The New Orleans Pelicans are predicted as a team on the rise and it's easy to see why.
The Pelicans have the emerging best player in the NBA in Anthony Davis. He has yet to reach his prime, yet he is already a defensive behemoth and he continues to develop his offensive arsenal-all the way to the three point line.
His potential is scary for the other teams as he is fast becoming a prototype basketball player and this has led the Pelicans to be projected as a top 8 team in ESPN's Power Rankings.
However, even this early, the same observers doubt their potential, as Marc Stein, who made the rankings, stated:
"Something tells me the Pels will enjoy looking at the Power Rankings every Monday more than the standings."
The Pelicans may have a decent supporting cast on paper but the reality is that they don't see a lot of time on the court. On the short term, one of their biggest problems is injuries to their secondary scorer, specifically on the wing.
Eric Gordon was projected as a prime talent coming into the NBA but he hardly plays a full season. The Pelicans gamble on Tyreke Evans turned out to be a win for them but the sad part is that he will start the season recuperating from surgery.
Which led Grantland to a prediction that the Pelicans may have to settle for a trade-and the market does not offer a lot.
"The league is so poor on wings who can shoot 3s and adequately defend both shooting guards and small forwards that I could see a team like New Orleans talking itself into Nick Young - even with Young's deal running three more seasons."
Nick Young is definitely a player on the block what with the Lakers' new acquisitions D'Angelo Russell (2nd overall pick in the 2015 Draft) and Lou Williams, former Sixth Man of the Year.
If the injury situation for the Pelicans worsens, they may send one of their forwards (Dante Cunningham, Quincy Poindexter) or a pick to the LA for Swaggy P to fulfill one of the "crazy predictions."