Fansided

NBA Free Agency: 10 teams facing most pressure to succeed

By Tom West

CHICAGO, IL - MARCH 05: Dwight Howard (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - MARCH 05: Dwight Howard (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
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Nov 6, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans head coach Alvin Gentry and associate head coach Darren Erman on the bench during the second half of a game against the Atlanta Hawks at the Smoothie King Center. The Hawks defeated the Pelicans 121-115. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 6, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans head coach Alvin Gentry and associate head coach Darren Erman on the bench during the second half of a game against the Atlanta Hawks at the Smoothie King Center. The Hawks defeated the Pelicans 121-115. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

8. New Orleans Pelicans

Similarly to the Rockets, except for having lower expectations, the Pelicans were also one of the NBA’s greatest disappointments in 2015-16. Anthony Davis was pegged by many as the next MVP (at least until his team fell off and Stephen Curry exploded) and after making the playoffs in 2015, another playoff berth seemed like a safe bet. If anything, having a better chance to compete in the first round was the likely step forward.

Instead, much like the Rockets, they fell down the West and finished in 12th, suffering due to constant injuries, a failed offensive plan under new head coach Alvin Gentry and the collapse of their AD-led defense. As they were continually destroyed by teams in the paint and Davis failed to make 70 games due to injury (again), it was clear the Pelicans weren’t going anywhere. And with a quiet trade deadline given the rumors flying around, no player went anywhere either.

Now, key pieces like Eric Gordon and Ryan Anderson are hitting free agency. And as the latter said on J.J. Redick’s podcast for The Vertical, he’s ready to test the market:

"“For me, I want to play all the cards. I want to enjoy this process and see where New Orleans is at this summer. I want to see where, I don’t know, Houston is at or Sacramento or Washington. So for me, I’m not going to say, ‘Listen, I want a trade’ when I don’t know what’s going to happen this summer.”"

There’s no obvious solution to what should be done with Gordon, and the Pelicans may have taken a risk by not trading Anderson. If he leaves, they’ll have blown a chance in February to bring in a significant return on one of the NBA’s premier stretch fours. Gordon will want money, but does his adequate production make up for the constant injury issues?

With such significant questions in free agency and New Orleans hardly being the most appealing destination for players to flock to, making a great choice in the 2016 NBA Draft by taking a scorer like Buddy Hield will at least add a little excitement to a pressure-filled summer that doesn’t seem to have a particularly bright outcome.

Next: 7. Miami Heat

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