The New Orleans Pelicans have a brand new name for next season and after pulling off two stunning trades this offseason, the team is going all in on a new rebuilding plan with Tyreke Evans and Jrue Holiday coming in alongside Anthony Davis, Eric Gordon and Austin Rivers.
Evans was a restricted free agent with the Sacramento Kings this offseason and when the Pelicans made him an offer he had hoped the franchise wouldn't match and since the team is coming under new ownership, they likely wanted to cut some costs anyway. The Kings signed Carl Landry to a deal and moved Evans in a three-team sign and trade and long with the Holiday deal, the Pelicans completely changed up their roster. The team moved number six draft pick Nerlens Noel to the Sixers for Holiday, so now coach Monty Williams must balance the use of Evans, Gordon and Holiday on the floor.
According to Pro Basketball Talk, Williams and the team have not yet totally figured out what role each player will take when the season begins, but their report says that Evans doesn't have any qualms about coming off the bench if that's what the team needs him to do. Evans hoped to sign to a winning team in the offseason and as long as he is contributing to that, he said he didn't care where he plays in the lineup.
The team signed Evans to a four-year, $44 million contract and he comes to the Pelicans after winning the Rookie of the Year award back in 2010 with Sacramento. Evans lasted with the team since he was drafted, but while with the Kings he never won more than 28 games and now that the Pelicans have added some elite talent, there is a good chance they will at least compete for one of the lower playoff spots in the West.
Although the team went just 27-55 last season, bringing in Evans and Holiday should drastically improve the overall offense, which ranked 25th in the league last season with 94 points per game. Anthony Davis showed some major signs of growth throughout the season and proved why he deserved being the number one pick and although Rivers had some tough struggles during the year, he has looked much better in summer league play and should be improved next season. The Pelicans have a ton of young talent for Williams to work with and he will have the chance to tinker with the starting lineups after the front office made all those moves.
