New Orleans Pelicans: 5 bold predictions for 2017-18 NBA season

1. Pelicans return to the playoffs in the brutal Western Conference

This may seem an outlandish prediction considering the carnage that’s expected to take place in the ultra-competitive Western Conference. The arrival of All-Stars Jimmy Butler, Paul George, Carmelo Anthony and Paul Millsap has only further strengthened the overall depth of competition.

However, there are some factors that can come into play that can assist the Pelicans in the playoff pursuit.

First of all, the Los Angeles Clippers and the Utah Jazz, each coming off 51-win seasons, lost their best respective players in Chris Paul and Gordon Hayward this summer. As a result, their return to the postseason is far from a formality.

Another playoff team from last season, the Memphis Grizzlies, won 43 games but have seemingly not improved their roster this offseason. Featuring an aging center with an injury history in Marc Gasol, the Grizzlies are certainly going to be up against it in the hot playoff race.

And if you’re to listen to the words of Anthony Davis, the makeup of the current roster, combined with the expected demise of these aforementioned teams, gives the Pelicans are every chance to make some noise this season:

"“I think right now if you look at our roster, all of our guys could easily be in our rotation. I think this is probably the most talented roster we’ve had. But that’s only on paper, we’ve got to go out and prove it.”"

Furthermore, Davis’ lack of postseason success, combined with the number of his teammates entering free agency next summer, means virtually everything is on the line for the Pelicans as a franchise:

"“We’ve got one year basically to figure it out. DeMarcus came to me this summer and said he has to win…He’s never been to the playoffs, he just wants to go to the playoffs. He’s buying in, he’s doing things he usually doesn’t do in the summer time. “He’s all in with us and we’re just trying to win for him, honestly. If we win for him, I think it can lead to some great things.”"

The combination of Davis and Cousins is simply going to be fascinating. As Davis alluded to, Cousins has been putting in the work this offseason, with the results plain to see:

It’s not often that a team enters a season having two of the league’s top seven scorers in the league.

Next: Top 10 candidates for 2017-18 Most Improved Player of the Year

With a full summer for this duo to get to know each other, while meshing with an assortment of new teammates, a return to the postseason for the Pelicans is a very real possibility.