The New Orleans Pelicans, to the casual follower, appeared to be as directionless as they were disjointed throughout much of the early Anthony Davis’ years. Before the start of every season, the front office tried to patchwork together a competitive team around the young superstar. All too often, the results did not materialize as intended.
The Pelicans have preached continuity year after year, yet they consistently experienced a good deal of roster turnover. For example, the team watched Eric Gordon and Ryan Anderson hit the open market after the 2015-16 season — without any compensation in return.