Many people expected the New Orleans Pelicans to take a step forward and possibly win 50 games this season, but instead, they have suffered through a nightmare season.
Virtually all of their key players have dealt with injuries this season, including guard Dejounte Murray, who recently tore his Achilles, and the oft-hurt Zion Williamson, who has played in just 17 games.
Now, more bad news on the injury front has arrived, as Herb Jones, a fourth-year forward, will miss the rest of this season because of a torn rotator cuff that he recently had surgery on, per NBA on TNT.
Pelicans wing Herb Jones will be out the remainder of the season after undergoing surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff, per @ChrisBHaynes pic.twitter.com/LSCc3lOKOO
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 12, 2025
Jones has struggled with his shooting this season, but he is a strong defender, and at 6-foot-7, he can play both forward positions.
The Pelicans’ injury problems have completely ruined their plans to be a competitive team, not to mention their chances of at least reaching the play-in tournament.
They currently hold a 12-41 record, which is the worst record in the Western Conference and the second-worst mark in the entire NBA.
Perhaps the one piece of good news for them is that they have a real shot to land the No. 1 pick in this summer’s draft, which would allow them to draft Duke University sensation Cooper Flagg.
At 6-foot-9, Flagg can seemingly do it all whom scouts have compared to Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen, and he could greatly change New Orleans’ fortunes should they end up with him.
Even beyond possibly drafting Flagg, big changes could be in store for the Pelicans this summer, and they already made a big change prior to the trade deadline by dealing Brandon Ingram to the Toronto Raptors.
NEXT: Pelicans GM Says 1 Veteran Will Likely Be Shut Down For The Rest Of Season
