New Orleans pelicans will do everything possible to lose each of the last seven games at their schedule. As it is, they own the fourth record of the League with 54 losses, two “behind” of the Hornets, whom they beat Sunday, for a coveted place in the background. That entails the maximum probability of 14% of landing general selection No. 1 in 2025 NBA Draftwhich is almost certain that it will be Duke’s Cooper Flagg.
To help in that effort, the pelicans have Officially closed Zion Williamson and CJ McCollum for the rest of the season. The Pelicans published a statement citing a low contusion for Williamson and a feet bruise for McCollum, which are alternative ways of saying “we are sinking.”
Williamson has once again suffered a season full of injuries, managing to play in just 30 games, which is somehow registered as only its lowest total room in six NBA Seasons Williamson played 24 games in his rookie year, lost the entire 2021-22 season and played in just 29 two years ago.
Of course, Williamson played well in his 30 games, averaging a little less than 25 points to go with top of rebounds (7.2) and assists (5.3), but who cares at this time. There is nothing to discover about Williamson’s ability. The only number in their statistics that matter are the games played.
The Pelicans are in a tight place with Williamson because it is very good when he plays, and yet its commercial value is probably not what a player of his caliber should have his inability to remain on the court. Do you accept ten cents in dollar for him or keep doing this “can he say healthy?” dance for another year? It is probably the last.
What is at stake during the last two weeks of the NBA? Playoff races, lottery probabilities and historical statistics to see
Colin Ward-Henninger
The Pelicans were supposed to be a tank team this season. They changed to Dejunte Murray and entered the season with an incredibly deep list. To say that they have been decimated by injuries would be euphemism.
As for the tank, here are the last seven New Orleans games: in Clippers, in Lakers, vs. Bucks, in Nets, in Bucks, Vs. Heat and Vs. Thunder. The only opponent at that time that will also try to lose when they are is Brooklyn. That will be a tank in good faith. Apart from that, New Orleans should not have problems losing.
The problem is that Charlotte also seems to have six safe losses at the schedule against the Pacers, Kings, Bulls, Grizzlies and Celtics (twice). If they lose all those games, even if they accidentally volnd to the Raptors, the Pelicans cannot end in the top three in terms of lottery probabilities.
What they really want to ensure is that they do not fall to number 5, at which time their probabilities for selection No. 1 would fall from 12.5% (in No. 4) to 10%. The 76ers are only two losses of the pelicans, and if they ended up in a draw, the pelicans would fall to number 5 in the probabilities of the lottery because they swept the series of the season with Philadelphia.
