Pelicans Blow Out Kings, But Bigger Questions Loom Over New Orleans’ Direction
The New Orleans Pelicans handled business Monday night, cruising to a 120-94 win over the Sacramento Kings. It was a performance that gave fans a glimpse of what this roster can look like when things click-efficient, energetic, and explosive.
Rookie guard Jeremiah Fears came off the bench and delivered arguably his best showing in weeks, dropping 20 points to go along with four rebounds and three assists. Trey Murphy III stayed hot, lighting it up from deep with five triples on his way to 28 points.
But as much as this win showed off the Pelicans’ potential, it also underscored a much bigger issue: New Orleans is stuck. Not rebuilding.
Not contending. Just... stuck.
A Win That Doesn’t Move the Needle
With Monday’s victory, the Pelicans improved to 15-40 on the season. That’s not a record that reflects a team on the rise.
And when you look closer, the wins tell a clearer story-only three of those 15 have come against current Western Conference playoff teams. The rest?
All against fellow bottom-tier squads.
That’s the definition of being in NBA purgatory: too talented to tank outright, but not built well enough to hang with the league’s best. And while the team’s young core continues to show flashes, the overall construction of the roster just hasn’t translated into meaningful progress.
Deadline Moves-or Lack Thereof-Speak Volumes
At the trade deadline, New Orleans made just one move: sending Jose Alvarado to the Knicks in exchange for a pair of second-round picks and a roster spot. That’s not exactly a shakeup. If anything, it signals that the front office is doubling down on this current group, hoping that better health, continued development, and maybe some coaching tweaks will be enough to turn things around.
It’s a bet on internal growth, not external change. But when you’re staring down a second consecutive season near the bottom of the standings, that’s a risky hand to play.
What’s the Endgame Here?
The Pelicans don’t own their first-round pick in the upcoming draft, which might explain some of the reluctance to pivot toward a rebuild. But the numbers are hard to ignore. They rank fourth-worst in defensive rating, make the fourth-fewest threes per game, give up the second-most offensive rebounds, and allow the sixth-most total boards overall.
Those aren’t the kind of issues that get cleaned up with a couple months of good vibes and offseason tweaks. That’s structural. That’s systemic.
And while it’s easy to celebrate a blowout win-especially one that featured some real highlights from young talent-the reality is that Sacramento came into this game riding a 12-game losing streak. Beating a team in freefall doesn’t mean you’re climbing.
The Clock Is Ticking
This isn’t about effort. It’s not about individual talent either-there are pieces here that any team would love to have.
But the fit, the direction, the identity? That’s where things get murky.
If the Pelicans want to avoid becoming a permanent fixture in the league’s basement, something has to give. Monday night’s win was fun.
It was needed. But if the front office sees it as validation rather than a temporary reprieve, they risk missing the bigger picture.
Because in today’s NBA, standing still is just another way of falling behind.