3 reasons the New Orleans Pelicans are trending upward

3 reasons the New Orleans Pelicans are trending upward: 3. Timing

Timing accounts for so much in the NBA, and while the Pelicans have been on the wrong end of this in past years, that looks to be changing. Even if Williamson ends up being traded this summer (unthinkable, but not impossible), the Pelicans are still left with a core of Ingram, McCollum, Jones, Devonte’ Graham, Jonas Valanciunas, and Jaxson Hayes.

Ingram is an All-Star and McCollum is still elite, while Jones and Graham are nice role players. Jones, in particular, is already slipping into that Josh Hart role of being a glue guy who does a bit of everything on the roster. Valanciunas and Hayes are hardly key pieces, but both still have some trade value, if nothing else.

Looking around the Western Conference, the Trail Blazers are clearly taking a step back. The Lakers continue to look a mess with no solution, while the San Antonio Spurs aren’t onto much outside of first-time All-Star Dejounte Murray. Above the Pelicans, though, is where this conversation gets interesting.

The Jazz look like an organization that will go through some major changes if they have a short postseason. (Which, right now, seems the most likely outcome for them.) The Clippers and Warriors have the talent, but both look like they could fall off at any point because of injuries (Draymond Green and Paul George/Kawhi Leonard are already proving this).

The Phoenix Suns are elite and going nowhere, but Chris Paul-led teams have, in the past, come to the finish line unexpectedly. The Deandre Ayton contract situation doesn’t help either.

All of which is to say the Pelicans are putting some players and wins together out of sight and could be primed to take an even larger step forward sooner rather than later. Don’t be surprised if and when that happens.