Pelicans have self-created impossible dilemma to navigate

New Orleans Pelican In Melbourne Media Opportunity | Josh Chadwick/GettyImagesThe New Orleans Pelicans would be best served by winning a bunch of games this season. That way, everyone would forget about the trade that sent their 2026 first-round pick, unprotected, to the Atlanta Hawks.

But is that possible? Do the Pelicans have the firepower necessary to even stay competitive night to night in a loaded Western Conference? I personally don't think so, although I've been wrong in the past about plenty of things.

But the Pels having the pressure to do that in the first place, knowing the relief of a first-round pick isn't coming next summer, is a dilemma that won't be fun to navigate in 2025-26.…