"The New Orleans Pelicans are 0-6 to start the season. Of those six losses, three have been by at least 30 points. No team in NBA history has accumulated three 30-point losses this early in a season. The Pelicans rank 27th in offensive rating and 29th in defensive rating. They are playing "an unserious brand of basketball," longtime Pelicans reporter Will Guillory decreed Sunday evening."
"In a memorable autopsy of draft night, under the section header "The League Does Not Respect Pelicans' Decision Makers," Pelicans reporter Shamit Dua shared this anecdote: When one Pelicans executive made the call to Atlanta, the Hawks couldn't believe what was actually being offered. Atlanta asked for clarification multiple times to confirm the unprotected pick was indeed part of the deal. It got to the point where Hawks General Manager, Onsi Saleh, called Joe Dumars directly to confirm for himself."
The New Orleans Pelicans opened the season 0-6, including three losses by at least 30 points — an unprecedented start. The team sits 27th in offensive rating and 29th in defensive rating, and players appear disengaged from head coach Willie Green. Head of basketball operations Joe Dumars and general manager Troy Weaver have made controversial moves, most notably trading the team’s unprotected 2026 first-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks to move up from No. 23 to No. 13 in the draft. The Hawks asked multiple times to confirm the unprotected pick was included. The team started 37-year-old DeAndre Jordan at center despite having traded away an upcoming first-round pick and asserting it does not intend to tank.
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