The New Orleans Pelicans are a mess right now, but is it too soon to consider tanking?
In the 1996-97 NBA season, the San Antonio Spurs successfully did what so many teams throughout NBA history had tried to do before and just as many have tried to do since: tank for a top draft pick in a lost season.
Coming off a 59-win season, the Spurs rode the combination of David Robinson‘s back and foot injury, Sean Elliott‘s injury and the rapid decline of Avery Johnson and Vinny Del Negro to a franchise-worst record of 20-62. They didn’t rush Robinson back and with the third worst record in the league, they wound up winning the draft lottery.
The grand prize of that No. 1 draft pick? Tim Duncan, and the five NBA championships and the 18 straight playoff appearances that eventually came with him. It was the rare occurrence when tanking actually pays off, but it also became the most successful example as well.
Pelican Debrief
For the 2015-16 New Orleans Pelicans, that example may be one to keep in mind if their current struggles continue.
Coming off the first playoff appearance of Anthony Davis‘ career, the immediate future was thought to be bright for the Pellies. They weren’t considered title contenders by any stretch of the imagination, but with the arrival of Alvin Gentry and the Brow coming off an MVP-caliber season — yet somehow still barely scratching the surface of his otherworldly potential — this season was supposed to be a breakthrough of sorts.
Instead, the Pelicans have been decimated by injuries and are off to a disastrous 4-14 start.
The returns of Tyreke Evans and Norris Cole should help matters, but the damage may have already been done. The Pelicans still sport the league’s worst defense, surrendering 109.1 points per 100 possessions, and the return of Evans and Cole figures to do little to change that.
It’s still awfully early in the season, but as what point do the Pelicans try to emulate the 1997 Spurs and put themselves in a better position for the future?
The Thunder started 4-12 last season, as the Pelicans have now. They played at a 51-win pace after that and still missed the playoffs.
— Adi Joseph (@AdiJoseph) November 28, 2015
On the record, the Pelicans would probably say, “Never.” The Western Conference has clearly taken a step back this year, and it’s worth noting that despite their horrific start, New Orleans is only four games out of the eighth playoff spot with 64 games to go in the season.
Having a superstar like Anthony Davis will put the Pelicans in position to win games on a nightly basis, Ryan Anderson has been shooting fire from his bare hands off the bench, Ish Smith has stepped up in a big way and the return of the team’s primary playmaker in Tyreke Evans will only help this team moving forward.
But if Evans’ return isn’t the immediate galvanizing force the Pelicans need to make up some of the ground they’ve lost over the first month of the season, it’s worth discussing their prospects as a tanking team.
It wouldn’t be hard. The Pelicans would never go as far as faking an injury for Anthony Davis, since he’s pretty much the only main draw for the franchise right now. But considering the Brow has missed 18, 15 and 14 games in his first three NBA seasons, wouldn’t it be possible for them to, uh, embellish a nagging injury later on in the season?
The trade market is also worth exploring, since no one outside of Anthony Davis can really be considered an intrinsic part of building a contender in New Orleans.
At what point do Pelicans (4-13) consider trading Gordon/Anderson expirings, pulling a '97 Spurs + quitting 2016 for a real chance at BS?
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) November 29, 2015
Even with Davis only being 22 years old, blowing it up shouldn’t be in the team’s blueprint for the future. But at some point, it’ll be time for the front office to transition from Jrue Holiday/Evans/Anderson/Omer Asik into a new era that actually gives the Pelicans a chance to contend for more than a first round playoff appearance.
If the losing continues, why not make that time now and give the team a chance at a potential game-changer like Ben Simmons, Skal Labissiere or Dragan Bender?
Next: NBA Power Rankings: Week 6
For the time being, it’s too early to pack it in and back the tank up. The Pelicans’ recent wins over the Phoenix Suns and San Antonio Spurs showed a very different team, and this team’s season may just be starting now with Evans back. But another few weeks of losing may make this tanking question a very legitimate one, especially if the rest of the West continues to wake up.