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New Orleans Pelicans: Grading The Offseason

By Gerald Bourguet

Apr 25, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) reacts after a score by the Golden State Warriors during the fourth quarter in game four of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at the Smoothie King Center. The Warriors defeated the Pelicans 109-98. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 25, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) reacts after a score by the Golden State Warriors during the fourth quarter in game four of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at the Smoothie King Center. The Warriors defeated the Pelicans 109-98. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /
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New Orleans Pelicans
Apr 25, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) reacts after a score by the Golden State Warriors during the fourth quarter in game four of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at the Smoothie King Center. The Warriors defeated the Pelicans 109-98. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

The New Orleans Pelicans are coming off the best season in franchise history since switching from the Hornets brand, posting a respectable 45-37 record to earn the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Those 45 wins put the Pellies two wins shy of the franchise record, Anthony Davis was a top-5 MVP candidate and even after a first-round sweep, this team has a very bright future.

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Trying to not only replicate, but build on that success heading into the 2015-16 season will be difficult in the top-heavy West, which somehow got even stronger this summer. But with new head coach Alvin Gentry at the helm, the front office seems confident that the progression will come as the 22-year-old Brow morphs into the NBA Godzilla.

So confident, in fact, that their offseason strategy was simple: bring everybody back for another go-round.

The question now is, will it be enough? As great as it was to see Davis in his first playoff series, it’s hard to ignore that the Pelicans wouldn’t have been there had the Oklahoma City Thunder stayed healthy all season. Even if the Brow takes another massive step forward next season, New Orleans won’t be joining the heavy hitters of the West next season.

With no pick in the 2015 NBA Draft (their first-rounder went to the Houston Rockets as part of the Omer Asik trade), the Pelicans don’t have much to look forward to next season in terms of new additions. But how did all those re-signings go, and will they be enough for next season? Here’s a look at the Pelicans’ summer with complete offseason grades.

Next: Locking Up A Monster

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