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,
New Orleans Pelicans
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
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. 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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