David Aldridge ranked every team's off season for NBA.com, an annual rite of passage as the NBA begins a month long vacation. Last year the New Orleans Pelicans ranked 23rd, just behind the eventual champion Golden State Warriors. Thus proving the value of "winning" the off season.
This year the Pelicans rank much higher, at 8th overall sandwiched between the Memphis Grizzlies (7th) and the defending champion Warriors (9th). Why do the Pelicans rate so well?
THE SKINNY: The Pelicans did their best work before July 1, when they hammered out a five-year, $145 million deal for Anthony Davis, keeping him from even hitting restricted free agency a year from now.