The start of the 2024-25 NBA season is a little over a month away. The excitement is at an all-time high, and teams will look to take the next leap this upcoming season.
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One of the teams looking to do just that is Western Conference contender the New Orleans Pelicans. The Pelicans came up short last season. Although they made the playoffs, they were swept by the No. 1 seed, the Oklahoma City Thunder, in the first round. On top of that, the Pelicans were without their best player and former No. 1 overall pick, Zion Williamson.
The Pelicans have failed to make it past the first round since 2018, and they will look for a deep playoff run in the mighty Western Conference. It will be the challenge of a lifetime, but the Pelicans improved mightily this offseason by acquiring All-Star point guard Dejounte Murray.
Murray had been on the trading block for some time, and the Pelicans wasted no time seizing the opportunity. With Murray's addition, expect the Pelicans to be a top team in the West. The move was highly praised at the time, including by former NBA veteran point guard Mike Bibby.
Bibby spoke to Brandon "Scoop B" Robinson and said that he believes Murray is the Pelicans' missing piece.
"I think it's going to help them out a lot," he said.
"I think that's what they might have been missing in New Orleans. They might have been missing that. But I think Trey Young and Murray, I think were good together, but I think it's two alpha males together. It's been hard for them to work together. I think it's going to be a good look for them over there."
Murray will soon join a young and talented team that is ready to strike while the iron is hot. The Pelicans have the pieces to compete with the best of them, including Williamson, Brandon Ingram, Herb Jones, Trey Murphy III, rookie Antonio Reeves, and veteran guard CJ McCollum.
McCollum knows what it's like to be alongside talented players, and Bibby believes that McCollum and Murray will be a deadly duo in the backcourt.
"It reminds me of how I used to play. He's solid, hit the open jumper, pick and roll, he's good at it. He plays smart. So I like them two together. I think they work good together."
The Pelicans are looking to take the next step, and we'll find out soon enough if they are ready to be a perennial playoff team this season. The Pelicans have -140 odds to make the playoffs and +4500 odds to win the NBA Finals.