ESPN released their Summer Forecast West Standings and the New Orleans Pelicans were picked to finish as the 7th Seed, sandwiched in between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Dallas Mavericks. This is probably the most conservative position to place the Pelicans since Dallas and Portland are expected to take a significant step backwards in 2015-16.
Given the records of the top six teams the past few seasons, the prognosticators at ESPN could not project a top six finish for the Pels. The Oklahoma City Thunder are also expected to return to prominence, assuming OKC can avoid the injury bug, this season.