A devastating first year awaited Byron Scott where he oversaw his team fall out of playoff contention nearly as soon as the season began. In the offseason, Scott oversaw his team use its coveted draft pick on a promising point guard. Scott then oversaw a significant improvement as his team made the NBA playoffs two years later.
All of which made for a relatively successful rebuilding project for the former New Orleans Hornets (2004-09) that entailed a Western Conference semifinals appearance in 2008 and a first-round exit in 2009. But with the Lakers (8-31) hosting the Pelicans (11-25) on Tuesday at Staples Center with the Western Conference’s worst record, can they surass New Orlean’s rebuilding and make the playoffs next season?