1. How far will this team go as currently constructed if no major injuries occur?
I thought this team could make the playoffs last year and who knows what happens if we stay healthy. Two of our core 4 didn't even play half of the season. Our biggest addition, Jrue Holiday, didn't even get a chance to show what he could do with talent he had around him for more than 34 games. Just when everyone finally started to get a little comfortable with one another it all went to hell. We added our biggest need this offseason by getting the best possible center we could hope for without giving up a core piece. We didn't even have to give up Gordon, but maybe we wish we could of! Anthony Davis has shown that he will be a very special player and will only get better IMO.
I say we make the playoffs and depending on the matchup we may even advance. I won't predict that we will win a series, but I believe it can happen if we improve like I believe we will. Hopefully we make a few more improvements to the roster now and throughout the season.
2. Who out of our core players will make the biggest improvement and take that next step in development?
Tyreke Evans: I think Reke will make a considerable jump to All Star status. Now I'm not sure if he will make the team
per se, but he will be in the conversation. I think most "experts" think he has maxed out his potential and won't get any better than he was his rookie season. I think he hasn't even come close to his full potential and will show these "experts" that we do have a legitimate big 3 with him, AD, and Jrue.
3. Which player will surprise with his play and have the best bounce back year out of all the players that didn't have the greatest of years last season?
Eric Gordon: I think he will have his best year in New Orleans. He will stay completely healthy and will show that he can still be a top notch shooting guard in this league. By the end of the year he will have the respect of the refs and will start getting calls. The only problem is the fact that if does have a great season with a run to the playoffs, will he opt out?? Well if he doesn't at least he has shown he is capable of contributing to a successful season. So considering this, we could just keep him one more year or trade him due to his considerable increase in value.
4. Which non-starter will improve the most and become a very important piece to this team?
Austin Rivers: I think he will make a HUGE jump in his play and will be a critical piece on our bench. His play may just end up being the most important to this team making a run at the playoffs. We need someone to be huge off the bench if Gordon & Reke both start and I believe Rivers will show that he was worth that lotto pick!
5. Which new comer will have the best year and who will disappoint?
Omer Asik will have the best year cause he is exactly what we needed. He will have a chip on his shoulder and will want to show the Rockets that they wasted their money on Dwight. Playing next to Anthony Davis and Ryan Anderson will be huge for him and will only make him a better player.
Russ Smith will not have as good a season as most may think. I doubt he will really get all that much playing time with Jrue, Reke, Rivers, Jimmer, and Gordon all capable of initiating the offense. He turns it over too much and hasn't played the point guard position long enough to contribute right away in the NBA. He needs to get stronger, but one things for sure he won't lack the confidence to get it done. This is one of the predictions I hope I'm wrong on cause I want this guy to be good straight out the gate.
6. Which player will you miss not seeing in a Pelican uniform next season?
Greg Stiem..no I mean Brian Rob..GAG!!
Tough one cause I liked Morrow, Aminu, and Smith a lot, but I'll have to go with Jason Smith. Probably cause he was the longest tenured Pelican/Hornet, but mainly cause I loved everything he brought to the court and the game of basketball! I hope Patric Young can maybe somewhat fill in those shoes and bring some of what J Smoove brought to the court night in and night out! It's impossible to fill them totally, but just some of that hustle and mentality will go a long way!!
7. Which member of the organization will not be a part of this team by seasons end? Could be traded, released, quit, or fired?
Monty Wil..just kidding! All the other predictions would become null & void if that were the case. I'm not the biggest of fans, but I really want to be and hope he wins me over with a great season leading to a playoff berth!
Jeff Withey: He just doesn't look like a NBA player to me. I had huge hopes for this kid, but I just don't see it happening on this team. He may not even make it through camp, especially if they want to keep someone like DeQuan Jones or Courtney Fells from summer league.