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Ranking the NBA’s small market teams

By Jonah Kubicek

Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurscredit (Robert Sullivan /AFP via Getty Images)
Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurscredit (Robert Sullivan /AFP via Getty Images) /
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Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans
Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) /

#12: New Orleans Pelicans

Just because we’ve reached number 12 doesn’t mean we aren’t still scraping the bottom of the barrel. The New Orleans Pelicans were looking good when they had a duo of DeMarcus Cousins and Anthony Davis, but one got hurt and one wanted out. Honestly, I can’t blame him. The Pelicans have had some good players since their 2002 inception, but they could never put it together.

Chris Paul tried his best, but he had a minimal supporting cast. That being said, he had help on the Clippers and Suns but he’s yet to win a title, so maybe he’s the problem. But I digress.

Much like the Hornets, the Pelicans have a case to make some real noise soon. They have a great roster of young talent, and I hope they do great things, mostly so New Orleans has another excuse to have a parade.

My theory is that the Pelicans are supposed to be bad. I was delighted to find out they were rebranding in 2013 to one of the most ridiculous mascots in all of sports. Personally, I love waterfowl, but it’s not exactly an inspiring name.

Zion Williamson might be able to pull them back from the brink, but we are yet to see him play a full season. I’m a big believer in their current roster, so hopefully this ranking changes in the future, but for now they’re a bottom-tier team in the entire league.