Goal 3. Lead the NBA in Pace Again

Ideally, a team is able to push it in 2018. The New Orleans Pelicans no longer have Rondo on their roster (as he signed with the Los Angeles Lakers), but they do have a playmaker in Holiday, and brought in Elfrid Payton in free agency. Payton has had an up-and-down career thus far, but has flashed potential as a bigger point guard who can create for others and drive it. He recently averaged 12.7 points, 6.2 assists and 4.3 rebounds last season with the Orlando Magic and in a short stint with the Phoenix Suns.

Payton can be erratic at times (with a 17.8 career turnover percentage per Basketball Reference), but he does put pressure on an opponent’s interior defense consistently. With better shooters in Moore, Clark, Holiday, Mirotic and sniper Darius Miller to distribute to after penetration now, I would expect his production to increase playing at possibly the fastest pace in the NBA.

The next layer that could really produce at a high level is newcomer Julius Randle. No, I don’t believe he can put 25-plus like Cousins. However, Randle had a breakout season with the Lakers last season, and has shown throughout his career that he can bully his way to the paint, and also be a valuable secondary playmaker for his size. Our own Evan Dyal touched on how that might affect this New Orleans offense, particularly with him allowing Davis to go off the ball again, as was the case with Cousins.

“The best way to use Randle is probably in the high post, where the Pelicans can use his passing skills and unleash Davis as a cutter more.”

Obviously, that’s relating to halfcourt offense, but the impact of Randle being able to handle it pretty well for a small-ball big is what stands out. He is very adept at making plays in the transition game, and although he’s not a shooting threat from the perimeter, others on the Pelicans are. With Holiday, Payton and Randle’s pushes after rebounds, Moore, Miller and Mirotic will be able to run to the corners and hoist at a high volume.

With the threat that Davis poses as a lob threat in both the halfcourt and on the break, this run-and-gun New Orleans offense could have a better offensive rating than last year in which they were eighth in the NBA.

Secondly, the Pelicans should shoot for being in the top ten in three point makes and efficiency next season.

Next Up: Goal 2