You could already picture the scene in the Smoothie King Center this fall: Julius Randle grabbing a defensive rebound, dishing off to Elfrid Payton, then immediately sprinting the floor along with Anthony Davis, as Payton rapidly dribbles into the frontcourt, scanning the court for an open shooter.
New Orleans was already one of the NBA’s fastest-playing teams midway through last season, but the Pelicans doubled down after the All-Star break, reaping immense rewards in the form of a 20-8 close to the 82-game schedule. Based on Friday’s press conference introducing Payton and Randle, Alvin Gentry’s up-tempo attack may have just doubled down again, with New Orleans believing the pair of free agents fit perfectly in a transition-heavy style.