The futility of trying to judge the Pelicans major moves in the 2013 offseason due to the major injuries the team sustained accentuates the extreme futility of trying to judge their 2014 offseason moves. But in the absence of any real news between the end of free agency and summer league and nothing of interest happening until the USA team scrimmages I thought it would be fun to review the media's grades to the Pelicans for their 2014 offseason. To say there is an extreme variance in opinion would be an understatement.
The most entertaining assessment was by Andrew Sharp with Grantland. Overall a great and insightful read. Witty and spot on he gave the Pelicans a B+ grade "Plus an alien with basketball superpowers:
http://grantland.com/the-triangle/yo...n-report-card/
On the other end of the spectrum this dude with Rant Sports doesn't seem to be aware the the Pelicans signed Omer Asik!!!
He's grading us on the Jimmer signing!!!
Oh and BTW he gave us a D+
"The Pelicans were able to nab Jimmer Fredette to a veteran minimum deal, and I actually believe he may be able to revitalize his career in New Orleans. He will certainly help boost their three-point efficiency, but that doesn’t solve their well established defensive woes. Overall it was unimpressive."
Grade: D+
http://www.rantsports.com/nba/2014/0...teams/#slide39
In between Alec Nathan, with yes, that Bleacher report, came in somewhere in between with a C:
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2...rmance/page/20
Fansided Gerald Bourguet also straddled the middle awarding the Pelicans a C+ while bemoaning the loss of Brian Roberts and Jason Smith
http://fansided.com/2014/07/17/nba-f...-offseasons/2/
The most ludicrous grade was from real GM administrator who awarded the Pelicans a "D" and the Rockets an A- for the Omer Asik trade???
http://basketball.realgm.com/blog/23...şık/
Zach Harper with CBS Sports graded the Rockets with an A- and the Pelicans with a B for the Asik trade???
http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on-...rst-round-pick
Ben Golliver with SI gave the Rockets an A and the Pelicans with a B for the Asik acquisition?
http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on-...rst-round-pick
And David Fisher with "The Bird Writes" posted the best and fairest assessment of all:
http://www.thebirdwrites.com/2014/7/...son-assessment
I can go along with a B+ and I don't think David or I are "homers"
But what self respecting sports commentator could really believe Houston came out better than the Pelicans on the Asik deal? My impression is that the Rockets saw Omer as redundant and were trying to clear cap space so THEY GAVE him away to a divisional opponent. AND they didn't sign LBJ, Mello, Chandler or Bosh but did sign Ariza? I'd grade that as an F-