As a rookie, Herb Jones was already one of the most impactful defenders in the NBA. And the versatile forward is just getting started. It’s generally a safe assumption that first-year NBA players will struggle on defense. As modern offenses create more space on the floor and use an increasingly wide range of set plays,
New Orleans Pelicans
Seldom does the opportunity arise to add a player like Kevin Durant to your franchise. Durant, a former MVP, 12-time All-Star, four-time scoring champ, and two-time finals MVP, was available, and then he wasn’t. Durant made his stance clear to Brooklyn Nets owner Joe Tsai this summer: Change management and coaching, or trade me. Tsai,
Cross the New Orleans Pelicans off the list of Kevin Durant trade destinations. Rumors are they’d prefer to keep Brandon Ingram. As the Kevin Durant trade saga has dragged on in Brooklyn the number of suitors has appeared to shrink dramatically. When Durant first asked to be traded the buzz was that every single team
New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson has plenty of incentives in his new extension deal — but there’s also “de-escalators” tied to his conditioning. Zion Williamson celebrated his 22nd birthday unlike anyone else, signing a five-year, $193 million extension with the New Orleans Pelicans on July 6th. After he finishes his rookie season, the guaranteed
The New Orleans Pelicans took a shot at LeBron James and Russell Westbrook on Twitter. While the New Orleans Pelicans players seem to like each other, the same thing cannot be said for Los Angeles Lakers teammates LeBron James and Russell Westbrook. An NBA fan took a screenshot of the Lakers’ Twitter header and compared it
This week marked the three-year anniversary of the Anthony Davis trade. With the benefit of hindsight, who made out better in this deal — the Lakers or the Pelicans? The Anthony Davis trade saga is one of the messiest in recent NBA memory. In January of 2019, his agent told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski that he
Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports Packers: Marcedes Lewis on track to set major tight end record by Eric Treuden LIV Golf rumors: Collin Morikawa denies he’ll follow Brooks Koepka by Drew Koch NBA Draft rumors have pegged several NBA teams as trying to trade down in the top 10. Now the New Orleans Pelicans are reportedly
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – APRIL 28: Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans looks on during the game against the Phoenix Suns at Smoothie King Center on April 28, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to
The Whiteboard is The Step Back’s daily basketball newsletter, covering the NBA, WNBA and more. Subscribe here to get it delivered to you via email each morning. Of all the shocking trends we’ve seen so far in the first round of the playoffs (and there have been more than a few) the New Orleans Pelicans splitting
The New Orleans Pelicans return home, looking to take a 2-1 series lead over the Devin Booker-less Phoenix Suns with a Game 3 win on Apr. 22. The Phoenix Suns and New Orleans Pelicans first-round series is officially tied at one game apiece. Phoenix, the reigning Western Conference champions, took Game 1 by the score
Chris Paul has had the worst luck in playoff games refereed by Scott Foster, and last night his luck did not change. The Chris Paul, Scott Foster playoff curse continues. Last night, Paul added another loss for playoff games he has been in that were refereed by Scott Foster. The New Orleans Pelicans beat the
Will the New Orleans Pelicans have Zion Williamson available for the NBA Playoffs? Opinions differ on the star big man’s return to the lineup. Three years ago, the Pelicans drafted Zion Williamson with hopes of the Duke star leading them to playoff glory. They’ve made it to the postseason for the first time in his
The Whiteboard is The Step Back’s daily basketball newsletter, covering the NBA, WNBA and more. Subscribe here to get it delivered to you via email each morning. The Hawks used a balanced effort to knock off the Hornets last night, with six different players scoring in double-figures and five players knocking down multiple 3-pointers. They’ll face
Despite leading by 10 points entering the fourth quarterback, the Clippers blew their double-digit lead to the Pelicans. The NBA is a game of runs, and the Pels were lucky that their surge was best saved for last. Despite holding a 15-point lead of their own in the second quarter, the Pelicans answer with a
With the start of the playoffs just a few days away, it’s time to hand out some awards for the 2021-22 NBA season. Amazingly, we are less than two weeks away from the end of the NBA season, which means it’s time to get to work on selecting 2021-22 award winners. I, of course, do
After defeating the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday night, the New Orleans Pelicans updated their Twitter bio in a savage way. Despite the return of Anthony Davis and a resurgent effort from LeBron James, the Lakers fell short against the New Orleans Pelicans. With the loss, the Lakers fell one game out of the play-in
The Pelicans won’t entertain Zion Williamson trade offers unless he forces their hand. But if he does, the New York Knicks should be ready to pounce. Let’s say this off the top – the Knicks need to stay the course and continue to build through the young guns and the draft. They have a collection
The Whiteboard is The Step Back’s daily basketball newsletter, covering the NBA, WNBA and more. Subscribe here to get it delivered to you via email each morning. The Los Angeles Lakers have been slowly rolling towards chaos since fairly early in the season but the intensity has definitely picked up. Per 538, their odds of making
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – APRIL 14: Head coach Stan Van Gundy argues a call to referee James Williams #60 during the second quarter of an NBA game against the New York Knicks at Smoothie King Center on April 14, 2021 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading
Pelicans center Willy Hernangomez credits his success to his family: his parents and siblings, his Spanish NBA mentors, and his New Orleans teammates. “Las cosas en equipo. Las cosas en familia. Saben mucho mejor.” Willy Hernangomez has tasted victory in a way few other professional athletes ever have. Willy wasn’t the first person to win
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – JANUARY 30: CJ McCollum #3 of the Portland Trail Blazers during the game against the Chicago Bulls at United Center on January 30, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of
Both the Sacramento Kings and New Orleans Pelicans took bold swings head of the NBA trade deadline, but where will those moves ultimately take them? Both the blessing and the curse of building around someone like Zion Williamson is the urgency he places upon the present. A player this dominant, this soon with this kind of
The Whiteboard is The Step Back’s daily basketball newsletter, covering the NBA, WNBA and more. Subscribe here to get it delivered to you via email each morning. On Wednesday night, Stephen Curry put up his second-straight stinker, shooting 5-of-24 from the field and 1-of-9 from beyond the 3-point arc in a 17-point loss to the Dallas
You can learn a lot recovering from a serious injury. A lot about yourself. Your body. And about Zion Williamson. Zion Williamson broke the fifth metatarsal in his right foot this summer. So did I. A lot of rumor and speculation have surrounded the basketball phenom’s absence from the court this season. As his team
New Orleans Pelicans center Jonas Valanciunas and Golden State Warriors point guard Steph Curry now share a fascinating statistic unique only to them. What does towering Pelicans center Jonas Valanciunas have in common with prolific Warriors shooter Steph Curry? It’s certainly not height. Curry is listed at 6-foot-2, while Valanciunas is oversized at 6-foot-11. It’s
The NBA will make the Miami Heat and the Chicago Bulls forfeit second-round draft picks as penalty for tampering in Lonzo Ball and Kyle Lowry deals. The long-awaited verdict for the tampering trade charges involving Lonzo Ball and Kyle Lowry has finally been released. After a four-month investigation, the NBA has determined that the offending
Entering his third season, how much of his game has New Orleans Pelicans Zion Williamson unveiled? With a full season officially under New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson’s belt, we got to see the dominance that made him a viral sensation in high school, executed at the NBA level. Playing with a poorly built roster,
Why Zion Williamson’s foot injury could spell trouble for the Pelicans, plus what Michael Porter Jr.’s max extension means for the Nuggets moving forward. Monday’s NBA headlines rightfully centered on a small but vocal group of maddeningly selfish and deeply misguided players using incoherent, bad-faith rhetoric to support grossly irresponsible and scientifically indefensible decisions to
Brandon Ingram is just five years into his NBA career but once again finds himself in the unfortunate position of being defined by his relationship to others. Brandon Ingram has established a healthy NBA resume. He’s averaged 23.8 points per game for two consecutive seasons. He’s made an All-Star team and won Most Improved
Already a generational scoring talent, Zion Williamson may only be scratching the surface of his potential as a player. Even in an era when young stars take less time than ever to ascend, Zion Williamson’s rise is exceptional. With fewer than 100 NBA games under his belt, the 21-year-old has already established himself as one
Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images A Ben Simmons trade is a foregone conclusion, but as the 76ers’ options dwindle we’re digging deep to look for other fun possibilities. The 76ers are eventually going to make a Ben Simmons trade — that much has seemed certain for weeks. But exactly what they’ll get and where he’ll
Carmen Mandato/POOL PHOTOS-USA TODAY Sports John Wall and the Houston Rockets agreed to find the veteran a new team. Which teams would actually be interested in taking him on? On Sep. 14, John Wall and the Houston Rockets mutually agreed to find a new team for Wall, according to a report from The Athletic. However, for
On July 28, 2021, New Orleans Pelicans center Jaxson Hayes was reportedly involved in a physical altercation with Los Angeles police officers. The cops were called to the home in Woodland Hills around 3 a.m. over an alleged domestic violence dispute between Jaxson and his girlfriend. After a woman received worrisome text messages from her
New Orleans Pelicans guard Lonzo Ball is heading to Chicago to join the Bulls on a four-year deal worth $85 million via a sign-and-trade. Lonzo Ball is going to sign with the Chicago Bulls. The New Orleans Pelicans guard agreed to a four-year, $85 million contract, according to multiple reports, with a sign-and-trade agreement. Shams
The Washington Wizards remain as the number one team for Bradley Beal. According to oddsmakers at MyBookie, showing -400 odds, the highest probability is Beal staying put and playing his first game of the 2021-22 NBA season with Washington. The 28-year-old even said so himself that he never requested a trade and wants to remain
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 15: Lauri Markkanen #24 of the Chicago Bulls dribbles during the first half against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on May 15, 2021 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User
Lauri Markkanen is a restricted free agent on the Chicago Bulls. The organization is now willing to trade the power forward, however, Bulls general manager Marc Eversley is demanding a first-round pick in return. Two days ago, Markkanen told the media that he has no plans to re-sign with Chicago. According to sources, the New
It was always most likely Chris Paul would go back to the Phoenix Suns, but he did he still use an offer from elsewhere as leverage? With the virtual certainty he would decline his player option for next season, a return to the Phoenix Suns was always the most likely scenario for Chris Paul. He
Devonte’ Graham celebrates his three point shot in the second quarter against the New York Knicks. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) Lakers fans are thrilled with Rob Pelinka’s moves so far in Free Agency by Alicia de Artola After losing Lonzo Ball to the Chicago Bulls after a sign-and-trade deal, Devonte Graham commits to a sign-and-trade
Lonzo Ball, New Orleans Pelicans. (Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports) Bulls land Lonzo Ball on 4-year deal in sign-and-trade with Pelicans by Alicia de Artola Kyle Lowry announces he’s taking his talents to South Beach in sign-and-trade by Mark Powell It took all of one minute for the Chicago Bulls to land Lonzo Ball
Kyle Lowry. (Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports) The first day of 2021 NBA free agency included a flurry of activity as teams scrambled to set up their rosters for next season. Who won and lost the day? Even when games aren’t being played, there are winners and losers in the NBA — especially in NBA free
Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports With the Los Angeles Lakers finding their point guard in Russell Westbrook, here are the top three destinations for free agent Kyle Lowry. This NBA offseason, there are set to be plenty of teams in search of a starting point guard, from teams on the rise to those planning
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Andrew Lopez, the New Orleans Pelicans are shipping guard Eric Bledsoe, center Steven Adams, the Nos. 10 and 40 picks of the 2021 NBA Draft, and two future first-round picks to the Memphis Grizzlies for center Jonas Valanciunas and the Nos. 17 and 51 picks of this week’s upcoming
The Milwaukee Bucks are NBA Champions once again. Fifty years after winning their first title, the Bucks defeated the Phoenix Suns in six games behind a sensational performance from their superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. Milwaukee drafted the two-time regular season MVP and now Finals MVP back in 2013 with the 15th overall pick. Every year the
Lonzo Ball is a free agent with plenty of options this offseason, but there’s one that stands out as perhaps his best bet for success. The opportunity to make a move out of New Orleans, a franchise that is perpetually rebuilding, certainly seems enticing for Lonzo Ball. Ball has tried to calm the nerves of
Jul 7, 2019; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Phoenix Suns Summer League head coach Willie Green talks with guard Retin Obasohan (30) during the second half of an NBA Summer League game against the New York Knicks at Thomas & Mack Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports Stephen A. Smith finally apologized for xenophobic
Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports With Damian Lillard reportedly considering asking for a trade, these are the teams who could get the Trail Blazer’s attention with a compelling offer. After their early exit from the 2021 NBA Playoffs, the Portland Trail Blazers knew they’d face a pivotal offseason. It just got a whole lot more dramatic. Talisman
With Zion Williamson potentially unhappy with the New Orleans Pelicans, could they trade him to the New York Knicks? The easy answer is no, at least no in the near future. Even should Williamson try to force the Pelicans hand, the more likely option is that New Orleans surround him with more viable talent, rather
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 15: Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) Chicago Bears take one step closer to relocating to suburbs by John Buhler NHL rumors: Surprise team emerges in Jack Eichel trade sweepstakes by Brad Berreman If there’s any truth to the rumors Zion Williamson is
If it still hasn’t sunk in just yet, it bears repeating: the New York Knicks are making their first trip to the NBA Playoffs since 2012-13. Naturally, it’s understandable that most Knicks-centered articles are examining their ceiling this season. Alas, according to Kanye West, the present is the past – so, like Yeezy, we’re looking
The Whiteboard is The Step Back’s daily basketball newsletter, covering the NBA, WNBA and more. Subscribe here to get it delivered to you via email each morning. Defending Zion Williamson is, increasingly, becoming one of the most complex strategic challenges in the NBA. His size, agility and touch around the basket give him at least one
NBA fans had some positive and negative thoughts about ESPN’s “Marvel Arena of Heroes” broadcast of the Golden State Warriors vs. New Orleans Pelicans game. Earth’s mightiest heroes haven’t gathered on screen for Marvel fans in over a year, but on the small screen, they’ve been giving fans of the superhero genre plenty to enjoy.
Three teams in the Eastern Conference are expected to compete for a spot in the NBA Finals. The Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers and Milwaukee Bucks are clearly head-and-shoulders above the next tier of teams in the East. Still, those organizations are not going to just lay down and concede defeat. Last year the Miami HEAT
Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) Ryan Garcia withdraws from bout due to ‘health and wellbeing’ concerns by Curtis Calhoun The Golden State Warriors’ road game vs. the New Orleans Pelicans will be Marvel-themed. If you are really into The Avengers, then you are really going to be into ESPN’s May 3 telecast of
Zion Williamson had nothing but nice things to say about playing in Madison Square Garden following the New Orleans Pelicans’ loss to the New York Knicks on Sunday. The New York Knicks are the talk of the city, and that is more evident than ever with the Yankees struggling at the start of the MLB
J.J. Redick had a few things to say about how the New Orleans Pelicans handled his trade. J.J. Redick has been in the NBA for a long time, and with the New Orleans Pelicans more focused on a future built around Zion Williamson, it’s no surprise to hear the two sides discussed potential trade possibilities
Feb 27, 2021; San Antonio, Texas, USA; New Orleans Pelicans guard Lonzo Ball (2) passes in the second half against the San Antonio Spurs at the AT&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports Sage Northcutt ’embracing’ underdog status heading into ONE on TNT 4 by Amy Kaplan Danny Green did something special for this
The Dallas Mavericks have added another shooter around Luka Doncic, with J.J. Redick coming via a deal with the New Orleans Pelicans. The Dallas Mavericks are clinging to the eighth spot in the West, and they’ve added a piece at the trade deadline. According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, Dallas has agreed to a
Lonzo Ball, New Orleans Pelicans. (Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports) March Madness: We all owe Jim Boeheim, Syracuse basketball a big apology by Mike Phillips Zion Williamson is on a tear not seen since prime Shaq by Alicia de Artola One name to watch ahead of the 2021 NBA trade deadline is New Orleans Pelicans
Lonzo Ball, New Orleans Pelicans. (Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports) Wisconsin basketball: Badgers spoof ‘Full House’ intro for March Madness hype video by Bre’ana Singleton Lonzo Ball is reportedly interested in joining the New York Knicks in his restricted free agency. New Orleans Pelicans point guard Lonzo Ball will be hitting restricted free agency this summer.
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – FEBRUARY 03: JJ Redick #4 of the New Orleans Pelicans reacts during the thrid quarter of an NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at Smoothie King Center on February 03, 2021 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph,
The Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder and New Orleans Pelicans have leveraged superstar trades into a huge number of draft picks. But how far ahead of the pack are they? The past two years have seen a succession of enormous, superstar trades in the NBA, with Anthony Davis, Paul George, Russell Westbrook (twice), Chris Paul
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – FEBRUARY 09: Lonzo Ball #2 of the New Orleans Pelicans drives against John Wall #1 of the Houston Rockets during the second half at the Smoothie King Center on February 09, 2021 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this
Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks, Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans. (Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports) Knicks center Mitchell Robinson fractures right hand by Scott Rogust Luka Doncic was slightly better than Zion Williamson in their divisional rivalry clash on Friday. Still very early in their NBA careers, the Southwest Division has at least a pair of budding
JJ Redick is bound to be on the move soon, with the Nets, 76ers and Celtics all interested. It’s unknown what the New Orleans Pelicans asking price is for one of the best three-point shooters in the game, but draft capital should be expected in any return. Redick has been a DNP for the past
The latest NBA trade rumors suggest the Warriors are open to moving Kelly Oubre Jr. The Golden State Warriors hoped Kelly Oubre Jr. would be part of a new foundation after trading for him in the offseason. Now, it appears they’re already open to moving him if the right deal materializes. According to The Athletic’s