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NBA Season Preview 2018-19: Preseason power rankings

By Ian Levy

LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 29: Stephen Curry #30 and Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors laugh in the hallway before the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on November 29, 2017 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 29: Stephen Curry #30 and Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors laugh in the hallway before the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on November 29, 2017 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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NEW ORLEANS, LA – OCTOBER 11: Anthony Davis #23 of the New Orleans Pelicans shakes teammates hands during a pre-season game against the Toronto Raptors on October 11, 2018 at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch Jr./NBAE via Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – OCTOBER 11: Anthony Davis #23 of the New Orleans Pelicans shakes teammates hands during a pre-season game against the Toronto Raptors on October 11, 2018 at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Layne Murdoch Jr./NBAE via Getty Images) /

69. . . Previous: . New Orleans Pelicans. 8. team

The New Orleans Pelicans have Anthony Davis, who may very well be ready to take home his first MVP Award and challenge LeBron James and Kevin Durant for the title of best player in the world. Whatever early-career qualms he may have had about playing center full time were expunged by his explosive second-half of the season once DeMarcus Cousins went down with injury. This also may be the best roster the Pelicans have ever put around Davis, with Jrue Holiday, Nikola Mirotic and Julius Randle all offering versatility and upside.

The problem is still depth, and counting on middling role players to be great. That, ultimately, may be the place where Davis can most clearly solidify his greatness. One of LeBron’s gifts is the ability to make anyone around him a net positive. If Davis can pull above-average production out of players like Ian Clark and Wes Johnson, the Pelicans might be ready to jump up a tier.