2017–18 New Orleans Pelicans season

The 2017–18 New Orleans Pelicans season was the 16th season of the New Orleans Pelicans franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Pelicans were coached by Alvin Gentry in his third year as head coach. They played their home games at the Smoothie King Center as members of the Western Conference's Southwest Division.

2017–18 New Orleans Pelicans season
Head coachAlvin Gentry
General managerDell Demps
OwnersTom Benson (until March 15, his death)
Gayle Benson (March 15 onwards)
ArenaSmoothie King Center
Results
Record48–34 (.585)
PlaceDivision: 2nd (Southwest)
Conference: 6th (Western)
Playoff finishConference Semifinals
(Lost to Warriors 1–4)
Stats @ Basketball-Reference.com
Local media
TelevisionFox Sports New Orleans
RadioWWL-FM

The team's second-leading scorer, DeMarcus Cousins, suffered a season-ending Achilles tendon injury during his subsequent final game as a Pelican on January 26, 2018, and missed the remainder of the season.[1] Despite losing Cousins, the Pelicans clinched their first playoff berth since 2015 with a win over the Los Angeles Clippers on April 9, 2018.[2] They finished the season 48–34 to finish in second place in the Southwest Division.

In the Playoffs, the Pelicans faced off against the third-seeded Portland Trail Blazers in the First Round. On April 14, 2018, the Pelicans won the first game in the First Round playoff series which marked the franchise's first playoff game win since the 2011 playoffs' First Round series against the Los Angeles Lakers.[3][4] On April 21, the Pelicans completed the playoff series sweep over the Trail Blazers, marking the franchise's first series win since 2008.[5][6] It also marked the first playoff series sweep in franchise history, and the first time that a team seeded sixth or lower had swept a First Round series since the NBA had expanded the First Round to a best-of-seven series.[7] They advanced to the Conference Semifinals to face the second-seeded and eventual NBA champion Golden State Warriors, the team that swept them in the First Round of the 2015 playoffs.[8] The Pelicans lost the series in five games and were eliminated from the playoffs.[9][10]

As of 2019, this marked the last time the Pelicans made the playoffs.

Draft
Main article: 2017 NBA draft
Round Pick Player Position Nationality College / Club
2 31 Frank Jackson PG  United States Duke

Prior to the NBA draft, the Pelicans had only one second round pick, having traded their first round pick, rookie Buddy Hield, Tyreke Evans, Langston Galloway, and the Philadelphia 76ers' original second round pick to the Sacramento Kings in a blockbuster trade for star center DeMarcus Cousins and Omri Casspi.[11][12] On June 21, 2017, however, the Pelicans acquired the Washington Wizards' second round pick (No. 52 overall) in exchange for guard Tim Frazier.[13] As a result, the Pelicans entered draft night with two second round and no first round picks. On the night of the draft, the Pelicans traded away their second round pick (No. 40 overall) and cash considerations to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for the Hornets' second round pick (No. 31 overall).[14] With that pick, the Pelicans selected Duke point guard Frank Jackson.[15] With the No. 52 overall pick, the Pelicans selected Xavier point guard Edmond Sumner and traded him to the Indiana Pacers for cash considerations.[16]

Roster
Roster listing
2017–18 New Orleans Pelicans roster
PlayersCoaches
Pos.No.NameHeightWeightDOB (YYYY-MM-DD)From
C 42 Ajinça, Alexis 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m) 248 lb (112 kg) 1988–05–06 INSEP (FRA)
G 2 Clark, Ian 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 1991–03–07 Belmont
G 4 Cooke, Charles (TW) 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 196 lb (89 kg) 1994–07–01 Dayton
C 0 Cousins, DeMarcus  (C) 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 270 lb (122 kg) 1990–08–13 Kentucky
G 27 Crawford, Jordan 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 1988–10–23 Xavier
F/C 23 Davis, Anthony (C) 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 253 lb (115 kg) 1993–03–11 Kentucky
F 13 Diallo, Cheick 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 1996–09–13 Kansas
F 44 Hill, Solomon 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1991–03–18 Arizona
G 11 Holiday, Jrue 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1990–06–12 UCLA
G 15 Jackson, Frank 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 1998–05–04 Duke
G 34 Liggins, DeAndre 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 209 lb (95 kg) 1988–03–31 Kentucky
F 21 Miller, Darius 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 1990–03–21 Kentucky
F 3 Mirotić, Nikola 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 238 lb (108 kg) 1991–02–11 Spain
G/F 55 Moore, E'Twaun 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 191 lb (87 kg) 1989–02–25 Purdue
C 50 Okafor, Emeka 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 255 lb (116 kg) 1982–09–28 Connecticut
G 9 Rondo, Rajon 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 186 lb (84 kg) 1986–02–22 Kentucky
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (DP) Unsigned draft pick
  • (FA) Free agent
  • (S) Suspended
  • (GL) On assignment to G League
  • (TW) Two-way affiliate player
  • Injured

Roster
Last transaction: 2018–04–05

Standings

Division
Southwest Division W L PCT GB Home Road Div GP
z – Houston Rockets 65 17 .793 0.0 34–7 31–10 12–4 82
x – New Orleans Pelicans 48 34 .585 17.0 24–17 24–17 9–7 82
x – San Antonio Spurs 47 35 .573 18.0 33–8 14–27 9–7 82
Dallas Mavericks 24 58 .293 41.0 15–26 9–32 5–11 82
Memphis Grizzlies 22 60 .268 43.0 16–25 6–35 5–11 82

Conference
Western Conference
# Team W L PCT GB GP
1 z – Houston Rockets * 65 17 .793 – 82
2 y – Golden State Warriors * 58 24 .707 7.0 82
3 y – Portland Trail Blazers * 49 33 .598 16.0 82
4 x – Oklahoma City Thunder 48 34 .585 17.0 82
5 x – Utah Jazz 48 34 .585 17.0 82
6 x – New Orleans Pelicans 48 34 .585 17.0 82
7 x – San Antonio Spurs 47 35 .573 18.0 82
8 x – Minnesota Timberwolves 47 35 .573 18.0 82
9 Denver Nuggets 46 36 .561 19.0 82
10 Los Angeles Clippers 42 40 .512 23.0 82
11 Los Angeles Lakers 35 47 .427 30.0 82
12 Sacramento Kings 27 55 .329 38.0 82
13 Dallas Mavericks 24 58 .293 41.0 82
14 Memphis Grizzlies 22 60 .268 43.0 82
15 Phoenix Suns 21 61 .256 44.0 82

Game log

Preseason
2017 pre-season game log
Total: 1–3 (Home: 0–2; Road: 1–1)
Pre-season: 1–3 (Home: 0–2; Road: 1–1)
2017–18 season schedule

Regular season
2017–18 game log
Total: 48–34 (Home: 24–17; Road: 24–17)
October: 3–4 (Home: 1–2; Road: 2–2)
November : 8–6 (Home: 4–3; Road: 4–3)
December : 7–8 (Home: 4–4; Road: 3–4)
January : 9–5 (Home: 5–2; Road: 4–3)
February : 8–3 (Home: 3–1; Road: 5–2)
March : 8–7 (Home: 5–4; Road: 3–3)
April : 5–1 (Home: 2–1; Road: 3–0)
2017–18 season schedule

Playoffs
2018 playoff game log
Total: 5–4 (Home: 3–1; Road: 2–3)
First Round: 4–0 (Home: 2–0; Road: 2–0)
Conference Semifinals: 1–4 (Home: 1–1; Road: 0–3)
2018 playoff schedule

Player statistics

Regular season
Player Pos. GP GS MP Reb. Ast. Stl. Blk. Pts.
Tony Allen†SF 220273479113103
Omer Asik†C 1401213721218
Charles CookeSG 1303821106
Ian ClarkSG 7421,4551271103310551
DeMarcus CousinsC 48481,73761725779761,210
Jordan CrawfordPG 50534131133
Dante CunninghamSF 51241,115193262716253
Anthony DavisPF 75752,7278321741151932,110
Cheick DialloPF 520581211191121254
Larry DrewPG 7055280015
Solomon HillSF 12118736227129
Jrue HolidaySG 81812,927365486123641,537
Mike James‡PG 401816104
Jalen Jones‡SF 401930005
Walt Lemon≠PG 5035250117
DeAndre LigginsPG 273244262110444
Darius MillerSF 8231,9441641112817637
Nikola Mirotic≠PF 3011872246412926439
E'Twaun MooreSG 82802,58623818779121,022
Jameer Nelson†PG 430897961567976221
Emeka Okafor≠C 26193531208825221
Rajon RondoPG 65631,7032635337010537
Josh SmithPF 301240002

After all games.[17]
‡Waived during the season
†Traded during the season
≠Acquired during the season

Transactions
Main article: List of 2017–18 NBA season transactions

Trades
June 21, 2017 To New Orleans Pelicans
52nd pick in the 2017 NBA Draft[18]		 To Washington Wizards
Tim Frazier
February 1, 2018 To New Orleans Pelicans
Nikola Mirotić
2018 second round pick (from New Orleans via Chicago)		 To Chicago Bulls
Ömer Aşık
Tony Allen
Jameer Nelson
2018 Top 5 protected first round pick
Right to swap 2021 second round picks with New Orleans[19]

Free agency

Re-signed
Player Signed
Jrue Holiday[20] 5-year contract worth $126 million

Additions
Player Signed Former team
Tony Allen[21] 1-year contract worth $2.3 million Memphis Grizzlies
Ian Clark[22] 1-year contract worth $1.6 million Golden State Warriors
Charles Cooke[23] Two-way contract Dayton Flyers
Jalen Jones[24] Two-way contract Maine Red Claws
Darius Miller[25] 2-year contract worth $4.3 million Brose Bamberg
Rajon Rondo[26] 1-year contract worth $3.3 million Chicago Bulls
Mike James Two-way contract Phoenix Suns
Emeka Okafor Signed two 10-day contracts / 1-year deal Delaware 87ers
Walter Lemon Jr. Signed a 10-day contract Fort Wayne Mad Ants

Subtractions
Player Reason left New team
Quinn Cook[27] Waived Atlanta Hawks[28]
Axel Toupane[27] Waived Žalgiris Kaunas
Donatas Motiejūnas Unrestricted free agent Shandong Golden Stars
Hollis Thompson Unrestricted free agent Olympiacios Piraeus
Jalen Jones Waived Dallas Mavericks / Texas Legends
Mike James Waived Panathinaikos Athens

Awards, records and milestones

Awards
Player Award Date awarded Ref.
DeMarcus Cousins Western Conference Player of the Week October 30, 2017 [29]
Anthony Davis Western Conference Player of the Week November 27, 2017 [30]
Anthony Davis NBA All-Star starter (5th appearance) January 18, 2018 [31]
DeMarcus Cousins NBA All-Star starter (4th appearance) January 18, 2018 [32]
Anthony Davis Western Conference Player of the Month (February) March 1, 2018 [33]
Anthony Davis Western Conference Player of the Week March 5, 2018 [34]
Anthony Davis Western Conference Player of the Month (March/April) April 12, 2018 [35]
Anthony Davis All-Defensive First Team May 23, 2018 [36]
Jrue Holiday All-Defensive First Team May 23, 2018 [37]
Anthony Davis All-NBA First Team May 24, 2018 [38]
Anthony Davis NBA blocks leader (3rd time) June 17, 2018 [39]

Records

Season
  • Anthony Davis set franchise records in:
    • Most blocks in a game
    • Most blocks in a half
      • 6 – tied his own franchise mark on the same day.[41]
    • Field goals in a season (780)[42]
    • Points in a season (2,110)
    • Points per game (28.1)
  • DeMarcus Cousins set a franchise record in:
    • Defensive rebound percentage in a season (30.9%)[43]
  • Rajon Rondo set franchise records in:
    • Most assists in a game
    • Most assists in a quarter

Playoffs

Milestones
  • On November 22, 2017, Anthony Davis reached 7,938 career points, moving him to second in points scored in franchise history after passing Chris Paul.[48]
  • On January 18, 2018, both Davis and DeMarcus Cousins were selected as NBA All-Star starters, which marked the first time since 2009 that multiple New Orleans players have been selected to the All-Star game. It was also the first time in franchise history that multiple players have started the All-Star game.
  • On January 28, 2018, Davis reached 3,857 career rebounds, giving him the all-time franchise high in rebounds after passing David West.[49]
  • On February 2, 2018, Davis passed David West in points scored, giving him the all-time franchise high with 8,702.[50]
  • The Pelicans finished second in the Southwest Division, which was the highest since the 2007–08 season.
  • The Pelicans finished first in the league in:
    • Total minutes played in a season (19,995)[51]
    • Minutes played per game (243.4)[52]

Playoffs
  • The Pelicans clinched their first playoff berth since 2015.[53]
  • On April 14, 2018, the Pelicans won the first game in the First Round playoff series which marked the franchise's first playoff game win since the 2011 NBA playoffs.[54]
  • On April 21, 2018, the Pelicans completed the playoff series sweep over the Portland Trail Blazers, marking the franchise's first series win since 2008. It was also the first playoff series sweep in franchise history, and the first time that a team seeded sixth or lower had swept a First Round series since the NBA had expanded the First Round to a best-of-seven series.[55]

References
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  2. "New Orleans Pelicans earn second postseason berth in five seasons". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2018-05-03.
  3. Press, Associated. "NBA playoffs: Pelicans hold off Trail Blazers 97-95 in Game 1". latimes.com. Retrieved 2018-05-03.
  4. "Anthony Davis, Pelicans steal Game 1 in Portland". SBNation.com. Retrieved 2018-05-03.
  5. "Brooms out: Pelicans sweep Portland, 1st playoff series win in a decade". WGNO. 2018-04-22. Retrieved 2018-05-03.
  6. "New Orleans Pelicans sweep Portland Trail Blazers with 131-123 Game 4 win: Rapid Reaction". OregonLive.com. Retrieved 2018-05-03.
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  8. "Pelicans face the Golden State Warriors in Game 1 of the Western Conference semifinals: Live updates". nola.com. Retrieved 2018-05-03.
  9. Team, WDSU Digital (2018-05-10). "Pelicans eliminated from NBA playoffs". WDSU. Retrieved 2018-05-31.
  10. "Pelicans coach's final words after Warriors eliminated them: '1-2-3, Cancun'". For The Win. 2018-05-09. Retrieved 2018-05-31.
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  12. "Kings agree to trade DeMarcus Cousins to Pelicans". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2018-05-03.
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  14. "Pelicans trade up in NBA Draft, select Duke guard Frank Jackson with 31st pick". NOLA.com. Retrieved 2018-05-03.
  15. "Pelicans Select Frank Jackson with 31st Pick in 2017 NBA Draft | New Orleans Pelicans | BourbonStreetShots.com". Retrieved 2018-05-03.
  16. "Pelicans trade No. 52 pick in NBA Draft to the Indiana Pacers". NOLA.com. Retrieved 2018-05-03.
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