis is already a burgeoning superstar in this league, but he’s also still got a crazy amount of time and potential growth ahead of him. The Pelicans were incredibly smart to not waste any time or thought on extending Davis and for making sure that he stays. He’s the future of this franchise and maybe even the league itself, so locking him up to a long-term extension is obviously a massive move for this organization.

Biggest Offseason Mistake

As beneficial as getting Davis to sign an extension was this summer, the Pelicans’ worst move of the offseason was also in regards to their frontcourt. Specifically, the deal that they gave to center Omer Asik to re-sign the big man is incredibly problematic.

Asik re-signed with the Pelicans to the tune of a five-year, $60 million contract. That is an incredible sum to give a big man like Asik who is already at his limited ceiling offensively and hasn’t exactly lived up to expectations as another rim-protector alongside Davis in the Pelicans frontcourt.

While I realize that the deal may not look as terrible once the salary cap jumps next summer, that’s still entirely too much money to be paying a guy who doesn’t noticeably make this team that much better. It’s just a curious decision that isn’t going to look good no matter what the salary cap is.

Next: Offensive/Defensive Breakdowns

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